Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contract Management Directorate (CMD), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- SOFTWARE FOR DISTRIBUTED ROBOTICS SOL 99-20 DUE 040799 POC Dr. Mark L. Swinson, DARPA/ITO, FAX: (703-522-7161) WEB: http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html, http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html. E-MAIL: baa99-20@darpa.mil, baa99-20@darpa.mil. Software for Distributed Robotics (SDR) will enable the employment of groups of cooperating, mobile robots which, when working collectively, can accomplish useful objectives in realistic, operational environments. Software research is sought which will augment the ongoing DARPA program in the Electronic Technology Office (ETO) known as Distributed Robotics (DR). Current mobile robots are comparatively large, employing fairly conventional components and subsystems for mobility, power, sensing, actuation, communication and computation. In contrast, the Distributed Robotics program is pursuing revolutionary technologies driven by severe form factor constraints, since conventional components and subsystems generally do not scale down to the dimensions required. Potential military applications for such micro-miniature devices include surveillance, reconnaissance, hazard detection, pathfinding, payload conveyance, and small-scale actuation. A key tenet of the Software for Distributed Robotics program is thatthe actions of large numbers of small scale robots can be coordinated so as to achieve large scale results. Realization of this goal will require novel software technology to achieve the required level of coordinated group behavior. Additionally, the severe form factor constraints and the consequent impact on available resources will have significant implications. For example, power constraints effectively preclude the use of conventional implementations of network protocols. Similarly, onboard computational capacity is limited. Hence, the Software for Distributed Robotics research challenge is to develop solutions that achieve the desired functional capabilities while overcoming the limitations of both the on-board processors and the data communications network. Proposals should identify which of the following alternative approaches their proposal most closely matches. The alternatives, which are referred to as technical topic areas for the purpose of this solicitation, are: distributed processing; proxy processing; or other. Irrespective of the approach chosen, each proposal must describe how the performers' software solution will realize the following capabilities: the reprogrammable, coordinated control of a networked group of extremely small, mobile robots; and convincing laboratory demonstration of the software solution on a collection of surrogate, mobile robot platforms. The laboratory demonstrations will be conducted using one or more types of small, commercially available, mobile robots. The final demonstration for the base effort must include at least ten robots operating collectively in a manner that is functionally representative of how the software would be employed on the Distributed Robotics platforms under development within ETO. Proposals should include an optional task of migrating their software to government-designated platforms and conducting field demonstrations. Proposals should be for a base effort of 27 months (including the laboratory demonstrations), with two 12-month options to continue development as well as to extend the effort by migrating the developed software to government designated, mobile robot platforms for field. Research with a hardware component is not within the scope of this solicitation. Similarly, research on software-only systems (knowbots) as well as research focused on physically embodied agents, but which is to be conducted entirely in computer simulation, is also not within the scope of this solicitation. PROGRAM SCOPE: Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches and techniques that lead to or enable revolutionary advances in the state-of-the-art. Proposals are not limited to the specific strategies listed above and alternative visions will be considered. However, proposals should be for research that substantially contributes towards the goals stated. Research should result in prototype hardware and/or software demonstrating integrated concepts and approaches. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvement to theexisting state of practice or focuses on a specific system or solution. Integrated solution sets embodying significant technological advances are strongly encouraged over narrowly defined research endeavors. Proposals may involve other research groups or industrial cooperation and cost sharing. GENERAL INFORMATION: In order to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review, proposers are strongly encouraged to submit brief proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and nine copies of the proposal abstract must be submitted to DARPA/ITO, ATTN: BAA 99-20, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Monday, February 22, 1999, to guarantee review. Upon review, DARPA will make a recommendation to offerors either encouraging or discouraging submission of full proposals. Proposers must submit an original and nine copies of full proposals in time to reach DARPA by 4:00 PM (ET), Wednesday, April 7, 1999, in order to be considered. Proposers must obtain a pamphlet, BAA 99-20 Proposer Information, which provides further information on the areas of interest, submission, evaluation, funding processes, proposal abstracts, and full proposal formats. This pamphlet may be obtained by fax, electronic mail, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below, as well as at URL address http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. This Commerce Business Daily notice, in conjunction with the pamphlet BAA 99-20 Proposer Information, constitutes the total BAA. No additional information is available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for same will be disregarded. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal that shall be considered by DARPA. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institutions (MI) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals. However, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of this research for exclusive competition among these entities. Evaluation of proposals will be accomplished through a scientific review of each proposal using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (1) overall scientific and technical merit, (2) potential contribution and relevance to DARPA mission, (3) offeror's capabilities and related experience, (4) plans and capability to accomplish technology transition, and (5) cost realism. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or proposal to this BAA, must be directed to one of the administrative addresses below by 4:00 PM (ET), Wednesday,March 31, 1999; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for some of the correspondence regarding BAA 99-20. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax; any so sent will be disregarded. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: 703-522-7161 Addressed to: DARPA/ITO, BAA 99-20 Electronic Mail: baa99-20@darpa.mil Electronic File Retrieval: http://www.darpa.mil/ito/Solicitations.html Mail: DARPA/ITO ATTN: BAA 99-20 3701 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203-1714 Posted 01/13/99 (W-SN287643). (0013)

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