Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Program: Loud and Clear (Component 1A)

Eligibility

This Challenge notice is issued under the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Program Call for Proposals (CFP) Call 005 (W7714-227982/A). This program, "Loud and clear: Assured naval radio communications in complex electromagnetic environments," advances promising technology quickly through a phased approach, and the present opportunity represents the first of the following two phases:

Component 1a (Up to 6 months, up to $200,000). Component 1a helps to establish the innovativeness and impact of a solution and its ability to address a specific defence and security challenge. Innovators have up to six months to refine and advance their product and showcase it to Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces. As added incentive, projects that show promise will be considered for a second phase of funding (Component 1b).
Component 1b (Up to 12 months, up to $1 million). Component 1b projects continue the development to progress a solution to a higher solution readiness level. Innovators will have up to a full year to make the most of their opportunity to advance their project.

Additional eligibility considerations:

• This Call for Proposals (CFP) is open to individuals, academia and industry.
• Solution Readiness Level: The current SRL of the proposed solution must be within 1 and 6 (inclusive). Review the Solution Readiness Level (SRL) maturity scale for more information.

Eligible overhead breakdown:

• 65% applied to Direct Payroll Costs for on-campus work
• 30% applied to Direct Payroll Costs for off-campus work
• 2% applied to travel and living expenses

Summary

The Challenge

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) are seeking innovative solutions for Cognitive Radio Communications to provide flexible, adaptable, reliable, resilient and assured communications in congested and contested electromagnetic spectrum environments.

Background and Context

The execution of Canadian Naval operations relies on multiple voice and data communication capabilities across the electromagnetic spectrum for command and control. Currently, the RCN/CAF units or formed groups and security partners rely on specific communication pathways, or a predefined set of frequencies/network assignments for multiple and separate data and voice channels. Therefore, when 2 or more networks are required, this manually intensive process is repeated. This process tries to predetermine voice and data assignments regardless of the real-time electromagnetic environment availability or the bandwidth (BW) demands of all users, units or groups operating; and, it does not allow for adaptability or flexibility to respond to or exploit real-time Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum availability, congestion or contested (intentional and unintentional interference). Traditional communication pathways utilize fixed frequencies and power levels, which at times can lead to communication outages when the attenuation from the above mentioned factors are too high. An additional concern with traditional communication plans is that power levels are not adjusted based on actual conditions which can also lead to greater levels of Electro-Magnetic (EM) congestion as well as Emission Security (EMSEC) risks. When communication pathways fail, human intervention is required in order to analyze and determine alternate pathways which can be a time-consuming activity. In the modern battlespace where Assured Command and Control (AC2) is critical for operations, it is essential that these activities are automated to ensure C2 pathways are maintained and/or re-established in a timely manner.

The Canadian Forces Maritime Warfare Centre (CFMWC) describes “Cognitive Radio for Secure Naval Communications” as adaptive and flexible utilization of any portion(s) of the electromagnetic spectrum enabled by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) techniques/algorithms to determine the best pathway(s) to reliably and securely connect end users and establish two-way communication between them. Cognitive Radio incorporates spectral scanning and analysis, smart switching, and other software enabled Radio Frequency (RF) capabilities for Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communications. Cognitive Radio capabilities will provide greater agility, efficiency and flexibility by dynamically and automatically selecting appropriate and available communication pathways (frequencies, bandwidth, Internet Protocol (IP), serial or future transmission waveforms, networks, and modes) to reliably and securely connect users under varying conditions.

Assuming that bandwidth will always be limited, but available, and the requirement for power and energy management will remain (or worsen) when operating in congested and contested electromagnetic environments; how can the RCN understand and find ways to exploit and efficiently utilise the benefits of cognitive radio capabilities as a potential future key component of Navy communications?

Essential Outcomes

Proposed solutions must provide automated and efficient spectrum monitoring and management capability:

• Agile, real-time electromagnetic spectrum monitoring and management (to ensure reliable, resilient and assured communications between ships, boats and crew (and partners)), and
• Able to operate in complex RF environments which may include contested spectrums and sources of RF interference.

Desired Outcomes

The Royal Canadian Navy is looking for innovative research, tools and/or technologies that are required to provide assured communications within congested and contested Electromagnetic (EM) environments, including but not limited to the following:

• Dynamic Spectrum management capability to adapt to users and communication/interoperability requirements;
  • Automated/dynamic routing capability using, scalable pathways for establishing and maintaining reliable voice/data communications between various users (multiple and simultaneous internal and/or external)
    • Interoperability with the land and air environment,
    • Interoperability with allies
    • Flexibility to include other users (Government, and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) , International Community (IC), and others)
  • Increased resilience against cyber and electronic threats
• AI/ML communication control capabilities for cooperative spectrum management (and future enhanced functions)
  • Means and methods for BW and frequency adaptive/flexible communications
  • Voice and data communications between tactical and operational units in a congested and contested EM spectrum. (Near real time connectivity, scalable & resilient networks, self-healing or graceful degradation capability)
• Other:
  • Software defined radio (SDR) format or standards:
    • This challenge would be a success if the innovators created a spectrum sensing cooperative cognitive radio utilizing a framework that is compatible with some/all of the following
      • Redhawk/TOA
      • OpenCPI
      • GNURadio

What IDEaS Provides

Funding of up to $200,000 will be provided for innovative solutions to help advance this challenge over a performance period of up to 6 months. There is a potential opportunity for further funding of up to $1 million for a performance period of up to a year should the solution be found successful and promising by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF).

What Innovators Bring

Solutions that provide automated and efficient spectrum monitoring and management capability that are 1) agile, real-time electromagnetic spectrum monitoring and management (to ensure reliable, resilient and assured communications between ships, boats and crew), and 2) able to operate in complex Radio Frequency (RF) environments which may include contested spectrums and sources of RF interference.

Submission Process

All applications are submitted through the Research Management System (RMS) to initiate internal approvals. Please note that when the RMS record finally reaches Research Services by the internal deadline, it should contain all the relevant Department and Faculty approvals. Please allow additional time for these approval steps. Late applications will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you will need to secure additional late approvals from your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) and the Executive Director, Research Services. Training resources are available on the RMS website.

1. Upload a copy of your final and complete application to the RMS Application record and submit for academic approvals.  Please ensure that you allow enough time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services (RSO) final internal deadline of NOON, December 15, 2022. Please note this is a hard deadline. Exceptions will only be made with the approval of your faculty Associate Dean (Research).
2. RSO will provide institutional sign-off on the application and internal approvals in RMS. RMS will notify you that institutional approval has been provided and any institutional signatures will be provided 
3. Full Proposals must be submitted only by SAP Ariba, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)’s online procurement platform by by 12:00pm MST December 20, 2022.

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.