Precision Inertial Navigation & Positioning On an Integrated Tesseract (PINPOINT)
DARPA seeks proposals to develop radically new inertial sensors and control systems for advanced navigation in tactical and unmanned missions, moving beyond current MEMS IMU technology.
Funder: DARPA - Defense Sciences Office
Due Dates: August 27, 2026: Proposal abstract due (by 4:00 p.m. ET) | September 15, 2026: Question submittal closed (by 4:00 p.m. ET) | September 25, 2026: Full proposal due (by 4:00 p.m. ET)
Funding Amounts: Multiple awards anticipated; Phase I duration is 24 months; no specified ceiling or floor.
Summary: Supports innovative R&D on advanced inertial measurement units (IMUs) for tactical and unmanned systems, targeting breakthroughs in physics and nonlinear control.
Key Information: Proposal abstract submission is mandatory before full proposal; CMMC Level 1 compliance required for contracts/OTs.
Description
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office is seeking proposals for revolutionary research and development in the physics and nonlinear control of inertial measurement units (IMUs) suitable for tactical and unmanned missions. The program aims to overcome the longstanding performance limitations of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) IMUs by exploring novel sensor architectures operating in highly nonlinear regimes. This includes, but is not limited to, technologies such as electromagnetically levitated proof masses, nonlinear resonators, and high-velocity tethered microsystems.
A key focus is the co-design of new physical sensor packages with advanced, real-time adaptive control systems to stabilize and exploit complex dynamics, enabling substantial advances in IMU performance. The program specifically excludes research that offers only incremental improvements to existing technologies.
The solicitation covers Phase I of the PINPOINT program (24 months), focusing on proof-of-concept demonstrations, simulation models, and delivery of prototype IMUs, along with a comprehensive design guide and prototype design kit (PDK). Anticipated applications include precision munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other defense-relevant inertial sensor use cases. Proposals must target a single application and provide challenging, quantitative performance metrics.
