NASA JSC: Advanced Vehicles for Rugged Remote and Hazardous Locations – Manned and Autonomous
Synopsis – Jan 10, 2014
Statement of Interest Form – Posted on Jan 10, 2014
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNJ14ZBH022L
Posted Date: Jan 10, 2014
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jan 10, 2014
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action: No
Original Response Date: Mar 17, 2014
Current Response Date: Apr 11, 2014
Classification Code: A — Research and Development
NAICS Code: 541712
Contracting Office Address
NASA/Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston Texas, 77058-3696, Mail Code: BH
Description
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) is seeking parties interested in collaborative development and mature technologies required for NASA’s future missions and to enhance life on Earth. JSC is looking to partner on the development of broadly applicable technologies as a means to accelerate technology development and strengthen commercialization of federally-funded research and development.
Purpose:
NASA JSC seeks to extend technology associated with their existing rovers for earth-bound applications such as rugged, remote and hazardous environments. These rovers can be updated and adapted to address any earth-bound application that requires an autonomous robotic vehicle or a manned vehicle with a protective environment.
Technology:
NASA JSC has developed two planetary exploration rovers, the Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV) and the Centaur 2. The SEV is a large electric rover that can function as a manned vehicle or as an autonomous robotic vehicle. The SEV consists of a chassis with six wheel modules capable of 360* of motion, enabling it to drive in any direction and to point-turn the entire vehicle, and a cabin for human-use which also serves as a mounting location for robotic sensors. The SEV chassis without the cabin can carry a variety of objects. The current SEV can cover very rugged terrain, maneuver steep inclines and perform straight-line driving at a top speed of 12 MPH using its Six Degrees of Freedom (6-DOF) chassis. The Centaur 2 rover has 4 wheel modules, and like the SEV, can point-turn and drive in any direction. Centaur 2 can carry science-payloads, geologic tools or even a Robonaut 2.
The primary technology challenges include higher energy density batteries and active suspension and obstacle avoidance/detection to achieve higher speeds in a wide range of environments. These challenges are directly applicable to the next generation of electric vehicles.
R&D Status:
The technology associated with these vehicles is advanced. NASA continuously addresses challenges associated with these technologies as advancements in specific components develop, e.g., lighter and higher energy batteries.
Intellectual Property (IP):
Multiple individual technologies associated with robotics are currently available for co-development and licensing. Visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/techtransfer/technology/robonaut2_licensing.html#.UovXQ7ajSIk
This co-development project may produce new IP that could be jointly owned by NASA and the partner or may become the property of the partner.
This announcement is not to be construed as a Request for Proposal and is not a commitment by the government, nor will the government pay for any information provided. Since this is an Announcement, no evaluation letters or results will be issued to the respondents.
Please submit the attached Statement of Interest Form to Mark Dillard
To view all Co-Development and Partnering Opportunities with the NASA Johnson Space Center please visit our website http://1.usa.gov/1bL99AF
Point of Contact
Name: Mark A. Dillard
Title: Lead Partnership Development Office Integration
Phone: 281-244-8460
Fax: 281-483-4146
Email: mark.a.dillard@nasa.gov
Name: Dana Altmon-Cary
Title: Contracting Officer
Phone: 281-483-8228
Fax: 281-483-4066
Email: dana.altmon-cary-1@nasa.gov
