DON26TZ01-NV007 TITLE: Novel Computing for Streaming Radio Frequency in Low Size, Weight and Power Environments
OUSW (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAI)
COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY PRIORITY AREA(S): Advanced Computing and Software;Integrated Sensing and Cyber;Trusted AI and Autonomy
PROJECTED CMMC LEVEL REQUIREMENT: Level 2 (Self)
OBJECTIVE: Create a small and computationally powerful Radio Frequency (RF) sensor that meets or exceeds the requirements of extremely limited low size, weight, and power (LOW SWaP) platforms. This computational engine should weigh < = 1.5 lbs., require < = 100 watts of power, and be able to ingest and process > = 2 GHz of instantaneous bandwidth of RF spectrum continuously.
DESCRIPTION: Today’s electronic processing technology is not keeping pace with the DOW’s computational demands. Growing networks of new higher resolution and higher fidelity sensors yield vast quantities of data, and deep neural networks are being deployed to reduce these data streams to actionable information for the warfighter. Concurrently, the constraints imposed by network capacity, latency, and data security are driving this sensor processing to the tactical and network edge where the data is collected. This transition is compounding processing throughput shortfalls because of edge platform challenges.
In today’s battle space, the concept of putting payloads on smaller and smaller unmanned platforms is a huge need. This STTR topic focuses on extremely low SWaP RF sensors that can be less than 5 lbs. The critical piece is the computational engine that will turn streaming Intermediate Frequency (IF) (with an Instantaneous Band Width of > = to 2 GHz) and perform the detection and data product formation for RF analysis and eventual classification and localization of emissions in the extremely broad RF spectrum. For these payloads to go on Group 2 or smaller Unmanned l Aerial platforms, the entire sensor package must weigh less than 5 lbs. and the processing engine is allocated less than 1.5 lbs. of this total weight and consume less than 150 Watts. The critical component is a computational engine that is small enough yet computationally powerful enough to make these payloads a reality.
The Navy seeks a single chip and infrastructure that is less than 1 lb. and less than 3 mm on either side. This will include the input/output (I/O) to the sensor data sources, the memory, the computational devices, and the I/O to the operator or decision engine (preferably the decision engine would be part of this device).
These computational engines must meet an extremely high performance metric while being extremely lightweight and energy efficient. The products resulting from this STTR topic will be utilized in Group 1 and 2 UASs as well as buoys that are less than 3 inches in diameter. These devices must be able to be zeroized and support data at rest encryption standards.
Work produced in Phase II is expected to become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and ONR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
PHASE I: Develop and provide a detailed schedule out through Phase II Option periods and a detailed technical description as to how they will achieve success.
Participate in a kickoff meeting during which details on how to get to the final briefing and its specifics will be presented.
If the Phase I Option is exercised, showcase software modules and fundamental breadboard designs.
The final briefing showing specifically how they will meet the following requirements:
- Less than or equal to 3 mm by 3 mm size
- Meeting class B shipboard installation Environmental Qualification Testing (EQT)
- Less than 100 watts energy consumption
- Demonstrate the ability to move 2 GHz of IBW continuously through the pipeline and show what higher order data products will come out the backend
- Data at rest security requirements
- Non-Volatility certification requirements
- Networking architecture demonstrating ability to configure to multiple types of networks.
- Interface descriptions on how external systems will interface and operate the prototype device remotely and locally
- Examples of the user interfaces and the schema for formatting, recording, librarying, and playback
- Cost and schedule program management plan
PHASE II: Participate in a kickoff meeting and present a detailed development plan including costing (recurring and non-recurring separated) development, security and testing plans.
These plans will include:
- detailed technical plans
- detailed security plans
- detailed EQT plans
- detailed lab testing plans (both at developers facility and at government labs) utilizing different types of RF sensors.
- detailed ship installation and at sea testing (Phase II Option will be integration and testing at sea)
After the kickoff meeting and with government concurrence of the plan, focus on developing the solution meeting all the security, environmental qualifications, and performance requirements agreed to.
The system to be developed shall meet the following requirements (as stated in the Phase I section):
- Less than or equal to 3 mm by 3 mm size
- Meeting class B shipboard installation Environmental Qualification Testing (EQT)
- Less than 100 watts energy consumption
- Demonstrate the ability to move 2 GHz of IBW continuously through the pipeline and show what higher order data products will come out the backend
- Data at rest security requirements
- Non-Volatility certification requirements
- Networking architecture demonstrating ability to configure to multiple types of networks.
The prototype system:
- will show compliance with shipboard installation environmental qual requirements
- shall show the ability to perform data at rest encryption and the ability to meet volatility requirements for system posture changes.
- shall show the ability to consume data from a defined sensor and parse and tag this data.
- shall demonstrate the ability to record and playback from both local and remote users
Perform a minimum two lab demonstrations at the developer’s facility and one integration and demonstration at a government lab. The government lab will provide testing and validation of the capabilities and provide immediate feedback to the developer for further refinement of the prototype. Work with the government lab to develop a shipboard installation and testing plan.
The Phase II Option, if exercised, will focus on readying the prototype system to be installed and tested at sea during a government-defined testing event.
It is probable that the work under this effort will be classified under Phase II (see the Description section for details).
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Clearly and in detail describe how this capability will transition to a Navy program of record (POR). This plan will also describe how it will be used in the POR and the initial concept of what data products will be recorded and how.
The government feels that any commercial industries needing real time video / data compression, or greater than 4K video streaming capabilities will benefit from this technology.
REFERENCES:
KEYWORDS: RF Spectrum sensing, RF Payload processing, optical computing, Photonic Convolution, Adaptive processing, Signal detection
TPOC 1
Steven Henry
steven.w.henry1.civ@us.navy.milTPOC 2
Alice Henry
alice.e.henry.civ@us.navy.mil
** TOPIC NOTICE ** |
The Navy Topic above is an "unofficial" copy from the Navy Topics in the DoW FY-26 Release 1 SBIR BAA. Please see the official DoW Topic website at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/solicitation-documents/active-solicitations for any updates. The DoW issued its Navy FY-26 Release 1 SBIR Topics pre-release on April 13, 2026 which opens to receive proposals on May 6, 2026, and closes June 3, 2026 (12:00pm ET). Direct Contact with Topic Authors: During the pre-release period (April 13, through May 5, 2026) proposing firms have an opportunity to directly contact the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the specific BAA topic. The TPOC contact information is listed in each topic description. Once DoW begins accepting proposals on May 6, 2026 no further direct contact between proposers and topic authors is allowed unless the Topic Author is responding to a question submitted during the Pre-release period. DoD On-line Q&A System: After the pre-release period, until May 20, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET, proposers may submit written questions through the DoW On-line Topic Q&A at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login/ by logging in and following instructions. In the Topic Q&A system, the questioner and respondent remain anonymous but all questions and answers are posted for general viewing. DoW Topics Search Tool: Visit the DoW Topic Search Tool at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/ to find topics by keyword across all DoW Components participating in this BAA.
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