SBIR / STTR #DAF27BZ01-DV011

Robotic Workcell for Automated Wire-Harness Installation in Unmanned Systems

The Department of the Air Force seeks a Direct-to-Phase-II effort to automate wire-harness installation for unmanned aircraft and missile systems. - Government buyer: Department of War, through the Department of the Air Force; the initial release identifies the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Materiel Command. The topic is part of the DoW Small Business Innovation Research program. - Opportunity: SBIR topic DAF27BZ01-DV011 seeks development and demonstration of a modular, single-arm robotic workcell. No Phase I awards will be made. - Target applications: Flexible wire harnesses and connectors for unmanned aerial systems and munitions, including the Franklin Affordable Mass Missile (FAMM) and Coyote Missile families. - Requested item: One integrated robotic workcell, combining a COTS collaborative robot arm, reconfigurable base, interchangeable end-effectors, real-time computing, and vision, tactile, and force-torque sensors. No specific manufacturer, part number, or quantity for individual components is identified. - Required services and deliverables: Provide the autonomous software and executables, a cross-program retasking report, a technical data package, and a final performance and verification report. - Key performance requirements: Insertion accuracy of 0.5 mm or better; transition between harness families in under 8 hours; at least 2× throughput improvement; and at least 50% fewer labor hours. The demonstration report must also document insertion-force variation and sample machine-readable digital-thread registry data. - Other stated requirement: CMMC Level 2 (Self). - OEMs and vendors: No equipment manufacturers, software vendors, resellers, or other commercial suppliers are named in the provided materials.

Description

The solicitation topic is titled “Agile Wire Harness Manipulation and Installation for Unmanned Aerial Systems.” It is a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) opportunity under the Department of War's 2027 Broad Agency Announcement, for Direct to Phase 2. The listed component is USAF and the command is AFMC; the topic response deadline is December 25, 2026. The source provides no topic-specific scope details beyond the topic title.

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