2 March 2018
Lori Adornato, Ph.D.Program Manager, Biological Technologies Office (BTO)
Technical Program OverviewSlides will be available on the DARPA opportunities page shortly
Persistent Aquatic Living Sensors
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PALS Agenda
Start End Duration (Hr:Min) Item
8:00 a.m. 8:50 a.m. 0:50 Registration/continental breakfast and Poster set-up
8:50 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 0:10Welcome, Introductions and LogisticsDr. Lori Adornato, Program Manager, DARPA/BTOMs. Renee Besanson, Meeting Coordinator
9:00 a.m. 9:15 a.m. 0:15 Remarks from BTO LeadershipDr. Justin Sanchez, Director, DARPA/BTO
9:15 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 0:45 Persistent Aquatic Living Sensors (PALS) Technical Program OverviewDr. Lori Adornato, Program Manager, DARPA/BTO
10:00 a.m. 10:20 a.m. 0:20 StilettoMr. Dennis Danko, Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program Manager, NSWC
10:20 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 0:40 Poster Session/Networking Questions collected by the DARPA team
11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 1:00
Persistent Aquatic Living Sensors BAA OverviewDr. Lori Adornato, Program Manager, DARPA/BTOMr. Peter Donaghue, Contracting Officer, DARPA/CMOMr. David Swan, BAA Coordinator/DARPA/BTOMs. Elizabeth Kilpatrick, SETA/DARPA/BTO
12:00 p.m. 12:45 p.m. 0:45 Working Lunch/Poster Session/Networking Questions collected by the DARPA team
12:45 p.m. 1:05 p.m. 0:20 UNOLSMr. Tim Schnoor, Ocean Research Facilities Manager, ONR
1:05 p.m. 1:25 p.m. 0:20 IV&VDr. Dave Jansing, Remote Sensing and Data Scientist, JHU-APL
1:25 p.m. 2:25 p.m. 1:00 Lightning Round Talks - Proposer Introductions
2:25 p.m. 3:15 p.m. 0:50 Poster Session/Networking Questions collected by the DARPA team
3:15 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 0:15 Closing remarks/Meeting officially adjourns
3:30 p.m. TBD p.m. 5 min each One on one meetings with newly formed PALS proposing teams (sign up at meeting)
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PALS Program Proposers Day Objectives
• To introduce the Persistent Aquatic Living Sensors (PALS) program vision and goals to the science and technology community (industry, academia, and government)
• To explain the logistics of DARPA contract awards, as well as the objectives of the PALS program
• To encourage and promote teaming arrangements among organizations that have the necessary expertise, facilities, and capabilities to meet research objectives established by the PALS program.
• To highlight the importance of meeting all metrics, especially those in Phase 1
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DARPA Intros: Government Team
Michael SmithDARPA
Program Security Officer
Jared AdamsDARPA
Public Affairs Office
Lori AdornatoDARPA Biological Technologies
Office, Program Manager
Peter DonaghueDARPA
Contracts Management Office
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DARPA Intros: Support Team
Janine BruhnDARPA SETA
Business/Financial
Justin ManzoDARPA SETA
Technical
Jacob GoodwinDARPA SETA
Technical
Tabitha EllisDARPA BTO
Security
David SwanDARPA SETA
BTO BAA CoordinatorApproved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited.
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Presentation Outline
54 PHASING
3 APPROACH1 VISION
DEMOS ANDTIMELINE
2 NEED
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Program Vision
54 PHASING
3 APPROACH1 VISION
DEMOS ANDTIMELINE
2 NEED
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Vision for a New Means of Detection
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Goals:• Detect underwater targets by leveraging biological signals emitted by natural or
engineered marine organisms• Develop a system to translate biological signals into tactically relevant information
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Program Need
54 PROGRAMPHASING
3 APPROACH1 VISION
DEMOS ANDSCHEDULE
2 NEED
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Need for Detection
Despite advances in sensor systems for submarine and underwater vehicle monitoring, spatial and temporal coverage of maritime environments still suffers from numerous gaps.
Gaps/Limitations
Lack of persistence
External power and communications cable
Monitors smaller specific, targeted area
Noisy or cluttered environments
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Need for Ocean Monitoring
Environment CharacteristicsReef Low turbidity, shallow depths, and strong light penetration in salt water
Strait Variable turbidity and light penetration in salt water
River outflow/estuary High turbidity in brackish water
Continental shelf/other Greater depths, lower light penetration, and large coverage areas in salt waterBAA: Table 1, page 6.
Continental ShelfRiver plume
Reef Strait
Continental shelf
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Program Approach
54 PHASING
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Approach: Biology as a Sensor
Lateral LineDetect currents, pressure and the
direction of the source of oscillation as well as its direction and speed;
some also used for electroreception
VisionVisible spectrum, ultraviolet,
and polarization;low light adaptations use
retroreflectors
ChemoreceptionSome species detect chemicals at 1 ppm and
can sense the direction of the chemical source (e.g. salmon)
AcousticFish can detect sound and
determine direction and speed of target up to 25 km away (1-180 kHz)
Biological Sensor AttributesNatural sensors are persistent, providing continual monitoring of deployment area
Unlimited, self-powered natural sensor element
Biology is ubiquitous
Organism noise exploited as input signal
Current Gaps/Limitations
Lacks persistence
Requires external power and communications cable
Monitors smaller specific, targeted area
Quality suffers in noisy or cluttered environments
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Image from: University of Texas
Image from: The Spruce
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Technical Areas
Harness or engineer organism phenotypes and behaviors to detect targets and produce unique, measurable response signals, then combine with detector systems to generate actionable alerts
TA 1: Characterize biological signal TA 2: Interpret biological signal
Technical Challenges• Find or design organisms with
appropriate unique measurable signal • Distinguish target signal of interest from
background noise
Technical Challenges• Identify detector systems to capture
natural sensor signals• Develop algorithms to accurately
characterize target signals
Detect Analyze Distill
Proposals must respond to both TA’s!!!!!
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Goal: Identify and leverage unique, measurable living sensor phenomenology for maritime platform detection
Technical Approach• Build or leverage natural organisms to produce response to target set• Characterize natural response to ensure adequate sensitivity and specificity• No marine mammals• Engineered organisms in biocontainment only
Transducer Unique signalTarget
Technical Area 1: Characterize Biological Signal
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Technical Area 2: Interpret Biological Signal
Goal: Develop detection technology to distill unique biological signals into alerts
Technical Approach• Detect and ingest unique natural signal • Develop robust algorithms to classify target details• Implement detection and alerting capabilities on physical hardware• Integrate hardware onto COTS platform to withstand marine deployment
UNCLASMSGID/IIR/CTF123//REF/A/232606Z//ITEMTYP/PERISHABLE ITEMS//LOC/GEO:574920N1055782E//TGTPOS/04/SUBMARINE/574620N1055627E/4KTS/BR:0582//
Standard report
Uniquesignal Detection Analysis Distillation
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Program Phasing
54 PHASING
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DEMOS ANDTIMELINE
2 NEED
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Tank / benchtop environment(representative)
Benchtop maritime image sensor
100 m2 seawater tanks, Univ. S. Miss.
Phase 1 Metrics
• 95% object detection at 1 meter
• Sensitivity of 0.60 at 1 meter and 0.25 at 10 meters
• Specificity of 0.60 at 1 meter and 0.25 at 10 meters
• Successful target size reported
Phase 1 (18 mo): Metrics and Test Environment
BAA: Table 3, page 13
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Phase 1 (18 mo): Milestones and Deliverables
TA 1 TA 2Milestones Deliverables Milestones Deliverables
• Technical interchange meeting 1
• For engineered organisms only: Month 2, organism design
• Preliminary design review of hardware/software prototypes
• Month 6: Final prototype design
• Preliminary design review of organism selection/engineering
• Month 7: Mid-phase demonstration test plan
• Critical design review of hardware/software prototypes
• Month 15: One prototype system of biological organisms and necessary hardware/software to detect biological signals provided to IV&V team
• Characterization response of organism(s) to target or target proxy
• Month 10: Phase 1 mid-phase demonstration report 30 days after demo
• Demonstrate benchtop hardware and software developed to perform detection
• Month 16: Code report on algorithms used to characterize biological signal
• Produce training data sets for TA2 algorithm development
• Month 12: Report containing risk table and mitigation plan
• Construct initial algorithm to discriminate target signal from noise
• Host mid-phase demonstration
• Month 16: Report on Phase 1 IV&V test results and Phase 2 task plan (30 days after test)
• Generate design for packaged system to be constructed in Phase 2
• Facilitate IV&V tests to quantify detection performance and target discrimination at 1 and 10 m standoff
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Simulated ecosystem(representative)
Georgia Aquarium
• Increased scope and scale• More interference• Longer deployments of full system• Less control over environment
Phase 2 Metrics
• 95% detection at 10 meter
• Sensitivity of 0.90 at 10 meters, 0.70 at 100 meters and 0.25 at 500 meters
• Specificity of 0.90 at 10 meters, 0.70 at 100 meters and 0.25 at 500 meters
• Successful target bearing +/- 22.5 degrees reported
• 30 day hardware endurance
• 10 minutes from detection to report
Phase 2 (18 mo): Metrics and Test Environment
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BAA: Table 3, page 13
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Phase 2 (18 mo): Milestones and Deliverables
TA 1 TA 2
Milestones Deliverables Milestones Deliverables
• Technical interchange meeting 2
• Month 20: Environmental assessment and permit documents
• Preliminary design review of hardware/software system
• Month 24: Phase 2 system design
• Characterize organismal response to target in presence of confounders
• Month 24: Mid-phase demonstration plan
• Critical design review of hardware/software system
• Month 34: Provide two fully integrated systems to IV&V team for endurance and performance testing
• Produce training data sets in simulated ecosystem environment
• Month 28: Mid-phase demonstration report
• Construct refined algorithms based on simulated ecosystem data
• Month 35: Updated code report on algorithms used to characterize biological signal
• Host mid-phase demonstration
• Month 32: Report containing the ROC curve and risk table with mitigation plan
• Package hardware system for 30 day marine endurance test
• Facilitate IV&V tests for sensitivity and specificity at 10, 100, and 500 m
• Month 35: Phase 2 IV&V test results and Phase 3 task plan (30 days after demo)
• Develop target bearing algorithm
• For engineered organisms only: demonstrate 2 safeguard systems
• Produce alert reporting scheme
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Objective environment(representative)
• Real-world environment• Uncontrolled interference and biological sensor density
• Unconstrained system boundaries
Phase 3 Metrics
• 95% detection at 100 meter
• Sensitivity of 0.90 at 100 meters and 0.70 at 500 meters
• Specificity of 0.90 at 100 meters and 0.70 at 500 meters
• Successful target bearing +/- 15 degrees reported
• 60 day hardware endurance
• 5 minutes from detection to report
Phase 3 (12 mo): Metrics and Test Environment
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BAA: Table 3, page 13
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TA 1 TA 2
Milestones Deliverables Milestones Deliverables
• Technical interchange meeting 3
• Month 38: Updated environmental assessment and permit documents
• Produce or adapt hardware for 60 day endurance test
• Month 45: Provide two fully integrated systems to IV&V team for endurance and performance testing
• Characterize organismal response to target in real world environment
• Month 47: Final Report on IV&V test results (30 days after test)
• Develop refined algorithms based on real world environmental data
• Facilitate IV&V tests for sensitivity and specificity at 100 and 500 m
• Develop improved bearing scheme
• Produce improved alert reporting scheme
Phase 3 (12 mo): Milestones and Deliverables
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Standoff Distance Definition
Total standoff distance may be apportioned between the biological sensor (TA1 component) and man-made detector (TA2 component) in the manner chosen by the performer.
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Program Demonstrations and Timeline
54 PHASING
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Demonstrations and IV&V Testing
Mid-Phase Demonstrations - Phases 1 & 2
• Planned, coordinated, and conducted by performers and observed by Government team• Conducted at performer’s location (e.g. lab/bench-top demo; representative tank) or, when
required, a marine environment appropriate for the performer’s biological organisms• Intended to allow performers the opportunity to show consistent progress towards reaching
milestones and meeting prescribed metrics
End-of-Phase Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) TestingPhases 1, 2, & 3
• Planned and conducted by third-party IV&V team, in coordination with performers• Down-selection after Phase 1 based on results of IV&V tests• Two Parts:
• Performance Testing (Phases 1-3)• Conducted at location appropriate for performer’s biological organisms, as agreed to
by performer and IV&V team• Intended to test and verify performance metrics (e.g. detection & discrimination of
targets)• Duration Testing (Phases 2-3)
• Conducted at one location, as chosen by IV&V team• Performers to provide complete system• Intended to test and verify endurance, functionality, and durability
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Technology Transition
Concept
Basic R&D
AdvancedPrototype
EarlyPrototype
Product
Adoption
TransitionPartnering
Applied R&DFunding
PALS
Pro
gram Po
st-P
rogr
am
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This program will support biological research conducted in containment and will not support proposals that include uncontained environmental release of engineered organisms.
• All engineered organisms must remain entirely in secure biocontainment for the duration of the program. (BAA, Page 7)
• A minimum of two safeguards (e.g., encapsulation, limited nutrient supply, sensitivity to salt water, etc.) must be included as part of the envisioned concept of operations, implying that the response to target occurs with the safeguards in place. (BAA, Page 7)
Biosafety (for Engineered Organisms)
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Please review the BAA carefully regarding biosafety!
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Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
To prevent the release of sensitive technical information, certain aspects of proposals may be considered CUI and may require safeguarding or dissemination controls, pursuant to and consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and government-wide policies to include Department of Defense Manual 5200.01 Volume 4. CUI as defined is not classified under Executive Order 13526 or the Atomic Energy Act, as amended. (BAA, Page 18).
Please review the BAA carefully regarding CUI!
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Term DefinitionBAA Broad Agency Announcement: Document outlining proposal expectations, similar to RFP (Request for Proposals) from other
funding agencies
BTO Biological Technologies Office; one of six DARPA technical offices
CMO DARPA Contract Management Office
CTI/CUI Controlled Technical Information/Controlled Unclassified InformationC-UUV Counter UUVDARPA Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Demonstration/Demo A demonstration, typically at the end of a contract phase, that meets measurables/milestones as outlined in DARPA BAAs
DoD United States Department of DefenseM/UUV Manned or Unmanned Underwater VehiclePALS Persistent Aquatic Living SensorsPhase Temporal period of a proposal/contract with specific goals/emphasisPOC Point of Contact
Prime/Lead PI The primary lead / principal investigator in a BAA proposal and subsequent contract
Program Manager DARPA leadership position at the office level. Define their own programs, set milestones, meet with their performers and assiduously track progress
Proposal Abstract A concise version of the proposal comprising a maximum of 6 pages including all figures, tables, and charts
Proposer Those submitting a proposal to a DARPA BAA
SETA Scientific, Engineering and Technical Assistance Personnel: DARPA contract position that acts in professional/expert supportto offices and program mangers
SOW Statement of Work: a detailed task breakdown and their connection to the interim milestones and program metrics
Sub/Co-PI A subordinate (to the prime) or subcontracted investigator in a BAA proposal and subsequent contractUUV Unmanned Underwater Vehicle
Acronym / Terminology Glossary
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