Voices from DARPA Podcast, Episode 65: A Sprint to Tomorrow, Powered by Teamwork DARPAtv 2023-02-23 | If it seems like microchips have been a consistent conversation topic lately, it’s for good reason. Supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors created a new level of awareness about microelectronics. However, the research and development that advance these increasingly powerful technologies goes back decades, with DARPA teaming up to play a key part.This episode of Voices from DARPA examines the journey and impact of one collaborative effort that DARPA’s been part of since the late 1990s. The latest program iteration, the Joint University Microelectronics Program 2.0 (JUMP 2.0), recently kicked off with an expanded mission. This episode features Dr. Dev Palmer, a longtime program participant now overseeing DARPA’s JUMP 2.0 efforts as the deputy director of DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office; Dr. Adam Knapp, the JUMP 2.0 program manager at longtime partner institution the Semiconductor Research Corporation; and Dr. Tajana Simunic Rosing, a program performer who has been involved in every iteration of what is now JUMP 2.0. All three of these experts bring rich, diverse perspectives to an effort that is critical to the future – and that serves as a bedrock for broader initiatives to strengthen U.S. leadership in microelectronics. as they share in this episode, all three are focused on success via ambitious collaboration.Find out even more about JUMP 2.0 and DARPA’s broader Electronics Resurgence Initiative (ERI) – and be part of the dialogue – this summer at the ERI Summit.
Scalable Human Machine Ecosystems DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Portfolio Brief: The scale of our challenges requires solutions that scale. Most of the big challenges outlined in the National Defense Strategy are all problems of human systems at scale that require solutions that understand humans at (and across) scale. Machines inherently scale, but the track record for affecting positive change is a mixed bag. To create vibrant democratic societies and advance human rights, we need to better understand, shape, and manage human-machine hybrid intelligences. We think this requires fundamentally different approaches that combine ideas from multiple scientific disciplines (e.g., non-linear systems, network science, cognitive science, neuroscience, behavioral economics, human psychology and machine intelligence).
Rethinking Competitions DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Lightning Talk: The contest for international influence is occurring over a long-time horizon and unfolding in complex, ever-evolving competitions that blend traditional means with newer forms of sociotechnical influence. This combination requires new thinking for continuous, adaptive assessments, new methods of measuring influence, new methodologies for wargaming, new criteria for risk acceptance, and empowering initiative across this strategic space.
Extreme Optics and Imaging (EXTREME) DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Demo: Demonstration of a 10cm (~4in) planar metalens, which is a world record in size for a visible spectrum metalens. This metalens technology, developed by Harvard University, is enabling for technologies such as UAS imaging systems with five optical elements to be replaced with only three elements resulting in either 4x enhancement in resolution for the same SWaP of existing systems or 10x enchantment in SWaP for the same resolution.
Subterranean (SubT) Challenge & OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Demo: Video and static displays from field demonstrations and events.
AI: More Than Just a Force Multiplier DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Lightning Talk: In military circles, it's now a cliché that "Whoever becomes the leader in [AI] will become the ruler of the world." And yes, AI represents the ultimate force multiplier, in that it enables the few to optimally direct the force of the many. But as AI moves beyond the limitations of human intelligence it will provide societies and militaries with further advantages, culminating in the capability to "...subdue the enemy without fighting."
Quantum-MEMS DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Lightning Talk: The marrying of MEMS to quantum sensing and computation will enable quantum computers to scale to heretofore unsolvable problems, while supporting new classes of highly miniature, low-cost sensors for military and everyday uses. Qubits are incredibly powerful, but their state information is fleeting. This talk will discuss implications of combining technology found in everyday consumer electronics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), with qubits to enable quantum sensing and teleportation.
Breakthroughs in Field Robotics DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Tech Panel: The progression of robotics since Shakey the robot has been remarkable. Yet there are still many challenges that field robotics must surmount: outmatching humans in pick and place-like applications, maneuvering in tight spaces at high speeds, dealing with adversaries, being resilient and finding a representation of the physical environment that allows for dexterity, manipulation of objects and mobility through deformable or unstable terrains. This panel will address the next breakthroughs in field robotics, define future challenges and explore ways that DARPA can accelerate their development.
Domain-Specific System on Chip (DSSoC) DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Demo: IBM will demonstrate their EPOCHS technology (developed under DARPA’s DSSoC program) to accelerate relevant applications that must execute simultaneously for connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs). The first one shows CAVs collaborating on the road to avoid obstacles and hazards, while key functionalities are accelerated. The second demonstration shows how EPOCHS technology can support natural language processing to enable human-car interaction.
Engineered Living Materials (ELM) DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Demo: A "cooking show style" demonstration in which a 48-hour process will be presented in 5 minutes. The end product is the generation of a DARPA-branded "biological concrete brick" from low starting material.
Will the Future of Computing be Digital? DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Tech Panel: Over the past twenty-five years, new technologies have emerged to compete with classical digital computing. At their core, these nascent technologies seek to reduce the time and energy that traditional architectures consume moving and processing data. Going forward, the exact nature of advanced computing is likely to be dependent on the application domain addressed. This session will discuss the domain-specific performance measures that will define advanced computing in the future. The panel will explore the key challenges to meeting future computing goals from the perspective of a diverse set of technologies (e.g., conventional digital, quantum, analog, stochastic, molecular).
Semantic Forensics (SemaFor) DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Demo: Deepfakes use artificial intelligence to create realistic, synthetic media which can make it appear as if someone has said or done something that did not actually happen. DARPA's Semantic Forensics (SemaFor) program is creating novel semantic algorithms to defend against large-scale, automated disinformation attacks, where deepfakes can play a role. This demonstration will discuss the current state of the art in deepfakes and highlight a recent capability, developed under SemaFor, for authenticating videos that purport to be of a specific individual, for example former U.S. president Barack Obama or the current president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Power Everywhere DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Lightning Talk: AI will enable a whole new class of autonomous capabilities and vehicles. However, there is a fundamental and practical problem that will hinder broader adoption: power. Whether it is power for a sensor emplacement to defend the homeland, or a swarm that can operate indefinitely, power limits the adoption of future capabilities.
The Confluence of Communications DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Portfolio Brief: This session will examine the confluence of commercial and military communications including dual-use technology such as 5G/Next G cellular, software-defined networking, and proliferated Low Earth Orbit (p-LEO) satellites. Program managers will present recent program advances addressing challenges unique to the DoD and future opportunities given mutually beneficial technology.
The Future of Autonomous Vehicles DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Tech Panel: In 2004, DARPA launched interest in self-driving vehicles with a Grand Challenge. Back then, none of the vehicles could even finish the course. Today, we have a fully driverless taxi services in San Francisco and Phoenix. But while rapid progress has been made, fully automated vehicles aren't yet the norm. What are the challenges remaining to get us to truly autonomous vehicles in any environment, and what are the important distinctions for military use as compared to consumer use?
Applying Biologically Sourced Materials to Build Inorganic Structures DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Lightning Talk: This session will outline the wide variety of potential applications of biologically sourced materials for building inorganic structures.
Enabling Next Generation Communications DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Lightning Talk: Spectrum congestion increases relentlessly. There is, however, a vastly underutilized portion of the EM spectrum at high frequencies, known as G-band (110 GHz - 300 GHz), that is available for high data rate communications. Today, the RF electronics do not exist to support operation in this frequency band, due to both size and efficiency limitations. Enabling communication at this high frequency requires advances in how these electronics are designed and manufactured, and, in particular, the move from planar integration to 3D heterogeneous integration (3DHI). This lightning talk will present an overview of how DARPA is using 3DHI to exploit unused parts of the EM spectrum, focusing on the integration of III-V RF circuits with Si electronics being developed under the ELectronics for G-band ARrays (ELGAR) program.
Winning at Cyber DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Lightning Talk: Many people see conflict in cyberspace as an "arms race," where each side continually improves its offenses and defenses, conflict never ends, and no one ever wins. Dr. Launchbury will describe how, through the use of mathematics-based development and assurance technologies, it is possible to create provably safe systems and effectively break this conflict spiral.
Pushing the Limits of Technology DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Portfolio Brief: DARPA focuses on avoiding scientific surprise, and DSO is DARPA’s vanguard. DSO avoids surprise by searching for gaps between the improbable and the impossible, and then challenging the scientific community to explore as much of this Terra Incognita as they can. This session will explore three areas of importance to national security through the lens of physics, actively engaging the audience to provide perspective and insight about how DARPA’s DSO approaches high-impact, high-risk, basic research.
Engineering Secure Information Systems DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Portfolio Brief: Engineering practices for information systems have evolved steadily over many decades, and yet systems remain vulnerable. DARPA is creating new techniques, technologies, and tools that can lead to more secure information systems for the military and its supply chain.
Redefining Future Platforms DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Portfolio Brief: The mission of the Tactical Technology Office is to redefine access and deliver effects to every physical domain in the battlespace: space, air, ground, sea, and undersea in support of national security policy. This includes both platforms as well as the enabling support elements for delivering effects, such as unit level autonomy or human-machine collaboration. This presentation provides an overview of TTO's programs and potential opportunities for the future.
DoD in Lunar Space DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Lightning Talk: The DoD is currently investing heavily in technology to enable operations in P-LEO, GEO, etc. along with Cis-Lunar functions. As adversaries move into higher orbits, and the orbits of other bodies, a broad set of capabilities will need to be developed.
Innovations Toward Manufacturability DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Tech Panel: The DoD depends on the domestic industrial and manufacturing base to continually develop new approaches to the development and building of the most advanced military platforms. To meet these constantly evolving needs, DoD has spent the last decade funding the development of advanced manufacturing tools in the hope of innovating faster and rapidly transitioning new technologies to the factory floor. Much has been accomplished in developing new manufacturing technologies, however the impact of these technologies has not been fully realized due to issues with manufacturability (e.g., process scaling, economic constraints, component qualification/certification). This session will explore new ways to accelerate the development and adoption of critical manufacturing technologies for DoD systems in industries including aerospace, biomanufacturing, and electronics.
Hardening Supply Networks for the Future DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Tech Panel: The global supply chain is a complex and dynamic system that is vulnerable to disruptions, such as extreme weather events, supplier disruptions, cyber attacks, and pandemics. This session will discuss how new paradigms can play a role in ensuring resilient, trusted, and secure access to materials and products that are critical for DoD needs.
The Human Domain DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Tech Panel: The "Global Trends 2040 - A More Contested World" assessment described the critical need to understand, assess and address the complex, multi-scale aspects of individuals, societies, and international communities that act as forcing functions for decisions, division, and conflict relative to national security. We tend to address national security challenges with technology solutions without explicitly considering this context because the complexity of this landscape is vast and incredibly challenging to understand in a tractable way. This session will focus on providing the context regarding the influence of emerging social, behavioral, and societal changes have on stability and security around the world. We will touch on global trends and emerging technologies, but also ask questions/discuss what we do and don't know, and what areas may be valuable to address. The goal is to provide perspectives from those outside of DARPA.
Pushing Boundaries in Microelectronics and AI DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | University Host Session: The Ohio State University is pushing boundaries in Microelectronics and in Artificial Intelligence. Ohio State leads an Air Force Office of Scientific Research Center of Excellence focused on Enabling Cyber Defense in Analog and Mixed Signal Domains (CYAN) as well as an NSF-funded AI Institute for Future Edge Networks and Distributed Intelligence (AI-EDGE).
Systems of Autonomy DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Tech Panel: This panel will describe the importance of autonomous systems to the DoD and examine the barriers, technical and otherwise, specific to the successful fielding operational use of autonomous systems and platforms.
Secure Handhelds on Assured Resilient Networks at the Tactical Edge (SHARE) DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Demo: Demo of SHARE highlighting trusted group communication and resilient data sharing in the presence of disruption. Audience will observe the benefits of SHARE's capabilities through the Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) user interface.
U.S. Navy Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) - Current and Future DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Lightning Talk: A macro-level overview of current and planned U.S. Navy UUV programs.
Resilience to Performance Deficits from Sleep Loss DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | University Host Session: Sleep loss is ubiquitous in military operations, which jeopardizes the effectiveness and safety of service members and presents a threat to mission success. However, some individuals are naturally resilient to performance deficits from sleep loss. Discovering the underlying mechanisms and finding out how to confer a degree of resilience to those who are more vulnerable to sleep loss is a high priority for military and civilian settings alike. This session covers the main challenges stakeholders face in understanding and effecting resilience to performance deficits from sleep loss and discusses how these challenges could be overcome in future R&D efforts.
Prediction, Adaptation, and Resilience DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | University Host Session: These sessions, hosted by Colorado State University, will explore a broad set of cutting edge topics at the intersection of fields including health, climate, engineering, cybersecurity, and others. The sessions will be organized into three parts as follows:Prediction: Innovations in Predictive AnalyticsAI in One Health: From Pandemics to Climate, Science and ApplicationAerobiome in Health: Research and Potential ApplicationsAdaptation: Adapting to Environments on Other Planets and Disruptions in Earth SystemsHumans in Space and in Austere Conditions: Adaptations in Agriculture SystemsGeo Engineering: Climate Interventions to Address Global ThreatsResilience: Building Workforce and Operations ResilienceInnovations and Challenges in CybersecurityMental Health: Early Stress Recognition Systems and Proactive Response
Hardening Supply Networks for the Future DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Tech Panel: The global supply chain is a complex and dynamic system that is vulnerable to disruptions, such as extreme weather events, supplier disruptions, cyber attacks, and pandemics. This session will discuss how new paradigms can play a role in ensuring resilient, trusted, and secure access to materials and products that are critical for DoD needs.
Sustainable Secure Resilient Power Grids DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | University Host Session: Power grids play a crucial role in meeting the energy needs of the society. The planning and operation of power grids are becoming increasingly challenging as we transition to the sustainable and resilient power grids of the future without compromising on the affordability and reliability that the power infrastructure is known for. Moreover, being the backbone of the national energy economy, the power grids face constant cyberthreats from adversarial agents that need to be detected and mitigated. The talk will summarize research in Energy Systems Innovation Center and Advanced Grid Institute on how to design and operate the future power grids in a reliable, resilient, secure, and economical fashion.
Vulnerabilities in our Military and National Supply Chains and Potential Technological Solutions DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Tech Discussion: Vulnerabilities in our Military and National Supply Chains and Potential Technological Solutions
The Next Wave of Microelectronics and its Impact DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Portfolio Brief: As Moore's Law and silicon transistor scaling cease to be the pacing feature of improvement in microelectronics, what comes next? New manufacturing paradigms will drive microelectronics to vertical integration to continue expected performance gains. What is needed to tame this growing complexity and reduce innovation time-cycles?
Scalability in the Extreme Edge DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Lightning Talk: This session will describe recent results in scaling machine learning for low power extreme edge devices in the context of wireless sensor networks. Case studies will draw upon developments in DARPA, AFRL, ARL, and NSF programs in the contexts of noise complaint sensing, securing legacy communications, optimizing wireless network throughput, and creating hybrid edge systems.
Applying Biologically Sourced Materials to Build Inorganic Structures DARPAtv 2023-02-03 | Lightning Talk: This session will outline the wide variety of potential applications of biologically sourced materials for building inorganic structures.
