. 24/7 Space News .
TECH SPACE
DARPA seeks tools to capture underground worlds in 3D
by Staff Writers
Washington DC (SPX) Mar 11, 2019

DARPA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to augment its understanding of state-of-the-art technologies for 3D mapping and surveying.

DARPA is seeking information on state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies for advanced mapping and surveying in support of the agency's Subterranean (SubT) Challenge. Georeferenced data - geographic coordinates tied to a map or image - could significantly improve the speed and accuracy of warfighters in time-sensitive active combat operations and disaster-related missions in the subterranean domain.

Today, the majority of the underground environments are uncharted or inadequately mapped, including human-made tunnels, underground infrastructure, and natural cave networks.

Through the Request for Information, DARPA is looking for innovative technologies to collect highly accurate and reproducible ground-truth data for subterranean environments, which would potentially disrupt and positively leverage the subterranean domain without prohibitive cost and with less risk to human lives.

These innovative technologies will allow for exploring and exploiting these dark and dirty environments that are too dangerous to deploy humans.

"What makes subterranean areas challenging for precision mapping and surveying - such as lack of GPS, constrained passages, dark or dust-filled air - is similar to what inhibits safe and speedy underground operations for our warfighters," said Timothy Chung, program manager in DARPA's Tactical Technology Office (TTO).

"Building an accurate three-dimensional picture is a key enabler to rapidly and remotely exploring and searching subterranean spaces."

DARPA is looking for commercial products, software, and services available to enable high-fidelity, 3D mapping and surveying of underground environments. Of interest are available technologies that offer high accuracy and high resolution, with the ability to provide precise and reproducible survey points without reliance on substantial infrastructure (e.g., access to global fixes underground).

Additionally, relevant software should also allow for generated data products to be easily manipulated, annotated, and rendered into 3D mesh objects for importing into simulation and game engine environments.

DARPA may select proposers to demonstrate their technologies or methods to determine feasibility of capabilities for potential use in the SubT Challenge in generating and sharing 3D datasets of underground environments.

Such accurately georeferenced data may aid in scoring the SubT competitors' performance in identifying and reporting the location of artifacts placed within the course. In addition, renderings from these data may provide DARPA with additional visualization assets to showcase competition activities in real-time and/or post-production.

Instructions for submissions, as well as full RFI details, are available on the Federal Business Opportunities website here. Submissions are due at 1:00 p.m. EDT April 15, 2019.


Related Links
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Space Technology News - Applications and Research


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


TECH SPACE
French armed forces tap Thales for coastal surveillance radars
Washington (UPI) Mar 8, 2019
Thales has been awarded a contract to provide coastal surveillance radars for France's armed forces. The French-headquartered company announced in a news release Thursday it will manufacture two Coast Watcher 100 radars, which it says offer optimal protection for tactical test areas, monitor maritime traffic in and around those areas and detect any intrusive threats. Terms of the contract were not announced, though deliveries on the system are expected by the end of 2020. About 30 ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

TECH SPACE
Out of This World Auction Sponsored by ARISS

The science circling above us on the Space Station

Inspection and encapsulation of Soyuz MS-12 crew spacecraft complete

NASA's deep space exploration system is coming together

TECH SPACE
Ethanol to help fuel Russian space tourism rocket

Dragon splashdown marks success of first NASA Commercial Crew test

German engineers produce and test 3D-printed rocket engine

Illinois Native Uses Experience On Farm To Build Deep Space Rocket

TECH SPACE
SWIM Project Maps Potential Sources of Mars Water

Major challenges to sending astronauts to search for life on Mars

Researchers outline goals for collecting and studying samples from Mars

Simulated extravehicular activity science operations for Mars exploration

TECH SPACE
China preparing for space station missions

China's lunar rover studies stones on moon's far side

China improves Long March-6 rocket for growing commercial launches

Seed of moon's first sprout: Chinese scientists' endeavor

TECH SPACE
How ESA helps launch bright ideas and new careers

ISRO to Launch Nearly 30 Satellites in March on New PSLV Rocket

GMV controls the first satellites of OneWeb's mega-constellation

ESA approves SMILE mission with the Chinese Academy of Sciences

TECH SPACE
French armed forces tap Thales for coastal surveillance radars

Matrix could ensure vital copper supplies

Nanotechnology and sunlight clear the way for better visibility

Researchers find potential new source of rare earth elements

TECH SPACE
"Goldilocks" Stars May Be "Just Right" for Finding Habitable Worlds

New surprises from Jupiter and Saturn

SETI Institute: Agreement with Unistellar to Develop Citizen Science Network

Chances for Life Expand When Binary Stars Push Together

TECH SPACE
Ultima Thule in 3D

SwRI-led New Horizons research indicates small Kuiper Belt objects are surprisingly rare

Astronomers Optimistic About Planet Nine's Existence

New Horizons Spacecraft Returns Its Sharpest Views of Ultima Thule









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.