Programmability of Niche Military Open Architectures

TECH FOCUS AREAS: Network Command, Control and Communications; Autonomy; Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors; Information Systems OBJECTIVE: Develop programmability aid technologies to enable broad adoption of military sensor software focused open architectures. DESCRIPTION: Open architectures (OAs) provide mechanisms for faster technology refresh, technology insertion, and enable a more competitive market. Adoption drives many of the benefits of OAs by allowing reuse and transfer of technology between systems. To be successful an OA must be published, public, and popular. However, many OAs struggle with adoption once published and public. Due to the timelines involved in OA development, they can emerge with outdated or insufficient programmability aids. The Air Force seeks solutions to enable broad adoption of emerging software focused Open Architectures including STITCHES, COARPs, and OMS. Phase I work will focus on COARPs, enabling the rapid integration of radar sensors, processors, and modes. Ideas may include but are not limited to: IDE improvements for automatic code generation or validation, integrated training, DevOps integrations, integration of data ingesters, playback tools, or any other programmability aids that can be shown to ease transition/adoption or modernize software development workflows. Acronyms: SOSITE STITCHES System of Systems Integration Technology and Experimentation (SoSITE) - SoS Technology Integration Tool Chain for Heterogeneous Electronic Systems (STITCHES) COARPs: Common Open Architecture for Radar Programs OMS: (Open Mission Systems) PHASE I: Determine appropriate programmability solutions. Consolidate lessons learned from multiple COARPs mode development projects into a technology implementation roadmap and adoption focused strategy to implement through technology development and insertion in Phase II. PHASE II: Phase II will consist of expanding on and implementing the solution developed in Phase I. The programmability and adoption roadmap developed in Phase I will be prototyped and additional lessons learned developed. Phase II will require working directly with mode and software developers on detailed requirements definition for the programmability aids. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Phase III will focus on maturing the prototype technologies and processes developed in Phase II into commercial technologies. While potential commercial application and potential commercial customers are important in all three phases (especially to aid in requirements definition and feedback), they are especially important to success in Phase III. COARPs is a dual use technology, and it is expected that radar developers will be the primary customer of the products of this SBIR, with the government benefiting through increased adoption of the standard by industry. Dual Use: A primary goal of open architectures and COARPs in particular is to enable small businesses and non-traditional tech providers to be competitive in traditionally OEM/Prime and military industry areas. COARPs enables radar software development by 3rd parties, enabling a growing commercial sector for these technologies. NOTES: The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the proposed tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 5.4.c.(8) of the Announcement and within the AF Component-specific instructions. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. Please direct questions to the Air Force SBIR/STTR Help Desk: usaf.team@afsbirsttr.us REFERENCES: 1. COARPs Program Virtual Distributed Laboratory (VDL): Contact Austin Klaus for access DAU Definition of Open Architectures: https://www.dau.edu/glossary/Pages/GlossaryContent.aspx?itemid=28062 KEYWORDS: COARPs; Open Architectures; programmability; automatic code generation; code validation;