Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPA BAA 11 43
Apply for DARPA BAA 11 43
- The DARPA Microsystems Technology Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Primary and Secondary Calibration on Active Layer (PASCAL)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.910 Research and Technology Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 10, 2011 and posted on May 10, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 28, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The DARPA Microsystems Technology Office grant opportunity titled Primary and Secondary Calibration on Active Layer (PASCAL), issued under DARPA BAA 11-43, focuses on a persistent problem in chip-scale Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) hardware: long-term bias and scale-factor drift in inertial sensors and clocks. These slow drifts gradually distort measurements even when the device appears to be operating normally, which can degrade navigation accuracy and timing reliability over days and weeks. PASCAL is aimed at moving beyond periodic factory calibration or occasional external recalibration by developing a new on-chip approach, described as a "Primary and Secondary Calibration on Active Layer" paradigm, that enables in situ (built-in, on-the-fly) calibration directly within the microsystem while it is operating.
The core technical deliverable is an integrated, ultra-miniaturized microsystem that combines one or more of the following: a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and/or a clock, with strategically implemented calibration capabilities on the chip itself. DARPA is not simply asking for individual sensor improvements; the program is pushing for a tightly integrated package where calibration is not an afterthought but an embedded function of the device architecture. The performance target is very aggressive: the effective bias and scale-factor deviation of the microsystem must stay within 1 part per million (1 ppm) of a nominal input/output function over a one-month period. In practical terms, this means the system is expected to maintain extremely stable, predictable behavior for an extended duration without relying on external reference equipment or frequent recalibration events.
The opportunity also sets strict size and power constraints that reflect real-world deployment needs, especially for military platforms where space and energy budgets are limited. The total integrated microsystem is expected to be on the order of 30 cubic millimeters (30 mm3), which is extremely small, and it must consume less than 50 milliwatts (50 mW) of power. These constraints imply a focus on chip-scale integration, low-power electronics, and calibration methods that do not require bulky supporting hardware or power-hungry signal processing.
A major emphasis of PASCAL is robustness in harsh operational environments typical of military use. The microsystem is expected to maintain its long-term stability despite significant stressors: thermal variations from 55 degrees C to 85 degrees C, vibration across a wide spectrum from 5 Hz to 5 kHz with an average amplitude of 5 g, spin rates around 300 Hz, and mechanical shock up to 15,000 g. These conditions are representative of demanding scenarios such as munitions, high-dynamics vehicles, or other platforms where conventional precision instruments can quickly lose calibration or fail outright. The solicitation makes it clear that meeting stability targets in benign lab conditions is not sufficient; the calibration strategy must hold up when exposed to heat, vibration, rotation, and shock.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary research and development opportunity in the science and technology category (CFDA 12.910, Research and Technology Development). The solicitation allows multiple award instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions, and procurement contracts, and it states there is no cost-sharing requirement. Eligibility is broadly open (unrestricted), subject to any clarifications included in the full announcement. The opportunity was posted May 10, 2011, with a closing date of June 28, 2011, and later archived December 28, 2011. One procedural detail highlighted in the description is that the solicitation was initially expected to be funded only with 6.3 funds and therefore was originally posted to FedBizOpps, but the anticipated funding type changed to include 6.2 funds, prompting its inclusion on Grants.gov so that applicants could submit assistance-instrument proposals (such as grants or cooperative agreements) as well.
In short, PASCAL is a DARPA effort to enable chip-scale inertial sensors and clocks that can effectively self-calibrate in real time, hold near-perfect stability (1 ppm over a month), fit into a roughly 30 mm3 package, run under 50 mW, and continue performing through extreme temperature swings, high vibration, rapid spin, and severe shock. The program is framed around making miniature PNT components behave more like long-endurance precision instruments, without sacrificing the size, power, and ruggedness required for operational deployment.
FAQs: DARPA PASCAL (Primary and Secondary Calibration on Active Layer) - DARPA BAA 11-43
What is the PASCAL grant opportunity?
PASCAL (Primary and Secondary Calibration on Active Layer) is a DARPA Microsystems Technology Office research and development opportunity under DARPA BAA 11-43. It targets a long-standing issue in chip-scale Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) hardware: slow, long-term drift in inertial sensors and clocks that causes bias and scale-factor errors to grow over days and weeks.
What problem is DARPA trying to solve with PASCAL?
The program focuses on long-term bias drift and scale-factor drift in inertial sensors and clocks. These drifts can quietly distort measurements even when the device looks like it is operating normally, degrading navigation accuracy and timing reliability over extended periods.
What does "Primary and Secondary Calibration on Active Layer" mean in this context?
In the PASCAL description, it refers to a new on-chip paradigm where calibration is implemented directly within the operating microsystem. The intent is in situ, built-in, on-the-fly calibration while the device is running, rather than relying on periodic factory calibration or occasional external recalibration.
Is the program asking for better individual sensors, or something else?
PASCAL is not described as a request for isolated improvements to individual sensors. The core deliverable is an integrated, ultra-miniaturized microsystem where calibration is an embedded function of the device architecture, not an add-on performed externally.
What types of components can be included in the microsystem?
The integrated microsystem can combine one or more of the following: a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and/or a clock, along with strategically implemented on-chip calibration capabilities.
What is the key technical deliverable?
The key deliverable is an integrated, ultra-miniaturized chip-scale microsystem that includes inertial sensing and/or timing (gyro, accelerometer, and/or clock) with on-chip calibration that operates in situ during normal operation.
What performance stability target is DARPA setting?
The program sets an aggressive target: the effective bias and scale-factor deviation must stay within 1 part per million (1 ppm) of a nominal input/output function over a one-month period.
What does "1 ppm over one month" imply for real-world use?
It implies the microsystem should maintain extremely stable, predictable behavior for about a month without depending on external reference equipment or frequent recalibration events, even though slow drifts normally accumulate over days and weeks.
What are the size constraints for the integrated microsystem?
The total integrated microsystem is expected to be on the order of 30 cubic millimeters (30 mm3), emphasizing chip-scale integration and ultra-miniaturization.
What are the power constraints?
The microsystem must consume less than 50 milliwatts (50 mW), pushing designs toward low-power electronics and calibration approaches that do not require power-hungry processing or bulky supporting hardware.
What operating environments must the system tolerate while maintaining stability?
PASCAL emphasizes robustness under harsh, military-relevant environments. The microsystem is expected to maintain long-term stability despite thermal variation, vibration, high spin rates, and extreme mechanical shock.
What temperature range is explicitly mentioned?
The opportunity description calls out thermal variations from 55 degrees C to 85 degrees C.
What vibration conditions are specified?
The solicitation describes vibration spanning 5 Hz to 5 kHz with an average amplitude of 5 g.
What spin-rate condition is specified?
The description references spin rates around 300 Hz.
What shock level is specified?
The microsystem is expected to withstand mechanical shock up to 15,000 g.
Does meeting performance in a lab environment appear sufficient?
No. The description makes clear that stability in benign lab conditions is not enough; the on-chip calibration strategy must maintain the stability target under heat, vibration, rotation, and shock.
How does PASCAL differ from periodic factory calibration or external recalibration?
PASCAL aims to move beyond periodic factory calibration or occasional external recalibration by embedding calibration directly on the chip, enabling the system to calibrate itself in situ while operating.
What application area is PASCAL associated with?
The program is framed around chip-scale PNT components (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing), including inertial sensors and clocks, especially in constrained and rugged military deployment scenarios.
What is the funding category and CFDA number provided?
The opportunity is described as discretionary research and development in the science and technology category, CFDA 12.910 (Research and Technology Development).
What award instruments are allowed?
The solicitation allows multiple award instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions, and procurement contracts.
Is cost sharing required?
No cost-sharing requirement is stated in the provided description.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broadly open (unrestricted), subject to any clarifications included in the full announcement.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on May 10, 2011, with a closing date of June 28, 2011.
When was the opportunity archived?
The description states it was archived on December 28, 2011.
Why was it included on Grants.gov if it was initially posted elsewhere?
The description explains that it was initially expected to be funded only with 6.3 funds and therefore posted to FedBizOpps, but later the anticipated funding expanded to include 6.2 funds. That change prompted inclusion on Grants.gov so applicants could submit assistance-instrument proposals such as grants or cooperative agreements.
What is the main technical emphasis of PASCAL?
The main emphasis is an on-chip, in situ calibration architecture that keeps chip-scale inertial sensors and/or clocks stable to a 1 ppm level over a month, while meeting strict size and power limits and remaining robust under extreme environmental and dynamic stresses.
What kinds of end-use scenarios are implied by the environmental requirements?
The conditions described are representative of demanding military scenarios such as munitions, high-dynamics vehicles, and other platforms where conventional precision instruments may lose calibration or fail.
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