Army Applications Lab (AAL) Grant: Vision Aided Navigation Prototypes for Dismounted Soldiers

***PLEASE REFERENCE THE LINK TO THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT ON BETA.SAM.GOV AT https://beta.sam.gov/opp/0335515caf4a480892927070fc3e47bd/view?keywords=W911NF-19-S-0004&sort=-relevance&index=&is_active=true&page=1 ***

Synopsis: The Army Applications Lab (AAL) along with Command Power and Integration Directorate (CP&ID) – Position Navigation & Timing (PNT) Division, are seeking technologies related to vision based navigation for dismounted Soldiers as a Special Topic under the AAL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911NF-19-S-0004 for Advance Technology Demonstration and related research as described below. Upon receipt, the Government will evaluate submissions through the process established in the AAL BAA, except as modified herein. 

The Government reserves the right to cancel this special notice without award for any reason. Issuance of this notice does not commit the Governments to pay for any preparation costs incurred in compiling a response. As a general matter, all requirements referenced in BAA W911NF-19-S-0004 apply to this effort.

The Government anticipates awarding one or more Other Transaction Agreements (OTA) in accordance with 10 U.S.C 2371b, under this Special Topic, but will consider other potential award types listed in the AAL BAA, to include procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and Technology Investment Agreements. In accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 2371b(f), the Government may award a follow-on production contract or Other Transaction (OT) for any OT awarded under this solicitation if: (1) that participant in the OT, or a recognized successor in interest to the OT, successfully completed the prototype project provided for in the OT and (2) the OT provides for the award of a follow-on production contract or OT to the participant, or a recognized successor in interest to the OT.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION – Background

Vision Aided Navigation Prototype(s)

AAL is interested in Vision Aided Navigation solutions & associated technologies that will enable U.S. Army Soldiers operating in dismounted operations to continue to obtain Position, Navigation, and Timing in areas with limited or no GPS signal.  Because dismounted operations include operating without immediate access to vehicle support, devises carried by a Soldier should be small, lightweight, and capable of operating with low power consumption. 

The intent of this special topic is to develop Vision Aided Navigation capabilities, including component, sub-component, and associated technologies, to allow dismounted Soldiers to continue to operate utilizing limited or no GPS signals, which will enhance dismounted capabilities while reducing the need to overpower jamming systems. 

AAL is interested in the following, non-exhaustive, list of Vision Aided Navigation solutions, though, submitters may submit proposed Vision Aided Navigation solutions that do not meet the following:

– Enhancements to commercial technologies to reduce size, weight, power consumption and reduce cost (SWAP-C) of Vision Aided Navigation technology.

– Options that improve performance and efficiency and/or which can reduce overall cost, through software development.

– Proposed Vision Aided Navigation solutions must meet the following Performance Requirements for Vision Aided Navigation Capabilities:

1. Soldier navigation: <2% error as a function of total distance traveled (dismounted), real-time positioning using Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), Loop Closure, Visual Odometry techniques, or equivalent.
2. Imaging sensors: uncooled micro bolometer, consumer mobile device and thermal cameras, or equivalent.
3. Wavelengths (imaging sensor): visible (400-800 nm), LWIR (7.5-13.5um) Frame rates: up to 60Hz Compatible/Integrated with available GNSS signals, MEMS IMUs
4. SWAP-C:
5. Size, Not to exceed – 6.5 in x 3.5 in x 1.5in (approximate size of DAGR, or less)
6. Weight: Not to exceed 3lbs with batteries
7. Power: Not to exceed 10W (processor, imaging, IMU)
8. Cost: <$2000 per unit, complete system (approximate cost of DAGR)

*Complete component solutions that do not exceed 6.5 in x 3.5 in x 1.4 in (Approximate size of the DAGR); do not exceed 3lbs with batteries, and do not exceed 5W (average) and peak of 10W power consumption may be submitted.

Synopsis: The Army Applications Lab (AAL) along with Command Power and Integration Directorate (CP&ID) – Position Navigation & Timing (PNT) Division, are seeking technologies related to vision based navigation for dismounted Soldiers as a Special Topic under the AAL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911NF-19-S-0004 for Advance Technology Demonstration and related research as described below. Upon receipt, the Government will evaluate submissions through the process established in the AAL BAA, except as modified herein. 

The Government reserves the right to cancel this special notice without award for any reason. Issuance of this notice does not commit the Governments to pay for any preparation costs incurred in compiling a response. As a general matter, all requirements referenced in BAA W911NF-19-S-0004 apply to this effort.

The Government anticipates awarding one or more Other Transaction Agreements (OTA) in accordance with 10 U.S.C 2371b, under this Special Topic, but will consider other potential award types listed in the AAL BAA, to include procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and Technology Investment Agreements. In accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 2371b(f), the Government may award a follow-on production contract or Other Transaction (OT) for any OT awarded under this solicitation if: (1) that participant in the OT, or a recognized successor in interest to the OT, successfully completed the prototype project provided for in the OT and (2) the OT provides for the award of a follow-on production contract or OT to the participant, or a recognized successor in interest to the OT.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION – Background

Vision Aided Navigation Prototype(s)

AAL is interested in Vision Aided Navigation solutions & associated technologies that will enable U.S. Army Soldiers operating in dismounted operations to continue to obtain Position, Navigation, and Timing in areas with limited or no GPS signal.  Because dismounted operations include operating without immediate access to vehicle support, devises carried by a Soldier should be small, lightweight, and capable of operating with low power consumption. 

The intent of this special topic is to develop Vision Aided Navigation capabilities, including component, sub-component, and associated technologies, to allow dismounted Soldiers to continue to operate utilizing limited or no GPS signals, which will enhance dismounted capabilities while reducing the need to overpower jamming systems. 

AAL is interested in the following, non-exhaustive, list of Vision Aided Navigation solutions, though, submitters may submit proposed Vision Aided Navigation solutions that do not meet the following:

– Enhancements to commercial technologies to reduce size, weight, power consumption and reduce cost (SWAP-C) of Vision Aided Navigation technology.

– Options that improve performance and efficiency and/or which can reduce overall cost, through software development.

– Proposed Vision Aided Navigation solutions must meet the following Performance Requirements for Vision Aided Navigation Capabilities:

1. Soldier navigation: <2% error as a function of total distance traveled (dismounted), real-time positioning using Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), Loop Closure, Visual Odometry techniques, or equivalent.
2. Imaging sensors: uncooled micro bolometer, consumer mobile device and thermal cameras, or equivalent.
3. Wavelengths (imaging sensor): visible (400-800 nm), LWIR (7.5-13.5um) Frame rates: up to 60Hz Compatible/Integrated with available GNSS signals, MEMS IMUs
4. SWAP-C:
5. Size, Not to exceed – 6.5 in x 3.5 in x 1.5in (approximate size of DAGR, or less)
6. Weight: Not to exceed 3lbs with batteries
7. Power: Not to exceed 10W (processor, imaging, IMU)
8. Cost: <$2000 per unit, complete system (approximate cost of DAGR)
9.  
10. *Complete component solutions that do not exceed 6.5 in x 3.5 in x 1.4 in (Approximate size of the DAGR); do not exceed 3lbs with batteries, and do not exceed 5W (average) and peak of 10W power consumption may be submitted.

Synopsis: The Army Applications Lab (AAL) along with Command Power and Integration Directorate (CP&ID) – Position Navigation & Timing (PNT) Division, are seeking technologies related to vision based navigation for dismounted Soldiers as a Special Topic under the AAL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911NF-19-S-0004 for Advance Technology Demonstration and related research as described below. Upon receipt, the Government will evaluate submissions through the process established in the AAL BAA, except as modified herein. 

The Government reserves the right to cancel this special notice without award for any reason. Issuance of this notice does not commit the Governments to pay for any preparation costs incurred in compiling a response. As a general matter, all requirements referenced in BAA W911NF-19-S-0004 apply to this effort.

The Government anticipates awarding one or more Other Transaction Agreements (OTA) in accordance with 10 U.S.C 2371b, under this Special Topic, but will consider other potential award types listed in the AAL BAA, to include procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and Technology Investment Agreements. In accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 2371b(f), the Government may award a follow-on production contract or Other Transaction (OT) for any OT awarded under this solicitation if: (1) that participant in the OT, or a recognized successor in interest to the OT, successfully completed the prototype project provided for in the OT and (2) the OT provides for the award of a follow-on production contract or OT to the participant, or a recognized successor in interest to the OT.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION – Background

Vision Aided Navigation Prototype(s)

AAL is interested in Vision Aided Navigation solutions & associated technologies that will enable U.S. Army Soldiers operating in dismounted operations to continue to obtain Position, Navigation, and Timing in areas with limited or no GPS signal.  Because dismounted operations include operating without immediate access to vehicle support, devises carried by a Soldier should be small, lightweight, and capable of operating with low power consumption. 

The intent of this special topic is to develop Vision Aided Navigation capabilities, including component, sub-component, and associated technologies, to allow dismounted Soldiers to continue to operate utilizing limited or no GPS signals, which will enhance dismounted capabilities while reducing the need to overpower jamming systems. 

AAL is interested in the following, non-exhaustive, list of Vision Aided Navigation solutions, though, submitters may submit proposed Vision Aided Navigation solutions that do not meet the following:

– Enhancements to commercial technologies to reduce size, weight, power consumption and reduce cost (SWAP-C) of Vision Aided Navigation technology.

– Options that improve performance and efficiency and/or which can reduce overall cost, through software development.

– Proposed Vision Aided Navigation solutions must meet the following Performance Requirements for Vision Aided Navigation Capabilities:

1. Soldier navigation: <2% error as a function of total distance traveled (dismounted), real-time positioning using Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), Loop Closure, Visual Odometry techniques, or equivalent.
2. Imaging sensors: uncooled micro bolometer, consumer mobile device and thermal cameras, or equivalent.
3. Wavelengths (imaging sensor): visible (400-800 nm), LWIR (7.5-13.5um) Frame rates: up to 60Hz Compatible/Integrated with available GNSS signals, MEMS IMUs
4. SWAP-C:
5. Size, Not to exceed – 6.5 in x 3.5 in x 1.5in (approximate size of DAGR, or less)
6. Weight: Not to exceed 3lbs with batteries
7. Power: Not to exceed 10W (processor, imaging, IMU)
8. Cost: <$2000 per unit, complete system (approximate cost of DAGR)
9.  
10. *Complete component solutions that do not exceed 6.5 in x 3.5 in x 1.4 in (Approximate size of the DAGR); do not exceed 3lbs with batteries, and do not exceed 5W (average) and peak of 10W power consumption may be submitted.