SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- TEAMING OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP AUTONOMOUS ROBOTIC SWARMS FOR PLANETARYEXPLORATION
- Notice Date
- 3/29/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 144, Industry Assistance Office, Hampton,VA 23681-0001
- ZIP Code
- 23681-0001
- Solicitation Number
- SS-ROBOTIC_SWARMS
- Response Due
- 4/11/2011
- Archive Date
- 3/29/2012
- Point of Contact
- Robert B. Gardner, Contracting Officer, Phone 757-864-2525, Fax 757-864-7898, Email Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov - Teresa M Hass, Contracting Officer, Phone 757-864-8496, Fax 757-864-8863, Email Teresa.M.Hass@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Robert B. Gardner
(Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This partnering synopsis solicits potential partners to participate in developing aproposal addressing the goals and objectives of NASA Research Announcement (NRA)NNH11ZUA001N, NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC). The NRA can be accessed at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/solicitations.do?method=open&stack=push Participation in this partnering synopsis is open to all categories of U.S. and non-U.S.organizations, including educational institutions, industry, not-for-profit institutions,the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as NASA Centers and other U.S. GovernmentAgencies. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Other MinorityUniversities (OMUs), small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs), veteran-owned smallbusinesses, service disabled veteran-owned small businesses, HUBzone small businesses,and women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) are encouraged to apply. Participation bynon-U.S. organizations is welcome but subject to NASAs policy of no exchange of funds,in which each government supports its own national participants and associated costs.Under the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), the NRA solicits multiple studies,each of which will investigate an architecture, mission, or system concept that has thepotential to change the possible in aeronautics or space. NASA Innovative AdvancedConcepts (NIAC) is also part of the Office of Chief Technologist (OCT). Concepts proposedfor NIAC Phase I studies must be innovative and visionary, technically substantiated, andvery early in development (10+ years out; Technology Readiness Level 1, 2, or early 3).Focused technology maturation and incremental improvement are explicitly not of interestin this program. In response to the NASA Research Announcement (NRA) NNH11ZUA001N, NASA InnovativeAdvanced Concepts (NIAC) partners are sought to demonstrate concepts for planetaryexploration using autonomous robotic swarms. Exploration of remote planetary surfaces hasbeen limited to few humans and singular robotic vehicles thus severely limiting the rangeand duration of expeditions. NASA has proposed an exploratory airplane for MARS thatwould extend the range but removes the robot from surface contact and still presents asingular view. A flying swarm of a large number of smaller vehicles, operatingautonomously yet cooperatively, could extend the exploration range while maintainingdirect surface contact as the swarm hops from point to point. Such a design has theadded benefit that individual failure would not condemn the mission to fail (e.g., 80% ofindividuals could fail with 100% mission success). A swarm design presents new problemssuch as how the swarm will effectively fly in formation and how the swarm will determinecourse of action. Because much the environment is unknown, the swarm must adapt tounforeseen situations. Centralized control and predetermined script execution is likelynot practical. Without directions from a central controller, individual members of theswarm are limited to local observations and communication with neighboring members. Fromthese observations, individuals must make autonomous decisions and take individualaction. From these actions, a behavior emerges. Thus, the challenge is to design theswarm for desired emergent behavior. NASA seeks a demonstration of true autonomy information flying of a swarm and in decisions on actions of the swarm to complete anexploratory mission. A successful demonstration will not have the swarm directed by acentral controller but will exhibit swarm action emerging from combined action ofautonomous individuals.In particular NASA LaRC is seeking potential partners having demonstrated experience andexpertise in application of autonomy and cognition to robotic systems. Such experiencemust go beyond conventional automatic operation, where robots move and act independentlyby executing predetermined scripts. The experience must facilitate action by autonomousrobots to assess their environment and make cognitive decisions to adapt to unforeseencircumstances.Teaming with providers of and leveraging emerging technologies, such as current andrecent Small Business Innovative Research awards(http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.fov/SBIR/awards.htm), is of special interest.If selected through this synopsis, it is expected that the selected partner(s) will workwith NASA LaRC scientists and engineers to jointly develop the proposal. If the proposalis selected, NASA LaRC anticipates issuing grants, cooperative agreements, intra or interagency transfers or contracts to the selected partner(s) for performance of the proposedtasks.This partnering opportunity does not guarantee selection for award of any contracts orother agreements, nor is it to be construed as a commitment by NASA to pay for theinformation solicited.It is expected that the partner(s) selected would provide (at nocost to NASA) conceptual designs, technical data, proposal input, project schedules, andcost estimates. Partner selections will be made by LaRC based on the listed criteria in the followingorder of importance:(1) Relevant experience, past performance, technical capability, key personnelavailability, and demonstration of development of autonomous and cognitive roboticsystems. This criterion evaluates the proposers relevant recent experience, pastperformance in similar development activities, technical capability to perform thedevelopment, and key personnel available to support the development. Substantiveevidence of successful participation in similar developments should be included.(2) Cost and schedule control.This criterion evaluates the proposers ability tocontrol both cost and schedule. The proposer should provide evidence of successfullycontrolling cost and schedule for similar development programs and provide evidence ofmanagement processes in this area.(3) Facilities. This criterion evaluates the proposers facilities (development,testing, and analysis) to conduct the development or demonstration of the proposed task. The proposer should discuss facility availability/access and the ability to meet theproposed objectives.RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS: Responses to this partnering synopsis shall be limited to 8 pagesin not less than 12-point font. Responses must address the aforementioned evaluationcriteria. All responses shall be submitted to LaRC electronically via email by 5:00pmEST on April 11, 2011 to Kennie Jones (k.h.jones@nasa.gov) and Brad Gardner(Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov). Technical and Programmatic questions should be directed to Kennie Jones(k.h.jones@nasa.gov). Procurement questions should be directed to Brad Gardner(Robert.B.Gardner@nasa.gov).
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/LaRC/OPDC20220/SS-ROBOTIC_SWARMS/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02412376-W 20110331/110329235223-540e71b171c36f3b8b609029e1807e4a (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |