ARL-BAA-W911NF-17-S-0003_Amendment 10.pdf

ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR

BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

W911NF-17-S-0003

01 April 2017 – 31 March 2022

ISSUED BY:

U.S. Army Contracting Command Aberdeen Proving Ground

Research Triangle Park Division

P.O. Box 12211

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2211

Special Notes

1. Formatting of the Announcement

The following table provides an overview of the outline structure of this announcement:

I.

A.

1.

a.

i.

(1)

(a)

(i)

2. See Appendix 1 for a Table of Acronyms used in this announcement.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. OVERVIEW OF THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY 1

A. Required Overview Content 3

1. Agency Name 3

2. Research Opportunity Title 3

3. Announcement Type 3

4. Research Opportunity Number 3

5. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number and Title 3

6. Response Dates 3 B. Additional Overview Information 3

II. DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY 5

A. Program Description 5

1. COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES (CS) CAMPAIGN 5

a. KCI-CS-1: Tactical High Performance Computing (HPC) 5

b. Real-time, Scalable Data Analytics for the Army 6

c. Computational Modeling of Complex Systems 8

d. Computing Sciences for Advanced and Unconventional Computing

Architectures

e. Supercomputing Technologies 12

f. Distributed Simulation, Integration, and Interoperability 12

2. MATERIALS RESEARCH (MR) CAMPAIGN 13

a. KCI-MR-1: Materials for Soldier and Platform Power Systems 13

b. KCI-MR-2: Energy Efficient Electronics and Photonics 17

c. KCI-MR-3: Agile Expedient Manufacturing 17

d. KCI-MR-4: Quantum Sciences 18

e. KCI-MR-5: Energy Coupled to Matter (ECM) for Responsive Materials 19

f. KCI-MR-6: Lightweight Materials 19

g. CCE-MR-1: Designing Materials 20

h. CCE-MR-2: Materials Synthesis and Processing 21

i. CCE-MR-3: Materials Characterization and Discovery 22

j. Photonics 23

k. Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) 25

l. Energy and Power 26

m. Biologically Derived Sensor, Power, Device and Materials Research (MR) 27

n. RF to THz Devices and Integrated Circuit Technology 28

3. SCIENCES FOR MANEUVER (ScMVR) CAMPAIGN 28

a. KCI-ScMVR-1: Force Protection and Augmentation through Intelligent Vehicles

b. KCI-ScMVR-2: Advanced, Electrical Power Technologies and Components 30

c. KCI-ScMVR-3: Discover and Advance Vertical Takeoff and Landing

(VTOL) Innovations, Novel Concepts, and Ideas

d. CCE-ScMVR-1: Advanced Switching and Control for Power Electronics 33

e. CCE-ScMVR-2: High-Power Density and Energy-Efficient Engine and

Drivetrain Technologies

f. CCE-ScMVR-3: Virtual Risk-Informed Agile Maneuver Sustainment

(VRAMS)

g. CCE-ScMVR-4: Mechanics and Dynamics of Complex Systems 37

h. Maneuver System Trade Space Methodology and Tools 38

4. INFORMATION SCIENCES (IS) CAMPAIGN 39

a. KCI-IS-1: Cyber Fire and Maneuver in Tactical Battle 40

b. KCI-IS-2: Taming the Flash-Floods of Networked Battlefield Information 40

c. KCI-IS-3: Acting Intelligently in a Dynamic Battlefield of Information, Agents, and Humans

d. KCI-IS-4: Sensing and Information Fusion for Advanced Indications and Warnings

e. CCE-IS-1: Networking and Communications in Contested and Austere Environments

f. CCE-IS-2: Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Multi-Lingual Computing 42

g. CCE-IS-3: Text and Video Analytics 43

h. CCE-IS-4: Atmospheric Boundary Layer Exploitation 43

i. CCE-IS-5: Sensors, Sensor Phenomenology, and Algorithms 44

j. Electric and Magnetic-Field Sensor Technology 45

k. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 47

l. Technologies for Spectrum Analysis and Control 48

5. SCIENCES FOR LETHALITY AND PROTECTION (ScL/P) CAMPAIGN 48

a. KCI-ScL/P-1: Scalable Lethal Adaptable Weapons Concepts 49

b. KCI-ScL/P-2: Desired Lethal Effects at Standoff Ranges in Constrained

Environments

c. KCI-ScL/P-3: Soldier Lethality and Protection 50

d. KCI-ScL/P-4: Adaptive and Cooperative Protection 50

e. KCI-ScL/P-5: Disruptive Energetic Materials 51

f. CCE-ScL/P-1: Vehicle Protection from Kinetic Threats 51

g. CCE-ScL/P-2: Terminal Ballistics and Blast Effects 52

6. HUMAN SCIENCES (HS) CAMPAIGN 52

a. KCI-HS-1: Robust Human and Machine Hybridization 53

b. KCI-HS-2: Multi-Faceted Assessment of Soldier Variability 53

c. KCI-HS-3: Training Effectiveness Research 54

d. CCE-HS-1: Real World Behavior 55

e. CCE-HS-2: Augmentation 56

f. CCE-HS-3: Training 57

g. CCE-HS-4: Humans in Multi-Agent Systems 61

7. ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT (AA) CAMPAIGN 63

a. KCI-AA-1: Methodology for A&A of Complex Systems and Technologies

Across Multiple Domains

b. KCI-AA-2: Visual, Interactive, Situational Analysis and Assessment 64

c. KCI-AA-3: Analysis and Assessment Methodology for Congested and

Contested Operational Environments

d. CCE-AA-1: Ballistics Survivability, Lethality, and Vulnerability (SLV) 65

e. CCE-AA-2: Cyber Survivability, Lethality, and Vulnerability (SLV) 67

f. CCE-AA-3: Electromagnetic Environment (EME) and Warfare 68

g. CCE-AA-4: Personnel Survivability 69

h. CCE-AA-5: Human Systems Integration (HSI) Modeling and Analysis 70

i. CCE-AA-6: Complex Adaptive Systems Analysis 71

8. OTHER PROGRAMS: Visiting Scientist Program (VSP) 72

9. ARMY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TASK FORCE (AITF) RESEARCH

INTERESTS

B. Federal Award Information 76 C. Eligibility Information 79

1. Eligible Applicants 79

2. Cost Sharing or Matching 79

3. Other 80 D. Application and Submission Information 80

1. Address to View Broad Agency Announcement 80

2. Content and Form of Application Submission 80

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) 93

4. Submission Dates and Times 94

5. Intergovernmental Review 94

6. Funding Restrictions 94

7. Other Submission Requirements 94

8. Program Security Classification 95 E. Application Review Information 96

1. Criteria 96

2. Review and Selection Process 96

3. Recipient Qualification 97 F. Award Administration Information 98

1. Award Notices 98

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements 99

a. Required Representations and Certifications 99

b. Policy Requirements 103

3. Reporting 108 G. Agency Contacts 109 H. Other Information 110

1. Contract Proposals 110

2. Grant and Cooperative Agreement Proposals 118

APPENDIX 1: TABLE OF ACRONYMS 123

I. OVERVIEW OF THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is the Department of the Army’s corporate laboratory and sole fundamental research laboratory. It is dedicated to scientific discovery, technological innovation, and the transition of knowledge products. ARL is situated within the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM) – a U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) Major Subordinate Command (MSC). The ARL mission is to “Discover, innovate, and transition Science and Technology (S&T) to ensure dominant strategic land power”.

To accomplish its mission, ARL executes fundamental research to address enduring S&T challenges identified by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology [ASA(ALT)] and by priorities articulated by the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA).

In addition, the laboratory conducts research and analysis in emerging fields that may realize novel or vastly improved Army capabilities into the deep future (2030 and beyond).

The U.S. Army Artificial Intelligence Task Force (AITF) was created to allow the U.S. Army to better connect with the broader artificial intelligence community and focus their efforts in this dynamic field. AITF seeks to leverage and engage universities and companies from across the nation to support AI research and its applications.

For ease of reference and clarity, the ARL research funding opportunities are organized into two separate funding opportunity announcements: the ARL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and the Army Research Office (ARO) BAA.

The ARL BAA identifies topics of interest to the ARL Directorates (Computational and Information Sciences Directorate, Human Research and Engineering Directorate, Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate, Survivability/Lethality Analysis Directorate, Vehicle and Technology Directorate, and Weapons and Materials Research Directorate) and to the Army Artificial Intelligence Task Force. The Directorates focus on executing in-house research programs, with a significant emphasis on collaborative research with other organizations in an Open Campus setting (Open Campus opportunities are described in detail at http://www.arl.army.mil/www/default.cfm?page=2357). The Directorates fund a modest amount of extramural research in certain specific areas, and those areas are described in this BAA.

The ARL BAA seeks proposals from institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, foreign organizations, foreign public entities, and for-profit organizations (i.e. large and small businesses) for research based on the following S&T campaigns: Computational Sciences, Materials Research, Sciences for Maneuver, Information Sciences, Sciences for Lethality and Protection, Human Sciences, and Assessment and Analysis.

Further details are described in the ARL Technical Strategy and in the ARL S&T Campaigns located at www.arl.army.mil. These documents are subject to periodic refinements which may result in taxonomy inconsistencies. These inconsistencies should not affect the efficacy of the BAA to present a complete portfolio of essential ARL research.

The ARL BAA generally conforms to the portfolio structured around mission, enemy, Key Campaign Initiatives (KCIs) and Core Campaign Enablers (CCEs). KCIs are substantive, long-lived, primarily in-house technical programs focused on pursuing scientific discoveries, innovations, and knowledge product transitions that are expected to lead to greatly enhanced capabilities for the operational Army of 2030 and beyond. KCIs reflect a robust yet aggressive approach, and are delineated by near-term, mid-term, and long-term trajectories. CCEs are enduring technical thrusts dedicated to a fundamental understanding of new concepts and the maturation of foundational technologies and methodologies. The essence of the ARL technical portfolio is captured in the ARL Technical Strategy and by the ARL S&T Campaign Plans.

Proposals are sought for cutting-edge innovative research that could produce discoveries with a significant impact to enable new and improved Army technologies and related operational capabilities and related technologies. The specific research areas and topics of interest described in this document should be viewed as suggestive, rather than limiting.

Prospective applicants contemplating submission of a whitepaper or proposal are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate Technical Point of Contact (TPOC). The TPOCs’ names, telephone numbers, and email addresses are listed immediately after each research area of interest.

If requested by the TPOC, a whitepaper should be prepared in accordance with the instructions contained in this BAA. Upon receipt, a whitepaper will be evaluated and the applicant will be advised of the results. Applicants whose whitepapers receive a favorable evaluation may be encouraged to prepare a proposal in accordance with instructions contained in this BAA. The costs of whitepapers and/or proposals in response to this BAA are not considered an allowable direct charge to any award resulting from this BAA or any other award. It may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect costs specified in FAR 31.205-18. Proposals may be submitted at any time during the announcement period.

The Army has a long history of advocating and supporting research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI). ARL welcomes proposals from HBCUs and MIs in full competition with all applicants who may submit proposals under this BAA. ARL also encourages the inclusion of HBCUs and/or MIs as part of a consortium proposal or as sub-recipients to prime recipients.

In accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and Department of Defense (DoD) and Army policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from the Army.

Applicants submitting proposals are cautioned that only a Contracting or Grants Officer can obligate the Government to any legal instrument involving expenditure of Government funds.

This BAA is also used to solicit research proposals for submission to the RDECOM International Technology Centers.

All administrative inquiries regarding this BAA shall be submitted via email to:

usarmy.rtp.aro.mbx.baa@mail.mil. Scientific and technical questions should be referred to the TPOCs shown following each research area of interest. Interested parties are encouraged to periodically check any of the following websites for updates and amendments to this BAA:

www.grants.gov, www.fbo.gov, and the ARL website, www.arl.army.mil/.

PHILIP PERCONTI

Director, U.S. Army Research Laboratory

(End of Section)

A. Required Overview Content

1. Agency Name:

U.S. Army Research Laboratory

Issuing Acquisition Office:

U.S. Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground, Research Triangle Park (ACCAPG-RTP) Division

2. Research Opportunity Title:

ARL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Basic and Applied Scientific Research for 01 April 2017 – 31 March 2022

3. Announcement Type: Amended Announcement

4. Research Opportunity Number: W911NF-17-S-0003

5. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

Number and Title:

12.431 – Basic Scientific Research

6. Response Dates:

This BAA is a continuously open announcement valid throughout the period from the date of issuance through 31 March 2022, unless announced otherwise. This announcement succeeds ARL BAA W911NF-12-R-0011 (including all amendments) dated 15 May 2012.

B. Additional Overview Information

This BAA sets forth research areas of interest to the ARL. This BAA is issued under paragraph 6.102(d)(2) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which provides for the competitive selection of basic and applied research proposals, and 10 U.S.C. 2358, 10 U.S.C. 2371, and 10 U.S.C. 2371b, which provide the authorities for issuing awards under this announcement for basic and applied research. The definitions of basic and applied research may be found at 32 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 22.105.

Proposals submitted in response to this BAA and selected for award are considered to be the result of full and open competition and in full compliance with the provision of Public Law 98369, "The Competition in Contracting Act of 1984" and subsequent amendments.

The DoD agencies involved in this program reserve the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals submitted in response to this announcement. Due to Government budget uncertainties, no specific dollars have been reserved for awards under this BAA. The participating DoD agencies will provide no funding for direct reimbursement of whitepaper or proposal development costs.

Whitepapers and technical and cost proposals (or any other material) submitted in response to this BAA will not be returned to the applicant. Unless noted in an applicant's proposal to the contrary, unsuccessful proposals will be retained for six (6) months from declination and then properly destroyed. It is the policy of participating DoD agencies to treat all proposals as sensitive, competitive information and to disclose their contents only for the purposes of evaluation.

An applicant may withdraw a proposal at any time before award by written notice or by email sent to the government point of contact identified in Section G of this BAA.

II. DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

A. Program Description

1. COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES (CS) CAMPAIGN

The CS Campaign focuses on advancing the fundamentals of predictive simulation sciences, data intensive sciences, computing sciences, and emerging computing architectures to transform the future of complex Army applications. Gains made through these underpinning multidisciplinary research efforts and exploiting emerging advanced computing systems will lead to scientific breakthroughs that are expected to have significant impact on Army materiel systems. Technologies resulting from this multidisciplinary research collaboratively with other ARL S&T campaign innovations will have a significant impact on Power Projection Superiority, Information Supremacy, Lethality and Protection Superiority, and Soldier Performance Augmentation for the Army of 2030.

Represented in this BAA for the CS Campaign are one KCI and five CS-related topics that are integrated to form a robust advanced computing foundation to understand and overcome complex fundamental challenges simultaneous to improving approaches of importance to the Army, including weapon systems design; materials-by-design; information dominated and networked battle command applications; system-of-systems analyses; human performance modeling; platform maneuverability; and tactical supercomputers. The campaign heavily relies on ARL’s research expertise and facilities devoted to emerging advanced computing architectures, mobile High Performance Computing (HPC), multi-scale and interdisciplinary predictive simulation sciences, multi-dimensional distributed data analytics, and computing sciences. Discoveries and innovations made in this area will exert a significant impact on the Army of the future. There are natural synergies among the challenges facing ARL’s CS Campaign and ARL’s other S&T campaigns. Synergistic advances across all campaigns are expected to enable next generation scientific breakthroughs.

a. KCI-CS-1: Tactical High Performance Computing (HPC)

This KCI concentrates on understanding and exploiting the fundamental aspects of hardware and associated system software for emergent and future computing architectures for mobile, scientific, and data intensive applications. Computing systems include both mobile and fixed/virtual architectures optimized for fast communications, low power consumption, large hierarchical memory, novel and robust algorithms, high resiliency, and HPC networking.

i. Tactical HPC integrates four primary research areas, including 1) advanced computing research to facilitate the efficient use of emerging architectures; new algorithm design and analysis approaches must be developed to boost the computing capacity of fixed and deployed devices; 2) research in provisioning these systems within a distributed computing architecture;

this work includes novel concepts to schedule computing tasks over friendly networked processors to limit network hop to appropriate resources; 3) dynamic binary translation to limit software re-writes and facilitate optimization in a runtime environment to achieve maximum performance; and 4) power- and architecture-aware computing for enhanced intelligence of provisioning systems to design systems that have greater awareness of their computing capacity and mission appropriateness. The critical, mobile ad hoc networks that will form the connections in tactical cloudlets to the large-scale databases and complex applications that will be performed by these resources make this research uniquely military and Army in nature.

Numerous applications are envisioned for this system in the future and include artificial intelligence aids for decision making, processing large-scale datasets (text, video), and navigation systems for autonomous vehicles (HPC-enabled autonomous vehicles providing on-demand processing).

ii. Emergent Computing Architectures research focuses on light weight architectures, large scale on-chip parallelism, and exascale performance to support petascale computing with multicore processors. These research efforts are also dedicated to developing novel algorithms and application formulations that facilitate the input and output rates required for petascale computing; and application development and performance optimization for next generation computing architectures.

iii. Tactical Computing research is focused on better understanding algorithms and applications which facilitate seamless reach back to large-scale HPC systems and help to supply information to the Soldier at the tactical edge. Research in this area is dedicated to moving beyond optimizing devices in isolation, and embraces the challenges of cross-environment co-design to address the needs of emerging tactical applications.

iv. Next Generation Computing Architectures research is focused on non-traditional computing systems and envisioned to provide disruptive technologies for the Army. Cognitive computing, neuro-synaptic computing, and DNA computing are some emerging concepts.

TPOC: Song Park, (410) 278-5444, song.j.park.civ@mail.mil

Computational Sciences (CS) Related Topics:

b. Real-Time, Scalable Data Analytics for the Army

This topic focuses on understanding and exploiting the fundamental aspects of large-scale, real time, multi-variate data analytics. Experiments, observations, and numerical simulations are on the verge of generating extreme quantities of data at ever increasing rates that must be processed for understanding and consumption. These massive amounts of data are distributed across disparate locations and pose a challenge in providing real-time analytics that support U.S. military operations.

i. Brain-inspired computing research addresses the fundamental question of how our understanding of neuroscience, brain structure, and function inform the development of computing architectures to address Army research challenges. For instance, current models underlying existing machine learning are based on a 40 year old understanding of the structure and organization of animal brains. This research focuses on the design of neural network structures informed by our current understanding of the repeating micro-structure circuits neuroscience has discovered in brains. The benefits of this research may be the discovery of computing structures that are more powerful and learn more generally than the structures currently used.

ii. Science of Large Data research is focused on pursuing theoretical developments and innovations to provide immersion in high dimensional data and very large-scale sets. These efforts are dedicated to discovering, evolving, and maturing analytic algorithms that efficiently scale to facilitate rapid analyses of massive data sets. The primary goal of this research area is to realize Army-relevant, high accuracy, predictive models based on massive data sets, which take advantage of emerging computing architectures. Additional areas of relevant research interest is maturation of methodologies to reduce data set dimensionality prior to modeling, thereby greatly shortening computational time.

iii. Computational Methods for Large-scale data analytics research is focused on identifying, evolving, and maturing innovative computational algorithms and methodologies to describe, model, simulate, solve, explore, and optimize control and coordination of computational systems impacted through physical events. Dynamic discrete event systems are data intensive and exist in many technological applications relevant to the Army, from communications to system-of-systems, to quantum sciences.

iv. Data Intensive Computing Methods include the creation of scalable mathematical algorithms, predictive computational methods, real-time data analytics, model order reduction, human cognition based mathematical approaches, neuro- and biologically-inspired methods, science analyzing large-scale data from wearable electronics/technologies, large-scale data sensing/compression methodologies, large-scale visual analytics, live-virtual methods for training, data mining/learning mathematical algorithms for distributed heterogeneous computing systems. Computational scalable algorithmic research in cognitive behavior, artificial intelligence, human-machine interactions, and autonomous networks is also integral to this work. Novel methods to create systems capable of computing in memory and accommodating large amounts of unstructured data storage are critical to far-term success.

v. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence research focuses on the development of new methods and algorithms, and how to optimally implement these approaches on emerging and specialized processors. The focus is to allow for novel discovery methods using machine learning and artificial intelligence approaches, and also optimized processing speeds to allow for satisfaction of fixed-time response requirements found in applications such as autonomous maneuver.

TPOC: Manuel Vindiola, (410) 278-9151, manuel.m.vindiola.civ@mail.mil.

c. Computational Modeling of Complex Systems

The subject topic concentrates on the fundamental aspects of CS to enable multi-disciplinary and multi-scale modeling and simulation (M&S) to predict, quantify, assess, and optimize the performance and response of complex systems, and system of systems, enabling rapid design, development, and transition particularly in cases where laboratory experimental approaches are costly and difficult to conduct, and/or are not feasible. Proposals are requested for the following areas:

i. Computational Mathematics and Algorithms research encompasses a range of disciplines seeking computational methods to solve fundamental equations. Solutions may be sought for existing equations, or new equations may be developed expressly for the purpose of treating problems of interest to the Army. Problems in which the equations can be expressed in the form of partial differential equations stem from the basic science and engineering disciplines spanning characteristic length scales from sub-atomic to continuum, neural signals, stochastic variables, and design theory. Broad classes of problems may also require considerable specialization of solutions based on the platform used to obtain them.

ii. Scientific Computing Research seeks understanding of phenomena that pertain to the scientific pursuits in and across traditional scientific disciplines that lack relevant computational capabilities. The problems are interdisciplinary, multi-physics with disparate intrinsic length and time scales. The equations, algorithms, and conceptual representation can change with respect to multi-dimensions (including space and time traversing scales or crossing the boundaries between scientific disciplines). Simulations bridging multi-scale domains are instrumental in discovering and revealing mechanisms and physics-based predictions (e.g., in materials, chemical and biological dispersion; micro-systems; biological ecosystems; and computer and human networks). High fidelity computations at the individual relevant scales, as well as research into mathematics and computational algorithms bridging these scales through innovative and scalable methodologies, including finite element methods, particle methods, and meshless methods applied to Computational Mechanics, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Computational Structural Mechanics (CSM), Computational Electromagnetics and Acoustics (CEA), and Computational Chemistry and Materials (CCM), are required.

iii. Applied Computer Modeling and Analysis is focused on using predictive and reliable computational capabilities and tools to impact the design and deployment of critical Army systems and devices. CS-based enabling tools are required to perform large-scale system analysis from complex model development to detailed analytics. This includes innovative and scalable methods for Discrete Event Simulation (DES) that can be useful to a wide variety of performance and optimization problems in complex Army systems.

iv. Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) research is focused on determining and quantifying simulations performance as intended, considering the range of conditions where models and simulations reproduce observed behavior within acceptable tolerances and established confidence levels. UQ research is concerned with novel and efficient concepts and methodologies for high-fidelity assessment on the level of agreement in sets of models relative to input and output data, as well as the variations in interdependent models due to various physics, mathematical, and numerical assumptions. UQ methodologies, integrated with data sciences and machine learning will enable tools for: (1) identifying deficiencies in simulations;

(2) setting guidelines for adequacy of computational results; (3) exploring the impact of known variability and uncertainty of input; and (4) control of adaptive algorithms to achieve specified levels of accuracy to aid decisions from design to operational planning.

v. Multi-scale Modeling focuses on the development of new systems and models of complex phenomena by significantly reducing development time and evaluation costs. This goal can be achieved with: 1) high-fidelity physical models at multiple scales; and 2) computational methodologies (numerical methods and associated algorithms) to enable rapid creation of new high-fidelity multi-scale computer models of complex systems capable of utilizing modern extreme-scale computing.

The success of multi-scale modeling hinges on the ability to combine at-scale models into a multi-scale model. However, few numerical methodologies and associated algorithms have been developed so far to enable such scale-bridging. Moreover, many at-scale models are extremely demanding computationally and render any multi-scale model utilizing them unsuitable for practical applications. While surrogate modeling allows reduction of this computational cost, most methodologies for surrogate modeling are global, and thus are characterized by a relatively high cost. New adaptive, non-local surrogate modeling methodologies are needed, which can bring the computational cost to tractable levels. Finally, at-scale models are frequently endowed with uncertainty due to various sources, such as natural fluctuations, model parameters, or model form. This uncertainty and natural variability must be consistently incorporated into multi-scale computer models in order to enable computational design.

(1) Four main areas will be the focus of the effort in multi-scale CS:

(a) Hierarchical Multi-scale Framework

(b) Discrete Dislocation Dynamics

(c) Phonon and Electron Transport

(d) Density Functional Theory

(2) The strategic approach to these focus areas include:

(a) Shortened development time and evaluation costs of novel energetic materials by allowing macro-scale response to be accurately predicted directly from composition and chemical reactivity at the molecular level.

(b) Development of novel materials for battery applications through expedited computational evaluation of potential compositions.

(c) Advanced Soldier protective equipment and vehicle occupant protection through accurate multi-scale prediction of skeletal fracture in comprehensive analysis and design simulations.

(d) Accelerated material development for Army applications enabled by high-fidelity multi-scale simulation methodologies (Materials by Design).

vi. Interdisciplinary Sciences research includes the development of fully validated, large-scale parallel software, which will simulate multi-scale, complex systems in multiple technology areas. This software will integrate diverse temporal and spatial scale models, some running concurrently for highly coupled system components, and others sequentially, as dictated by the system functionality. The highly coupled model components may be separate executables, running at different time scales and potentially on different computational platforms. Some of the components may be commercial or third-party software packages where only the executable is available. The data exchange and particulars of the execution would be transparent to the user. Multi-scale analysis and material by design are supported through this scalable computational methodologies and software. The system software would be integrated with optimization algorithms and capabilities for determining design sensitivity and UQ. Use of reduced order models will provide varying levels of computational speed and fidelity for different needs, and will facilitate coupling through reduced data sets across distinct physical representations of system components.

TPOC: Ernest Chin, (410) 306-1988, ernest.s.chin.civ@mail.mil, and Jarek Knap, (410) 2780420, jaroslaw.knap.civ@mail.mil.

d. Computing Sciences for Advanced and Unconventional Computing Architectures

Focuses on understanding and exploiting the fundamental aspects of hardware and associated system software for emergent and future computing architectures for mobile, scientific, and data intensive applications. Computing systems include both mobile and fixed/virtual architectures optimized for fast communications, low power consumption, large hierarchical memory, novel and robust algorithms, high resiliency, and HPC networking. Computing science is focused on developing the understanding, tools, techniques, and methodologies to fully exploit emerging computing architectures through realization efficient parallel task algorithms and take advantage of memory hierarchies. These efforts are expected to greatly reduce the time required to re-state algorithms in parallel form and with correct implementation faults and bugs.

i. Programming Languages and Processes research is focused on exploring research activities on adaptable operating system, behavioral programming languages, domain specific languages (DSL), and novel libraries. DSL’s will raise the level of abstraction of the codes that programmers write, both to maintain portability across increasingly diverse hardware and to give the language implementation more scope for choosing the best route to map a program on to the most appropriate computing hardware.

ii. Programming Environments (PE) research is focused on simplifying HPC processes associated with application analysis and software development. Application enabling and data sharing environments are focused on assisting scientific software developers, scientists and engineers, and software users with ease of using evolving computing systems for data intensive applications. Disparate data from scientific simulations, experimental, sensors, and observations pose research challenges in making seamless integration with evolving computing systems.

iii. Software integration is focused on using components of different application software, and integrating software modules to achieve a different functionality. One approach to achieve better software, more quickly and at lower cost, is to adopt a design process that is based on systematic software reuse. The evolution of computing infrastructure is creating new challenges, ranging from energy-aware software development to software for massively parallel and distributed systems.

iv. Distributed Computing-Based Algorithms for Quantum Networks and Quantum Control addresses one of the key roles of HPC for the Army: rapid processing of data that is obtained from sources distributed over different platforms and locations. Exploiting quantum phenomena has the potential to harness distributed information in powerful new ways, and may also allow distributed processing of such information well beyond present capabilities. The goal of this effort is to:

(1) Understand how to design and control quantum networks to harness and process information from distributed sources, and how to do so securely and efficiently.

(2) Explore how quantum networks may gain an advantage over traditional parallel processing by applying distributed operations to distributed information. An important enabler for this research is the ability to model and simulate quantum networks. A significant part of this effort is therefore devoted to developing efficient methods for modeling and simulating open quantum systems and networks of these systems.

v. Co-Design of Algorithms and Hardware for Unconventional Computing Architectures research addresses the issues associated with advanced computing architectures that are becoming more complex with memory hierarchies, which are laid out as parallel processors with multiple processing cores. To harness the computational capability of these advanced computing architectures, new algorithms and software development paradigms are needed, especially for the future Army S&T campaigns. In addition to petascale and beyond capability, there is a need for new architectures and algorithms, such as non-von Neumann systems like neuromorphic and quantum computing. Key goals include the development of algorithms and techniques to address power, performance, portability, and efficiency through the construction of domain specific architectures, scalable algorithms, and programming models.

Representative thrust areas include:

(1) Threaded message passing to allow for massive on-core RISC (reduced instruction set computer) -based architecture parallelism.

(2) Compiler-based software deployment, on neuromorphic architectures, focusing on a single control flow construct as a baseline.

(3) 3D rendering coupled with 3D printing of scientific visualization and modeling predictions of experimentation for verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification

TPOC: Dale Shires, (410) 278-5006, dale.r.shires.civ@mail.mil, James Ross, (410) 278-9556, james.a.ross176.civ@mail.mil

e. Supercomputing Technologies

Focuses on delivering world-class HPC capabilities to the DoD S&T and Test and Evaluation (T&E) communities. These capabilities provide DOD scientists and engineers with the resources necessary to solve the most demanding computational problems. The capabilities include large scale HPC systems, high speed networks, multi-terabyte archival mass storage systems, data analysis and assessment, and computational software expertise.

TPOC: Howard Kash, (410) 278-6507, howard.m.kash.civ@mail.mil.

f. Distributed Simulation, Integration, and Interoperability

Existing simulation systems can be characterized as black boxes that interface externally allowing internal computations to be non-standard between models representing phenomena, which introduces fair fight issues and additional inconsistencies. Moreover, the desired contemporary uses of simulation often call for the ability to access simulation capabilities at the point of need. In parallel, computer science and computing technology continue to evolve providing unique opportunities for innovation in simulation.

The Distributed Simulation, Integration and Interoperability CCE researches and develops methods and means to enable a simulation architecture that is truly based on composable models and services as opposed to the traditional method of various simulations interoperating.

It aims to enable robust Army simulation capabilities with composable synthetic representations delivered where they’re needed in the form in which they’re needed.

ARL is interested in research studies, demonstrations and development involving areas such as:

(1) Methods and means that enable a single simulation architecture capable of supporting complex real-time and non-real-time uses

(2) M&S as a service across geographically distributed areas

(3) Application of advances in computing to the simulation domain

(4) Novel encapsulation of military representations, models and data

(5) Exploration of Digital Engineering, Model-Based Systems Engineering and other trade space analysis methodologies in the context of simulation environments

Research activities should be demonstrated through uses cases relevant to the six Army M&S Communities (Acquisition, Analysis, Experimentation, Intelligence, T&E and Training).

TPOC: Christopher McGroarty, (407) 208-3323, christopher.j.mcgroarty.civ@mail.mil.

2. MATERIALS RESEARCH (MR) CAMPAIGN

The MR Campaign focuses on fundamental research to provide superior materials and devices needed to achieve lasting strategic land power dominance. MR cross-cuts ARL’s four focused S&T campaigns by providing materials with superior properties to address emerging requirements and capabilities for all Army platforms. The Army of 2030 will require materials with unprecedented capabilities that can be rapidly grown or synthesized, and processed cost-effectively to enable Army platforms that are highly mobile, information reliant, lethal, and protected.

The MR Campaign has developed six KCIs, three CCEs, and four MR-related topics that are designed to address the future Army’s need to rapidly respond to emerging threats and to eliminate tactical surprise – caused by the proliferation of advanced technology by our adversaries – by creating a materials by-design and on-demand enterprise; and a manufacturing science engine to ensure rapid progression from materials discovery to delivery, with the goal of producing materials in greatly reduced timeframes and at a fraction of the cost compared to today.

a. KCI-MR-1: Materials for Soldier and Platform Power Systems

Design of Soldier and platform power as a system is required to enable indefinite power for tactical units and significantly reduces the logistics tail for power resupply. To accomplish this requires significant materials and device advancement in the areas of alternative energy, advanced energy storage, and energy conversion. This KCI focuses on increasing power supply in the three focus areas: (i) Alternative energy; (ii) Advanced energy storage; and (iii) Energy conversion technologies.

The Alternative Energy area focuses on developing ultraenergetic materials and radioisotope power sources. Radioactive isotopes represent the greatest possible energy density, about 108

Wh/kg, achievable without the use of nuclear reactors – at more than 100,000 times the intrinsic energy density of chemicals, radioisotopes are truly ultra-energetic materials. Isotopes and isomers of greatest interest are those with half-lives exceeding 10 years, while their corresponding ground states may be stable or, in many cases, unstable. A research objective in support of the application of this technology is to understand the physics underlying radiation hard materials, and to measure efficiencies for related power sources. As a separate technology, wireless power is focused to enable truly wireless distribution in which loads and sources are free to move while maintaining power levels and efficiency.

The Advanced Energy Storage area focuses on developing new materials and components for very high energy density and high power density batteries as well as novel energy storage technologies for Army capabilities. Battery research is focused on developing new materials for high voltage, high temperature, extended cycle life, and high power energy storage for military environments and applications. Development of embedded, flexible, multifunctional structures that provide the required structural and power/energy performance under combined load without compromising the safety or integrity of the target platform are being sought.

The Energy Conversion Technologies area focuses on mechanical and thermal conversion systems, used to generate electrical energy from Soldier power systems to base level power generators or to generate mechanical energy for ground and air vehicles. Efforts are focused on compact thermal sources that generate thermal energy efficiently from transportable fuels. A primary goal is to integrate the thermal source with thermal-to-electric energy converters for Soldier and Soldier system power sources capable of 1000 Wh/kg energy densities. Fuel cells as energy conversion devices offer improvements in energy density; however, miniaturization and cost reductions are necessary. Acid-alkaline hybrid fuel cell stack designs can help meet these needs and motivate the development of anion exchange membranes (AEMs). The JP-8 reformation research and development (R&D) program is directed at reformation of JP-8 fuel into a hydrogen rich alternative fuel for downstream power generation. Essential will be the development of liquid phase desulfurization process and Pd-composite membrane for hydrogen separation.

i. Electrochemical Power Production and Energy Storage areas of interest are:

(1) Active and Reserve Primary Batteries for Munitions Applications: Research of new battery chemistries, materials, and battery designs for improved thermal and liquid electrolyte reserve batteries capable of supplying power densities from 20 to 400 Watts/liter after 10 or more years of storage. Primary areas of interest are: thin-film thermal battery chemistries, materials, components, or production methodologies for batteries with faster activation, higher power, smaller volume, more-flexible form-factor, greater mechanical robustness, or better production efficiency; and new forms of heat sources that would be compatible with the thin-film thermal battery technology. Storage and operation are required over the full military temperature range.

(2) Primary Lithium Batteries: Research in battery chemistries for cells and stacks of cells for man-portable applications using environmentally-friendly materials capable of providing better service than the Army's present general-purpose Li/SO2 and Li/MnO2 batteries.

Emphasis is on modification of commercial chemistries to permit all-weather storage and use.

This may include Li/air, Li/S and Li/CFx formulations. The development of manufacturing technology for these batteries is an area of interest.

(3) Rechargeable Li (Li-Ion) Batteries: Research in electrode and electrolyte materials for cells and stacks of cells using liquid or polymeric electrolytes capable of providing, at the packaged cell level, specific energies greater than 250 Wh/kg, specific power greater than 50 W/kg continuous, and greater than 10 kW/kg pulse power over the full military temperature range. Hybrid energy storage technology that provides both high power and extended cycle life, beyond conventional Li-ion, at a moderate energy density. The development of manufacturing technology for these batteries is an area of interest.

(4) Advanced battery chemistries to include multivalent materials such as magnesium and aluminum. Research of components, especially electrolytes and cathodes to allow stable operation. Research in Aqueous Li-ion to provide high energy and safe li-ion batteries for Soldier carried applications. Investigation in Lithium rechargeable batteries including Li-S and Li-Air as well as development of new cathodes and electrolytes for rechargeable lithium batteries that reduce or eliminate dendrite formation. Advanced solid electrolytes for all solid state batteries and molten salt batteries including advanced processing of solid electrolytes into dense robust membranes required for cell manufacture.

(5) Batteries for grid storage applications that include molten salt batteries, dual intercalation batteries, and aqueous electrolyte storage batteries.

(6) Fuel Cells: R&D of improved low temperature alkaline and acid based polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and components including catalysts for use with alcohol and solid fuels. Use M&S to solve and improve fuel cells performance. The development of hydrocarbon fuel reformers and reformer components, including desulfurizers and sulfur tolerant reformer catalysts to provide hydrogen for fuel cells are areas of interest. The development of medium and high temperature fuel cells and components for the direct utilization of hydrocarbon fuels or impure hydrogen is also an area of interest.

(7) Fast Discharge Pulse Power Capacitors: Research of film capacitor technology including the development of high energy density dielectric films, impregnants, metallization and manufacturing technology for capacitors that can provide energy densities > 2.0 J/cc with a DC life over 2000 hours, and discharge time is the microseconds range.

(8) High Temperature Capacitors for Power Electronics: R&D of high temperature polymeric dielectrics including process development for high temperature thin film manufacturing. The capacitors made of such thin film dielectric should be operable at temperatures over 125oC, preferably over 150 degrees C. The capacitors shall have the following characteristics: a dissipation factor below 0.5 percent, insulation resistance greater than 105 ohm-farad at 125oC, operational life of greater than 10,000 hours at frequency greater than 20 kHz and rms current greater than 1.0 A/microfarad.

ii. Ultra-Energetic Materials and Energy Storage areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Radioisotopes and Nuclear Isomers: Develop and study approaches to the control of nuclear emission and/or nuclear decay rates. Investigate nuclear structure of isomeric nuclei, particularly focused on long-lived isomers from which gamma or charged particle emission could be utilized for power sources.

(2) Radioisotope/Nuclear Isomer Energy Conversion: Develop and study improved concepts for conversion of nuclear decays into usable electrical power. Techniques using liquids or novel materials are of interest for long-lived micro-power sources.

TPOC: Marc S. Litz, (301) 394-5556, marc.s.litz.civ@mail.mil, and James Carroll, (301) 3941411, james.j.carroll99.civ@mail.mil.

iii. Topological materials for energy efficient electronics operating at or near room temperature. Research interest includes, but is not restricted to, the following:

(1) Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth and characterization of thin layers of topological materials (topological insulators, Dirac and Weyl semimetals, topological superconductors).

(2) Theoretical and experimental investigation of the magnetotransport properties of topological surface states of three dimensional topological insulators, and the magnetotransport characteristics of two-dimensional topological insulators.

(3) Topologically enabled devices and technology based on active heteroepitaxial interfaces between topological materials and ferroic materials, as well as topological materials and high temperature superconductors.

(4) Investigations of proximity-induced superconductivity in topological materials.

(5) Magneto-terahertz investigations of topological surface states of three…