SBIR / STTR #SOCOM254-007

SOCOM SBIR Solicitation for Acoustic-based sUAS Communication and Stealth Technologies

SOCOM is seeking innovative research and development solutions for acoustic-based technologies to enhance small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) operations: - Government Buyer: - United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), SBIR/STTR Program Office - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors are named; opportunity is open to small businesses with relevant expertise - Products/Services Requested: - Acoustic-based UAS Rainbow Oscillation Refraction Architecture (AURORA) - Part Number: SOCOM254-007 - Applied research for intra-swarm communication and position awareness using sound waves from sUAS propellers - Requirements: spatial decomposition, omnidirectional transmission/reception, collision avoidance, Doppler shift handling, compatibility with heterogeneous sUAS - Silencing with Acoustic Rainbow Emitters (SWARE) - Part Number: SOCOM254-008 - Applied research for low-cost acoustic rainbow emitter to reduce UAS acoustic signature by at least 50%, redirecting sound frequencies for stealth - Phase I Feasibility Study - Assess achievable data rates, system design options, and risk - Phase II Prototype Development - Develop, install, and demonstrate prototype system based on Phase I results - Unique/Notable Requirements: - ITAR-restricted; compliance and disclosure required for any foreign national involvement - No reliance on GPS or radio; decentralized, multi-agent coordination - Must address environmental factors affecting sound propagation - Compatibility with various sUAS models - Contract Details: - Phase I: Firm-fixed-price, up to $175,000, 7-month period of performance - Phase II: Prototype development with deliverables and timelines defined in CDRLs - Place of Performance: - United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) federal facilities - Special Operations Forces government facilities

Description

This solicitation seeks innovative research and development efforts to create an acoustic-based communications system for small uncrewed aerial systems (sUAS) within a swarm. The system should enable intra-swarm communication and relative position awareness by using sound waves generated by sUAS propellers as carrier waves to encode data. Key system attributes include spatial decomposition of sound waves, omnidirectional transmission and reception, collision avoidance, and handling environmental factors affecting sound propagation. The Phase I effort involves a feasibility study to assess achievable data rates and system design options, while Phase II focuses on developing and demonstrating a prototype system.

View original listing