Matthew Nelson
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s tactical technology office has posted a request for information on underground urban facilities or tunnels that researchers can use to conduct subterranean domain research and experimentation activities.
DARPA looks to demonstrate technology platforms in commercially managed or university-owned underground locations without paying a prohibitive price or putting human lives at risk, according to a FedBizOpps notice posted Aug. 20.
Specifically, the agency is interested in studying new systems that accelerate mapping, navigation and searching of unknown subterranean environments in efforts to find objects of interest. The agency is eyeing human-made underground facilities that include atriums and stairwells and tunnels, as well areas that are closed off from pedestrians. DARPA launched a competition that encourages research teams to develop approaches to map subsurface networks.
