Brenda Marie Rivers
The Department of Defense’s innovation arm is looking for artificial intelligence technologies and concepts that can support autonomous maneuver and navigation functionalities for small unmanned aerial systems.
The Defense Innovation Unit said in a notice that it seeks offerors that can provide AI models to support the development of sUAS capable of operating without radio-frequency and Global Navigation Satellite System support.
DIU intends to integrate passive-sensor concepts that will enable the small unmanned platforms to identify and track targets in low-light and blackout conditions including subterranean environments.
Other focus areas include sUAS teaming operations, 3D-mapping for near real-time long-distance navigation and synthetic training environments designed to integrate unmanned systems.
Proposers must have the capacity to develop and manage AI neural networks in unstructured and simulated environments, the notice states. According to DIU, the government is specifically interested in technologies that incorporate an open-systems architecture.
The program will include rapid development, testing and fielding activities that will take place concurrently with subsequent prototyping phases.
Responses to the solicitation are due on July 19.
