A -- A -- DEFENSE SCIENCES RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

Notice Date

December 4, 2001

Contracting Office

Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714

ZIP Code

22203-1714

Solicitation Number

BAA01-42

Response Due

August 29, 2002

Point of Contact

Ephrahim Garcia, DARPA Program Manager, Phone 703-696-2229, Fax 703-696-3999, Email none

Description

BAA 01- 42, ADDENDUM 7, SPECIAL FOCUS AREA: MORPHING AERIALAIRCRAFT STRUCTURES (MAS). The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals on Morphing Aircraft Structures (MAS). The overall goal of this new program is to create and advance enabling technologies and ultimately design, build, and demonstrate a seamless, aerodynamically efficient, aerial vehicle capable of radical shape change. Air vehicles are currently designed for single missions such as reconnaissance or attack. The levels of performance achieved by these structures for such specific missions are dictated to a significant degree by vehicle geometry. The ability to change the critical physical characteristics of the vehicle in flight would enable/allow a single vehicle to perform multiple mission profiles. The ability to morph would heavily influence system performance characteristics, such as: turning radius, endurance, payload, and maximum velocity, among others. These new technology development efforts should provide proof of principle demonstrations of a flight traceable morphing wing within 30 months of the project undertaking. Significant tasks are expected to include a performance benefits analysis and sensitivity study to include an evaluation of flight control and stability characteristics; development of specific device concepts to enable morphing, i.e., adaptable, time variant air frames whose changes in geometry will influence aerodynamic performance; bench testing of relevant subcomponents/subsystems; and fabrication and testing of integrated components. Examples of specific controlled geometry changes include, but are not limited to, the following: 200% change in aspect ratio, a 50% change in wing area, a 5o change in wing twist, and a 20 o change in wing sweep. The effort will culminate with a wind tunnel test of a flight traceable wing. Progress in this program will depend upon the formation of well-managed, interdisciplinary efforts that draw on such technical areas as structural analysis, aeroelasticity, aerodynamics, controls, kinematics, flight mechanics, material science, machine design, instrumentation, computer science, and electrical engineering. Individual efforts will be entertained when a convincing case can be made for comprehensive internal capabilities and/or broad applicability of the specified research. Because integration challenges are essential in this multidisciplinary program, a team approach that embraces expertise in relevant disciplines, in conjunction with insightful research ideas and excellent systems engineering is likely to be more competitive. Subcomponent development efforts will be considered for support only in cases where the technology focus is unique, enabling, and appropriate for incorporation into the larger system development efforts. We invite white papers (10 pages or less) in response to this announcement. Submission and review of white papers are intended to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review. All white paper submissions will be evaluated for responsiveness to the stated goals and objectives of this BAA addendum. Those meeting the criteria of this BAA addendum will be asked to submit a full proposal. All full proposal submissions will be evaluated regardless of the disposition of the white paper. The white paper should be organized as follows: Technical Issues: (1) Which technologies will you attempt to develop and which morphing capabilities do you plan to demonstrate? (2) How do you plan to demonstrate the necessary capability (ies) in 30 months? What additional capabilities do you envision will be enabled by your ideas? What are the research challenges and how will they be addressed? What is unique and/or revolutionary about your approach? (3) What quantitative milestones will you achieve to demonstrate how well the project is proceeding? Include at least one significant and quantitative milestone in the first 18-month period. Cost: (4) The cost: what is your cost estimate for resources required for the proposed timeline? (This section should include a clear description of the funding required for human resources, manufacturing, travel, overhead etc? Management Plan and Proposer's Capabilities: (5) A management plan describing how the different disciplines represented on the team will be integrated to generate a demonstration of a morphing capability within 30 months is required.) (6) A brief discussion of the technical expertise of the principal investigator and other key team members should be provided. While there is no formal date for submission, white papers sent within 45 days of the publication of this Addendum will be evaluated immediately upon receipt. You will be notified within 14 days if a full proposal will be requested. We will respond to the full proposals expeditiously, proposals will be reviewed within 45 days of being received. White papers submitted after this time period will be considered on a case-by-case basis. White paper submissions may be made by attachment to an e-mail sent to dsobaa01-42@darpa.mil. Word 97 or higher is recommended, but not required. Embedded text and Postscript are also acceptable. Please put "Morphing Aircraft Structures" in the title of the white paper. The body of the e-mail must include the proposer's name, mailing address, phone number, and fax number. If submitting by U.S. mail, the proposers must submit an original and five (5) copies of the white paper to DARPA/DSO, ATTN: Morphing Aircraft Structures BAA 01-42, Addendum 7, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. White papers and proposals will not be accepted by way of facsimile transmissions. For general administrative questions, please refer to the original CBD announcement, BAA 01-42 September 4, 2001. =20

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/BAA01-42/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011206/ASOL004.HTM (D-338 SN5143E2)