A -- OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM FOR AUTONOMOUS UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV)

Notice Date

October 15, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Army CECOM, CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, NJ 07703-5008

ZIP Code

07703-5008

Solicitation Number

DAAB07-02-R-L4041

Response Due

December 14, 2001

Point of Contact

Contracting Officer-Andrew Dellomo (732) 532-3569, Contract Specialist-Gary Reckeweg (732) 427-1346

E-Mail Address

Gary Reckeweg -- Contract Specialist (Gary.Reckeweg@mail1.monmouth.army.mil)

Description

CBD ANNOUNCEMENT: OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM FOR AUTONOMOUS UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV) The US Army, CECOM Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) will be issuing a BAA on 1 November 2001 to solicit innovative proposals for conducting a trade study outlining in detail viable Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS) options suitable for integration into a low altitude, autonomous, unmanned aerial vehicle operating at speeds up to 200kts. The objective of such an OAS study is to capture all necessary system characteristics and present a design architecture capable of reliably detecting both ground (towers, wires, trees, terrain, etc.) and airborne (other aircraft in company, both manned and unmanned) obstacles in such a manner that facilitates timely avoidance guidance to the UAV flight control system. Study considerations should include, but are not limited to, required sensor field of view, sensor scan pattern/rate/variation, type of sensor(s), sensor susceptibility to OAS detection, possible OAS sensor countermeasures, personnel safety, air vehicle velocity (all axes), environmental effects (day/night, takeoff, enroute, nap-of-the-earth, formation flight, landing), system weight, power, cooling, size, cost, etc. Of particular importance is the study requirement to address how an OAS design can successfully function without the presence of a man-in-the-loop decision maker. In addition, a successful study will account for the requirement to communicate not only with the UAV flight control system, but also its control station (ground or air) and any other manned and unmanned airborne platforms flying in company. An OTA/Section 845 award is envisioned for this effort. A Pre-Bid Conference is tentatively planned to be conducted at CECOM NVESD Ft. Belvoir, VA on 15 November 2001. This study effort is in support of Phase I (Concept Development & System Trades) of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's (DARPA) Robotic Rotary Wingman (R2W) Program. Concepts from selected OAS trade studies will be collated by NVESD and provided to DARPA R2W Phase I Teams. As such, all OAS trades study submissions must clearly state the extent and nature of any proprietary positions. Upon completion of DARPA's R2W Program Phase I, NVESD may elect to take forward into R2W Phase II one or more OAS trade study contractor(s) for the purpose of completing a R2W OAS Preliminary Design. Such Phase II efforts will be solicited via a competitive follow-on BAA action. Technical POC: Ms. Ann Tran, CECOM Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, 703-704-1109, ann.tran@nvl.army.mil Contracting Officer: Mr. Andrew Dellomo, CECOM Ft. Monmouth NJ, 732-532-3569, Andrew.Dellomo@mail1.monmouth.army.mil Contract Specialist: Mr. Gary Reckeweg, CECOM Ft. Monmouth, NJ 732-427-1346 Gary.Reckeweg@mail1.Monmouth.army.mil

Web Link

Business Opportunity Page (http://abop.monmouth.army.mil)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011017/ASOL005.HTM (W-288 SN510671)