Recurring slope linae (RSL), such as those in newton crater on mars, methane plumes in hazardous martian terrain, and water ICE discovered during the lcross experiment in the moon?S permanently…
Ended Definitive Contract Awarded Last action
- Contract number
- NNX16CK16C
- Awardee
-
Astrobotic Technology Inc. UEI JAQ3W2MGVNV1
- Awarding agency
-
Shared Services Center
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Obligated
- $1,174,266
Award facts
- Opportunity
-
- NNX16STTR2 Solicitation number
- Contract value 100% obligated
- $1,174,266.00 Current and potential, with all options
- Completion date 100% complete
- Current and potential, with all options
- Contracting staff
- NAICS code
- 541712 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Set-aside
- Total Small Business
- Competition
- Full and Open Competition after exclusion of sources · 500 offers Negotiated Proposal / Quote
- Pricing
- Firm Fixed Price
- Place of performance
- Pittsburgh, PA 15222, USA
- Research
- STTR Phase II
Award details come from SAM.gov/FPDS.
Transactions
| Action | Obligated | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Other Administrative Action | $0 | |
| Other Administrative Action | $0 | |
| Other Administrative Action | $0 | |
| Other Administrative Action | $0 | |
| Exercise an Option | $420,000 | |
| Other Administrative Action | $0 | |
| Original award | $754,266 |
About this award
This is a STTR Phase II contract awarded by NASA to Astrobotic Technology Inc., a Pittsburgh-based space robotics company. The $1,174,266 fixed-price contract is focused on developing autonomous exploration capabilities for robotic probes to access and analyze extreme terrain features on the Moon and Mars, such as recurring slope lineae, methane plumes, and permanently shadowed craters with water ice. The work aims to advance perceptual models and algorithms that enable robots to make decisions about where to explore and sample without direct human guidance, given the communication latency over vast distances. This research is intended to support future planetary surface operations, as well as terrestrial applications like detecting radiation, explosive gases, and mapping urban environments. The contract is set aside for small businesses.
Description
Recurring slope linae (RSL), such as those in newton crater on mars, methane plumes in hazardous martian terrain, and water ICE discovered during the lcross experiment in the moon?S permanently shadowed cabeus crater drive the need for a new generation of robotic explorers that access, probe, extract, and return resources from extreme terrains. These robots must possess sufficient system-level autonomy to operate without human guidance due to latency constraints over vast distances, and must also have perceptual capabilities to analyze sensor measurements and the belief state to make decisions about where to explore and whether a target is worth sampling. This enhanced exploration capability takes advantage of perceptual models that can encode the probability of the existence of a resource given material properties estimated from current and prior sensor measurements. The proposed program innovates novel perceptual models and exploration algorithms that maximize the likelihood of detecting resources if they are present and enables robots to make decisions about where to loiter in order to sample terrain for a particular resource. Beyond topical research, the program will ruggedize phase 1 software to operate in the presence of sensor and state uncertainty, integrate the capabilities on physical robots, and demonstrate results in relevant, subterranean field test. Besides RSL and craters, the research enables exploration and access of cryovolcanoes, steep and deep gullies, and canyons. Terrestrial applications include the detection of radiation in contaminated facilities or explosive gases and flammable dust in mines, surveying urban canyons, and exploring bunkers and caves.
Quick answers
Who was awarded contract NNX16CK16C?
NNX16CK16C was awarded to Astrobotic Technology Inc. by Shared Services Center (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) on September 28, 2016.
How much is contract NNX16CK16C worth?
The government has obligated $1,174,266 on NNX16CK16C.
Was contract NNX16CK16C competed?
The extent of competition for NNX16CK16C was full and open competition after exclusion of sources. The government received 500 offers. It was set aside: Total Small Business.
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