Nyquist Limited Infrared Detectors (NIRD) | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

DARPA's Microsystems Technology Office released the Nyquist Limited Infrared Detectors (NIRD) Broad Agency Announcement (Funding Opportunity Number: DARPA BAA 08-54) to fund research and development that improves long wave infrared (LWIR) imaging performance when the atmosphere is highly degrading the signal. The central operational problem is "brownout" and other low-transmission environments often encountered by helicopters, where dust, sand, and aerosols scatter and absorb light and can make it difficult to see terrain, obstacles, and targets. The opportunity is aimed at pushing both the sensor hardware and the downstream processing so that useful imagery and recognition can still be achieved when conditions would normally defeat standard infrared systems.

The program is split into two independent technical tasks, and proposers are expected to apply to either Task 1 or Task 2. Submitting to both is allowed, but DARPA requires two separate proposals, one per task, rather than a combined submission. Across both tasks, the theme is getting closer to fundamental limits set by physics and sampling (implied by the "Nyquist limited" title), by improving detector pitch and sensitivity on the hardware side and by creating processing approaches that can recover or enhance information in poor transmission on the software/algorithm side.

Task 1 focuses on detector and focal plane array (FPA) development and demonstration for LWIR. DARPA is explicitly seeking very small pixel detector elements, targeting an individual detector element size (pixel pitch) of 5 micrometers by 5 micrometers. In addition to fabricating the detector array, the effort must demonstrate integration with a readout integrated circuit (ROIC). The ROIC requirement is not just a packaging detail; it must be capable of integrating enough charge to meet a specified sensitivity level. The performance objective called out is a noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) of 30 millikelvin using F/1 optics (as referenced in the solicitation's Table I). In practical terms, this means DARPA wants a highly sensitive LWIR imager with very fine sampling, where the detector/ROIC system can discern small temperature differences in the scene even with fast optics and small pixels. The emphasis on a demonstrated FPA implies the program is looking for credible device-level and array-level results, not purely modeling.

Task 2 targets signal and imaging processing specifically designed for brownout and other low-transmission conditions. Rather than building new detectors, this track asks for novel processing concepts that can enhance image formation and interpretation when the optical path is severely degraded by dust or aerosols. The stated objective is achieving target recognition at a range of 500 meters when transmission is 1.8 (as referenced in Table II of the full announcement). While the numeric transmission metric is defined in the full BAA context, the intent is clear: DARPA wants processing methods that meaningfully extend recognition range and robustness in extreme visibility loss. This can be interpreted as going beyond simple contrast stretching or denoising and toward approaches that explicitly account for scattering, attenuation, and noise characteristics of brownout scenes, enabling recognition performance under conditions that typically cause washout, blur, and low signal-to-noise ratios.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary government funding opportunity under CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development). DARPA indicates multiple potential funding instrument types, including cooperative agreements, grants, "other procurement," and contracts, which is typical for DARPA BAAs and gives the agency flexibility in how it awards depending on the nature of the proposed work and anticipated government involvement. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the full text, which generally means universities, nonprofits, small businesses, large businesses, and other organizations may apply if they can meet the program's technical and compliance requirements.

Key dates in the posting are: posted and created on August 28, 2008, with an original and current closing date of October 14, 2008, and an archive date of September 10, 2009. The listing shows award ceiling and floor as 0, which commonly indicates that specific funding levels were not enumerated in the summary record and are instead described in the full BAA or handled through negotiated awards.

For questions and administrative correspondence, DARPA directed email to BAA08-54@darpa.mil, and the announcement references the DARPA MTO solicitations page as an additional information link. The notice also indicates that if applicants have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically, they should contact Dr. Stuart Horn (MTO Program Manager / DARPA MTO BAA Coordinator) by email, as provided in the full posting.

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