DARPA SBIR DPA26BZ05-DV019: Semantically-Aware ISR

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Quick Answer

DPA26BZ05-DV019 is a DARPA Direct to Phase II SBIR topic seeking a mission-aware semantic communications system that can shrink the amount of ISR video data transmitted from small drones by roughly 90 to 99 percent while still preserving the information an operator actually needs. The award is worth up to 1,500,000 dollars over an 18 month base period, with an optional 500,000 dollar, 6 month extension. Proposals are due September 23. The topic is ITAR and EAR restricted, and no Phase I award will be made under this topic.

What This Topic Is Looking For

Small unmanned aircraft carrying electro-optical and infrared sensors generate far more video data than tactical communications links can carry, especially once those links are jammed, degraded, or squeezed down to single-digit kilobits per second. DARPA wants a system that solves this by reasoning about what actually matters in a scene rather than just compressing video harder.

The core requirement is an onboard, real-time, low-power processing layer that understands what the operator is actually looking for, even when that request is vague or context-dependent, tracks behavior and change across multiple frames rather than relying on fixed object categories, and transmits only compact semantic packets containing the regions, events, and context the operator needs to act.

Specific Phase II capabilities include mission-intent grounding that turns natural language operator requests into executable mission logic without retraining mid-flight, open-world spatiotemporal reasoning that can flag mission-relevant behavior even when the objects involved are unknown or camouflaged, multimodal fusion that combines EO video with at least one other sensor or metadata stream, and a traceability requirement so an operator can audit why any given piece of information was transmitted or suppressed. On the hardware side, the system needs to run at 5 watts of incremental power during interim testing with a final target of 2 watts, on embedded hardware such as NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano, Hailo-8L, Coral Edge TPU, AMD Kintex FPGAs, or ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers.

DARPA is explicit about what it does not want: conventional video compression without mission reasoning, fixed-taxonomy object detection or tracking, large vision-language models that cannot run onboard, anything requiring cloud processing or constant high-bandwidth reachback, and anything requiring replacement of existing flight controllers, radios, or ground stations. The topic also explicitly excludes weapon-release, lethal engagement, and named-person identification capabilities.

DP2 Feasibility and Phase II Structure

This topic accepts Direct to Phase II proposals only. There is no Phase I award, and proposers need to show Phase I equivalent feasibility was already achieved outside the SBIR program, with a technical readiness level of 4 or above at the start of Phase II for the perception, reasoning, and semantic encoding subsystems.

To document that feasibility, proposers need a prior prototype that ingests EO video and produces measurable data reduction against full-frame video, including at least one case where the reasoning depended on behavior or context rather than a single frame's object class. They also need preliminary measurements showing a credible path to at least 90 percent data reduction, documented edge deployment of at least one critical processing block with measured power and latency, a comparison against baselines like H.264, H.265, or AV1 compression and standard object detection pipelines, and a path-to-platform analysis naming at least two specific Group 1 or Group 2 small UAS targets or surrogates.

Phase II runs 18 months with a possible 6 month option to extend into multi-UAS semantic coordination, satellite or high-altitude downlink emulation, ruggedized packaging, and government-supported field demonstration. Performers integrate with two representative platform classes, Group 1 short-range systems like the RQ-11B Raven or RQ-20 Puma, and Group 2 longer-endurance systems like ScanEagle, though government-furnished platforms are not required and surrogates or recorded video are acceptable.

Fixed milestones run from a Month 1 system requirements review through a Month 18 capstone demonstration achieving at least 90 percent data reduction across both platform classes, with option period milestones at Month 21 for multi-UAS coordination and Month 24 for an operationally realistic capstone and productization package.

Phase III Outlook

DARPA expects Phase III funding to come from private industry or non-SBIR government sources, with the product taking the form of a small hardware-software module, embedded SDK, or sensor pipeline plugin. Defense applications include small UAS ISR, route reconnaissance, perimeter security, convoy overwatch, maritime surveillance, and sensor-to-shooter support under degraded or contested communications. Commercial applications include wildfire monitoring, search and rescue, law enforcement overwatch, infrastructure inspection, border and port security, offshore energy monitoring, precision agriculture, wildlife monitoring, and disaster assessment, along with a satellite or high-altitude platform variant for remote sensing downlink reduction.

Funding and Timeline

Base award amount: up to 1,500,000 dollars for an 18 month period of performance.

Option amount: up to 500,000 dollars for an additional 6 months.

TABA: up to 25,000 dollars per Phase II project, reviewed at time of award.

Proposal deadline: September 23. Technical questions must be submitted by September 16, since DARPA does not answer questions submitted within 7 calendar days of the closing date.

Proposal Format

This topic uses the white paper and slide deck Technical Volume format. The white paper cannot exceed 20 pages and needs to cover goals and impact, Phase I equivalent feasibility, a technical plan with milestones no more than a month apart, management and capabilities, and a transition and commercialization plan. The slide deck cannot exceed 15 slides and needs to cover the same ground in a more visual, pitch-style format, including cost, schedule, and quad chart summaries using DARPA's templates.

All proposals go through DSIP and require the standard seven volumes: cover sheet, technical volume, cost volume, Company Commercialization Report, supporting documents, Fraud Waste and Abuse training, and the Disclosures of Foreign Affiliations webform, which must be completed as a webform and will not be accepted as a PDF upload.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for DPA26BZ05-DV019? September 23. Technical questions must be submitted by September 16.

Is this a Phase I or Phase II award? Phase II only. This topic explicitly states Phase I proposals will not be accepted or reviewed. Proposers must document Phase I equivalent feasibility achieved outside the SBIR program.

What data reduction target does this topic actually require? A threshold of 90 percent, or 10x, reduction versus full-frame video baselines by the end of Phase II, with an objective of 95 to 99 percent reduction in mission-suitable scenes.

Does this topic allow lethal or targeting applications? No. Weapon-release, lethal engagement, and named-person identification are explicitly excluded from this topic's scope.

What kind of company fits this topic best? Teams with strength in embedded AI, computer vision, and signal processing who can show a working prototype already deployed on low-power edge hardware, ideally with prior UAS or ISR sensor integration experience.

Is this topic export controlled? Yes. It is restricted under ITAR and may also fall under EAR. Any planned use of foreign nationals must be disclosed, including country of origin, visa status, and specific tasks.

Can venture capital or private equity backed companies apply? Yes. DARPA topics under this BAA explicitly accept proposals from companies more than 50 percent owned by venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private equity firms, provided the company registers with the SBA Company Registry Database and submits the required VC certification.