Request for Information: Low Resource Computing

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Multi X Office issued a Request for Information on low resource computing paradigms applicable to microsystems, with responses due by July 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. DARPA seeks disruptive concepts at the material, component, runtime, and authoring levels that enable computation within severe resource constraints—particularly low power, low memory, low reliability, and low technological level approaches—for Department of War operations in austere environments with limited power, communication, or physical space. Respondents must address at least one category from Section 1 (Physical Resources) and may optionally address Section 2 (Logical Resources) categories including low trust frameworks, low privilege computing, self-hosting architectures, and minimal cognitive load systems. DARPA explicitly excludes incremental processor improvements, solutions relying on high-bandwidth connectivity or commercial power grids, and conventional CPU/GPU approaches. Technical responses are limited to four pages for a single Section 1 category or eight pages if addressing both sections, submitted as unprotected Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or PDF files to DARPA-SN-26-97@darpa.mil. Submissions must include a cover page with organizational and contact information, technical response addressing capabilities and development strategy, a two-page references section, and a one-slide summary, using 11-point font and one-inch margins. DARPA plans to hold an invitation-only workshop in August 2026 in Hanover, New Hampshire and may request selected white paper submitters to present. This RFI is for information and planning purposes only; submission is voluntary and will not be reimbursed.