The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for the topic of "Low Cost Persistent Multi Sensor Surveillance" as part of their SBIR program. The objective of this topic is to develop environmentally hardened sensor nodes that can persistently monitor Radio Frequency (RF), weather conditions, and/or personnel access of remote islands leased on the Kwajalein Atoll for the U.S. Army's Reagan Test Site (RTS).
The solutions should be independent of external power sources or communications networks, as there are no cellular or Wi-Fi communications, nor power source, in these areas. The solutions must also be capable of operating in harsh environmental conditions, including heat, humidity, regular rainfall, salt spray, and high atmospheric salinity. The data collected by these sensor nodes will be used for situational awareness, safety, security, and mission planning and support.
The solicitation is open for both full or partial solutions, and Phase I proposals with a cost of up to $250,000 for a 6-month period of performance are being accepted. Phase I will involve researching and developing the system/network architecture, designing the hardware components, and proposing power source designs and networking techniques. By the end of Phase I, the awardee should have detailed descriptions of the proposed technologies.
In Phase II, the awardee will produce a single prototype that demonstrates the capabilities and methodologies at a minimum of TRL4. They will also develop a user interface and display for situational awareness of sensor control and monitoring.
The potential applications of this technology include wireless remote sensing for public safety, health, fitness, and wildlife dual-usages. Some examples of dual uses of remote sensing include anti-poaching efforts, remote environmental sensors enabled by low-Earth orbit satellites, wildfire early recognition sensor systems, agriculture and crop performance monitoring, and urban pollution source detection.
For more information and to submit proposals, interested parties can visit the DOD SBIR program website. The solicitation is currently open, and the application due date is March 31, 2025.
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Keywords: sensors, nodes, Radio Frequency (RF), Reagan Test Site (RTS)