Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) is seeking creative game-savvy software innovators from colleges and universities to develop artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms for the automated scheduling and coordination of simulated directed energy, hypervelocity projectiles, and other advanced weapon systems.
Donor Name: Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Challenge
Deadline: 11/01/2022
Size of the Grant: $75,000
Details:
The training and demonstration of these algorithms will be executed with the Joint Cognitive Operational Research Environment (JCORE), the Navy’s in-house video game. JCORE provides a medium-fidelity simulation of fleet-level exercises and bridges the gap between tabletop wargaming and high-fidelity modeling and simulation to provide a repeatable, faster-than-real-time solution.
The goal of this challenge is to bring participants to solve a problem in a way that NSWCDD has not yet explored. Each participant will be comprised of no more than five student members. The participants will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to design and train algorithms that will trigger their ship to respond to various adversarial actions, demonstrating the advantages of AI/ML integration into our systems and warfighting capabilities. Prior experience with JCORE is not required. Experience with AI and ML algorithm development, Java and Python is necessary.
Prize Objective
The goal of this prize challenge is to develop AI/ML algorithms to expand their solution set(s) for advanced engagement coordination and weapon pairing through a real time innovation challenge event. For the purpose of this challenge, an AI/ML algorithm is defined as an algorithm that automates engagement decisions that can set or adapt its logic paths based on the performance of previous runs. This will advance the state-of-the-art for future automated naval engagements, and increase the speed at which operational decisions are made.
NSWCDD is seeking to recognize college and university technology student leaders in the areas of software engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, who demonstrate creativity, out-of-the-box thinking, and innovation in their technology endeavors and projects.
NSWCDD is seeking solution(s) to address the need for automated engagement of weapon to threat pairing in order to most effectively protect naval assets and defeat incoming threats. The impacts of the solutions will enable much more rapid decision making to support ship defense.
Funding Information
- The total prize purse is anticipated to be $75,000. NSWCDD reserves the right, in its sole discretion and subject to the availability of funds, to adjust the prize purse up to $100,000 during the execution of the challenge.
- During Phase I, the white papers will be evaluated and up to twenty-five participants will be selected for Phase II. No cash prizes will be provided for Phase I.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligibility is subject to verification during each Phase and before award of any prize. To be eligible to win, all members for the Participant must comply with the following eligibility requirements:
- Participant must have complied with all requirements set forth in the prize challenge.
- Individuals must be United States citizens and 18 years or older.
- All Participants must be full time degree seeking students enrolled in the same college/university and in good academic standing.
- NSWCDD and Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA) employees, NAVSEA support service contractors, and their immediate family members, are not eligible to participate.
- Participants may not be a Federal grantee using Federal funds to participate.
- A representative from each winning IHE, will be required to sign and return to NAVSEA, within 30 days of the date the notice is sent, a completed Standard Form 3881 (Automated Clearing House – Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment) showing bank routing number for payment purpose and a completed IRS Form W-9. At the sole discretion of NAVSEA, the winning IHE will be disqualified from the challenge and receive no prize funds if:
- an authorizing person for the IHE cannot be contacted;
- an authorizing person for the IHE fails to sign and return the required documentation within the required time period;
- the notification is returned as undeliverable;
- the IHE team is disqualified for any other reason.
- The IHE agrees to accept payment via electronic funds transfer. Prizes will be paid to the winning college or university for the Participant team and not distributed or paid directly to individual team members.
For more information, visit NSWCDD.
