Tactical Behaviors for Autonomous Maneuver
Grant title: Tactical Behaviors for Autonomous Maneuver. Summary: Research program focuses on developing tactics for autonomous agents to maneuver in complex military environments, fostering collaboration among academia, industry, and government.
Funder: Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command
Due Dates: April 24, 2024 (Cycle 2 proposals) | March 27, 2024 (Questions deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $2,100,000 per year for Cycle 2; typical awards are for a 24-month pilot with possible 12-month extensions; multiple awards expected; award ceiling $2,300,000.
Summary: Supports research on coordinated and individual behaviors for small groups of autonomous agents to develop and evaluate tactics for maneuvering in complex, military-relevant environments.
Key Information: Open to higher education, nonprofits, for-profits, and FFRDCs (with restrictions); international applicants eligible; no cost sharing required.
Description
This opportunity, offered by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory (ARL), funds research to advance the science of tactical behaviors for autonomous maneuver. The program aims to develop, experimentally evaluate, and demonstrate coordinated and individual behaviors for small groups of autonomous agents (e.g., robotic teams) operating in complex, adversarial, and military-relevant environments.
The focus is on enabling teams of robots and autonomous systems (RAS) to operate effectively in multi-domain operations, including scenarios with communication disruptions, positioning challenges, and adversarial threats. Research outcomes are expected to inform future Army concepts, improve mission capabilities, and foster robust, resilient, and adaptive planning and execution under uncertainty.
Cycle 2 specifically targets "Preparation for Contact"—how autonomous teams maneuver and make decisions to achieve operational advantage just before engaging with an adversary in unstructured, non-permissive environments.
