Next-generation Embedded Operator (NEO) Request for Information (RFI)

Notice ID:

DARPA-SN-22-06

Department/Ind. Agency:

DEPT OF DEFENSE

Sub-tier:

DEPT OF DEFENSE

All Dates/Times are:

(utc-05:00) eastern standard time, new york, usa

Updated Published Date:

(utc-05:00) eastern standard time, new york, usa

Original Published Date:

0000-00-00 00:00:00

Original Response Date:

dec 15, 2021 04:00 pm est

Inactive Policy:

15 days after response date

Original Inactive Date:

dec 30, 2021

Initiative:

• None***--***

Product Service Code:

ac13 - national defense r&d services; department of defense national defense r&d services; department of defense

NAICS Code:

541715 - research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences (except nanotechnology and biotechnology)

Original Set Aside:

The complexities of sensors and weapons of the modern aircraft require a pilot to search, sort, and synthesize large amounts of data and information across multiple systems in order to build a mental model of the mission and operational environment. This may result in cognitive overload, loss of situational awareness, and/or reduced mission effectiveness. This cognitive overload on an operator can reach a tipping point where situational awareness is diminished and effective and expedient decision making is hampered. This overload is compounded by natural elements such as daylight and weather, and adversary elements such as multimodal sensors and electronic warfare. The pilot cockpit, largely unchanged since WWII, would benefit from a new generation of human-machine interface to address these increasing complexities. Further, on the twenty-first century battlefield, the benefits of directly viewing the outside world from an aircraft canopy are becoming less significant when weighed against electromagnetic (EM) spectrum threats to the pilot from the adversary. For example, these EM threats include directed energy from high power microwaves (HPM) and lasers, which can target vision or neurological systems. This Request for Information (RFI) from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Tactical Technology Office (TTO) seeks ideas, methodologies, and approaches solely for information and planning purposes. Responses to this RFI may potentially support the development of new DARPA efforts focused on the development of Next-generation Embedded Operator (NEO) environments for manned air platforms. For more information, please see the attached Special Notice.

Primary Point of Contacts:

DARPA/TTO