DARPA releases "wish list"

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has released a Broad Area Announcement (BAA) on the direction it expects its' Strategic Technology Office (STO) to take into 2009.

The document is, indeed, broad but while the STO is open to suggestions there is some focus. "This includes Space and Near-Space Sensors and Systems; Strategic and Tactical Networks; Information Assurance; Counter Underground Facilities; Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Defense; Small Unit Operations; Maritime Operations; and Core Strategic Technologies." STO examples of interesting technologies include:

• Novel systems and enabling technologies for high-resolution, deep sub-canopy surveillance;
• Intruder proximity detection by measurement of field perturbations;
• Distributed, grid, and networked computing systems;
• New approaches to self-forming, wireless, mesh networks of over 10,000 devices with high throughput
• Low-cost military grade encryption mechanisms / devices;
• And low-cost (<$100) expendable GPS sensors.

Funding and grant possibilities may apply.

Source: STO