The DoD SBIR Solicitation Requests Human Factors Research

Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced the pre-release of its 2009.2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) solicitation.  The solicitation includes topics from the Army, Navy, Defense Advances Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). Several human factors-related topics were listed in the 400+ page solicitation, including:

• UAV Sensor Controller for Manned Aircraft (A09-016) – Define, design and develop an innovative sensor control interface for US Army aircrew members operating in manned aircraft to easily and intuitively operate the sensor systems on Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs).
• End-User Development of Robust Part-Task Pilot Models for Simulated ATC (A09-018) – Develop capabilities that allow for rapid, end-user scripting of robust behavior models that can bridge the gap between simulation-specific Computer Generated Forces (CGFs) interfaces and human Air Traffic Control (ATC).
• Any-Time Cognition for Network Centric Environments (A09-087) – Design, develop and demonstrate the algorithms and software components required to enable anytime cognition of the warfighter or team to improve distributed collaboration and decision making in network centric operations.
• Context Based Data Abstraction (A09-088) – Develop a generalized computer software system that is able to reduce the amount of data required to successfully perform a given task by producing an abstract model of the data, populating the model with real world data, and then using the model to perform the task.
• Context-Aware Visualization for Tactical Multi-Tasking (N092-125) – Develop a software technology that reduces context switching for multi-tasking human operators using visualization tools in a tactical setting.
• Training Cognitive Situational Awareness for Multi-Platform Command and Control (N092-136) – Develop methodology and tools to measure and train cognitive skills necessary to maintain USW Strike Group Situational Awareness. Develop a metrics assessment tool to provide “in-action” feedback on situation awareness and decision-making.
• Similarity Measures for Persona/Human Networks (N092-149) – To develop an application that enhances the identification of at-risk actors and/or networks using robust closeness or similarity metrics. Human persona and networks can be described in terms of their past behavior, current activities, and external forces influencing its behavior. Signatures of at-risk groups can be described in similar terms. The objective of the topic is to automate the detection of at-risk personas and human networks through N-dimensional clustering and comparison to individuals or groups considered to be at-risk.
• Decision Support Aiding for Human-Systems Acquisition (N092-150) – To develop a decision support tool that will allow system acquisition decision makers the ability to assess whether a proposed system addresses relevant Human-Systems Integration elements and how these elements impact Total Ownership Costs.
• Algorithmic Behavior Forecasting (OSD09-HS3) – The objective of this topic is to develop a tool that will an provide accurate forecast into the cultural and social behaviors of a domestic or foreign target population to enable more accurate and effective decision making.
• Using Serious Games for Socio-Cultural Scenario Training (OSD09-HS4) – The objective of this topic is to develop a low cost, portable Serious Game-based tool that will quickly train Warfighters on a wide range of Human, Social, Cultural and Behavioral knowledge.
• Discovery of Human Activity from Video (OSD09-SP5) – Automated analysis of surveillance data would greatly empower our own forces. Large numbers of video sensors exist in urban environments. Technology is needed to recognize human activity, perform context analysis and interpret criminal or terrorist behavior. Of particular value for understanding behavior, is context analysis using individual and environment interactions over a sliding window of time.

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