Ruggedized Sensors to Increase Driving Visibility and Vehicle Safety

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Integrated Sensing and Cyber OBJECTIVE: Vehicle drivers could benefit from sensor systems that provide enhanced awareness of the vehicle surroundings and improve the driver's ability to operate the vehicle in Degraded Visual Environments (DVE), such as nighttime or low-visibility weather conditions. This topic seeks to provide ruggedized sensor systems that can integrate into vehicles to increase driving visibility and vehicle safety by enabling ADAS capabilities such as Forward/Reverse Collision Warning, Blind Spot Warnings, Automatic Brake Assist, and Road Departure Mitigation. These sensor systems could also enhance visibility of the vehicle's exterior for situational awareness, such as vehicle security or visibility of the rear exterior during towing operations. DESCRIPTION: The objective of this topic is to develop and integrate or ruggedize commercial sensor technology that could enhance the ability of a driver to maneuver and operate ground combat vehicles. This sensor technology will help increase the driver's awareness of the vehicle surroundings, enable advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) for improved vehicle safety and maneuverability, and enhance overall visibility while driving during daytime, nighttime, or combat operations. IMPORTANT: A prize competition, xTechIgnite, will be used to identify small business concerns that meet the criteria for award for this topic. Winners selected from the xTechIgnite prize competition will be the only firms eligible to submit a SBIR proposal under this topic. All other proposals will not be evaluated. See the full xTechIgnite competition details here: https://www.xtech.army.mil/competition/xtechignite/. PHASE I: This topic is accepting Direct to Phase II proposals for a cost up to $2,000,000 for an 18-month period of performance. Proposers interested in submitting a DP2 proposal must provide documentation to substantiate that the scientific and technical merit and feasibility equivalent to a Phase I project has been met. Documentation can include data, reports, specific measurements, success criteria of a prototype, etc. (DIRECT TO) PHASE II: To develop, harden, integrate, and demonstrate technologies to enhance the driver's ability to maneuver and operate the vehicle. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The technologies developed under this topic are directly applicable to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that are common throughout the commercial automobile industry. ADAS improves the driving experience and provides vehicle operation/safety benefits from improved LiDAR, radar, and camera sensor technologies. REFERENCES: 1. https://na.develon-ce.com/en/news-stories/the-cutting-edge/top-safety-features-heavy-equipment 2. https://www.forconstructionpros.com/construction-technology/construction-safety-technology/article/22131512/improved-safety-through-advancements-in-object-detection KEYWORDS: Driving Sensors, Driver Assist System; ADAS; Advanced Driver Assistance Systems; Forward Collison Warning; Reverse Collision Warning; Backup Camera; Autonomous Vehicle; Vehicle Sensors