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Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency - DARPA

Official page of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

www.darpa.mil DARPA's mission is to prevent and create strategic technological surprise by maintaining the technological superiority of the U.S.
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military. The Agency sponsors revolutionary, high-payoff research bridging the gap between fundamental discoveries and their military use.

Operating as usual

05/06/2021

Under DARPA’s SocialSim program, researchers from the University of Central Florida have developed an AI-enabled “sarcasm detector” for online, textual communications. Sarcasm has been a major hurdle to increasing the accuracy of sentiment analysis, especially on social media, since sarcasm relies heavily on vocal tones, gestures, and other non-verbal communications that cannot be represented in text. Sentiment can be an important signal for online information operations to identify topics of concern or possible intent of bad actors.

The researchers have demonstrated that their deep learning model can achieve a nearly perfect sarcasm detection score on several datasets, including a major Twitter benchmark dataset. Their approach uses recurrent neural networks and attention mechanisms to track dependencies between words in a document to better classify sarcastic language. The capability is easily interpretable/explainable (a crucial differentiator from previously developed detectors), and language agnostic. https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2021-05-06

05/05/2021

Discover DSO Day June 23-24 will detail areas of interest and related opportunities in DARPA's fundamental research office. DSO pursues basic S&T research to advance understanding and development of what will become future national security capabilities. https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2021-05-04b

05/04/2021

There is critical need to deploy portable point-of-care ultrasound to the battlefield where it could quickly and accurately address a broad range of injuries. DARPA’s Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Automated Interpretation (POCUS AI) program seeks to address this need by advancing artificial intelligence (AI) techniques that interpret ultrasound images for medical personnel in austere environments.

Today, DARPA announced the five research teams selected to create a prototype AI model capable of providing real-time interpretation of portable ultrasound data for multiple applications: Kitware, Inc., Netrias, Carnegie Mellon University, Novateur Research Solutions, and Drexel University. https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2021-05-04

05/03/2021

The #SubTChallenge, the most rigorous robot competition the world has seen since the 2015 DARPA Robotics Challenge, has winnowed the field of contestants down to eight teams that will battle to navigate treacherous underground environments and identify real-world, mission-relevant artifacts with a chance to win a $2 million: https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2021-05-03

04/30/2021

Funded in part by @NIH & the DARPA Safe Genes program, research from @MassGeneral published in @NatureBiotech demonstrates the utility of CRISPR prime editing (PE) with purified ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes in zebrafish and primary human cells. These prime editors had previously been delivered using DNA or mRNA vectors only, and this research offers a broader therapeutic application of this platform and additional opportunities for creation of disease models in other vertebrates. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-00901-y

04/29/2021

Partially funded by the PReemptive Expression of Protective Alleles and Response Elements (PREPARE) program, researchers at @broadinstitute and colleagues have developed tissue atlases from autopsies conducted on deceased COVID patients. Pathology and cellular targets were published today in @Nature, and offer key insights into the biological impact of severe diseases and possible treatments. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03570-8

04/26/2021

In the 43rd episode of the Voices from DARPA podcast, Scott Wierzbanowski, a program manager since 2016 in the agency’s Tactical Technology Office, recounts how he came of age in a family of test pilots and then embraced the mission of fostering technologies for amplifying the capabilities of airmen, their aircraft, and other defense assets in the sky. In this podcast, titled the “Sky Master,” Scott explains how the sky hasn’t even been the limit during his time at DARPA. https://www.darpa.mil/about-us/podcast

04/23/2021

The software vulnerability disclosure process is fraught with challenges that put cybersecurity researchers and software makers at odds. DARPA’s SIEVE program is exploring potential solutions to this problem through the use of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). One year into SIEVE, two research teams led by Galois and Trail of Bits have demonstrated that these mathematically verifiable problem statements could potentially be used by a vulnerability researcher (the prover) to convince a software maker (the verifier) that they possess information about a bug or exploit without revealing sensitive details – like how the vulnerability was uncovered.
#cybersecurity #software #zeroknowledge

04/20/2021

DYK DARPA offers Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) & Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants? These programs are highly competitive, and encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization.

One recent recipient, SecondWave Systems, is conducting first-in human clinical trials using ultrasound stimulation to address hyperinflammation in severe cases of COVID-19. Learn more at how to work with us at: https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/for-small-businesses/participate-sbir-sttr-program

04/19/2021

Chemical and biological (CB) threats have become increasingly ubiquitous and diverse, presenting significant risks to warfighters in theater and stability operators during pandemic outbreaks. State-of-the-art personal protective equipment (PPE) can be bulky, heavy, and cumbersome, often severely limiting user mobility and performance. The Personalized Protective Biosystem (PPB) program aims to develop technology that reduces the need for burdensome protective equipment while increasing individual protection against CB threats.

DARPA recently awarded contracts to the following performers, FLIR Systems, Leidos, and Charles River Analytics, to develop lightweight materials and adaptable, tissue-protective countermeasures to provide on-demand, broad spectrum, and rapid long-term protection. Performers will seek to leverage molecular technologies and commensal organisms to unburden protective equipment demands from the user.
https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2021-04-19

04/18/2021

As part of the DARPA INTERfering and Co-Evolving Prevention and Therapy (INTERCEPT) program, Institut Pasteur researchers and colleagues have recently identified defective viral genome sequences that can be used as therapeutic interfering particles against Zika virus infection and show antiviral activity in mosquitoes and mice. The program aims to harness viral evolution to create a novel, adaptive form of medical countermeasure—therapeutic interfering particles (TIPs)—that outcompetes viruses in the body to prevent or treat infection. Learn more in Nature Communication: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22341-7]

04/18/2021

As part of the DARPA Living Foundries program, researchers at North Dakota State University and Zymergen successfully demonstrated their high-throughput approach to carry out polyesterification reactions. Published in the Journal of Polymer Science, their method offers highly controllable and reproducible reaction conditions in every reactor coupled with the ability to use a minimum amount of reagents.

DARPA’s Living Foundries program aims to enable adaptable, scalable, and on-demand production of such molecules by programming the fundamental metabolic processes of biological systems to generate a vast number of complex molecules that are not otherwise accessible: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pol.20210059

04/16/2021

Had COVID and think you don’t need a vaccine? Think again. Data published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine by ECHO performers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and colleagues demonstrate that past COVID-19 infection doesn’t fully protect young people against reinfection.

The study found that participants who had not previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2 (seronegative) had a five times greater risk of infection than participants who were previously infected (seropositive), but seropositive people are still at risk of reinfection.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00158-2/fulltext

04/13/2021

A Proposers Day for our recently announced Quantum Benchmarking program is scheduled for April 20 via webcast. Potential proposers may find more information and registration details here: https://go.usa.gov/xHgtg

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Videos

Cave_Intro15s_MASTER_v013_11.9.20_720p.mp4

Announcing DARPA’s first-ever bug bounty program: Finding Exploits to Thwart Tampering (FETT). Working w @synack and @DefenseDigital, hackers can test hardware from our SSITH program. To participate in the 6/15-6/29 capture-the-flag qualifier, go to: https://go.synack.com/darpa-ctf-registration-page.html

New content is up to prepare for the #SubTChallenge Virtual Cave Circuit, including new practice worlds and robot model capabilities. Learn more: https://subtchallenge.world

Nine teams were selected for our Gamebreaker AI effort, which seeks to apply AI to existing open-world video games to assess and affect game balance. If successful, the AI could be used in DoD simulated wargames to create imbalance over an adversary. http://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2020-05-13

Take a first look into the #SubTChallenge Virtual Cave Worlds! See how the third circuit differs from Tunnel and Urban environments, including branching layouts, vertical shafts, and rocky obstacles--all without leaving the house.

Here we go! Up next, the final runs of the #SubTChallenge Urban Circuit with CoSTAR and Explorer. If you’ve been watching the livestream throughout the event, you’ll notice new views as we’ve added more cameras to the mix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgPirHYszzw

CERBERUS and CTU-CRAS-NORLAB rolled onto the #SubTChallenge Urban Circuit livestream earlier this hour to begin their final runs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgPirHYszzw

On the livestream now in the #SubTChallenge Urban Circuit: CSIRO Data61 and MARBLE. We caught up with them as they were setting up for their final runs. Join the current runs in progress on SubTv: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgPirHYszzw

Join the livestream now for the final runs in Round 2 Day 2 of the #SubTChallenge Urban Circuit. Closing out the day, we have CoSTAR on Alpha Course and Explorer on Beta Course. https://youtu.be/A8dgvJGnHsQ

Verticality is a major component of the #SubTChallenge Urban Circuit. It's been a hurdle for robots since a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. On R2D2 (Round 2 Day 2) of competition, check out how teams will tackle it on the SubTv stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_c7P1TJKM4

The next set of runs has begun at #SubTChallenge Urban Circuit. Coordinated Robotics and NCTU are on the courses. Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_c7P1TJKM4

We’re back with the livestream shortly. We found Coordinated Robotics hanging out in the SubT lounge prerun, going over "game tape" of previous runs. Catch them on Alpha Course and NCTU on Beta Course 12p PT/3p ET: https://youtu.be/A8dgvJGnHsQ

Robotika and NUS SEDS readying for their final runs in the #SubTChallenge Urban Circuit. Follow along on the livestream for Round 2 Day 2 (or R2D2, as we’re calling it): https://youtu.be/A8dgvJGnHsQ

And the final #SubT Challenge Urban Circuit runs of the day are about to begin with teams MARBLE and CSIRO Data61. Follow along on SubTv to catch the action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8dgvJGnHsQ

The first Round 2 #SubTChallenge Urban Circuit runs of the day are complete with NUS SEDS and Robotika. Up next: NCTU and Coordinated Robotics. Keep up with the action on SubTv: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8dgvJGnHsQ

Rolling in to Round 2 of the #SubTChallenge Urban Circuit! First up on the courses: NUS SEDS and Robotika. You can watch the action on SubTv: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8dgvJGnHsQ Reminder: we are on a 1-hr delay for competition integrity.

Prepping for the final runs of the day, which are the first #SubTChallenge Urban Circuit runs for teams CoSTAR and Explorer. Catch the action on SubTv: https://youtu.be/4hdeFdt0woc

On the course now in the #SubTChallenge Urban Circuit livestream, NCTU and Robotika. Follow along on SubTv: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hdeFdt0woc

First #SubtChallenge Urban Circuit runs of the day are complete with Coordinated Robotics and NUS SEDS. Up next: NCTU and Robotika. Keep up with the livestream on SubTv. https://youtu.be/4hdeFdt0woc

Teams reflect on their performance in Round 1 Day 1 and prep for Day 2 of the #SubTChallenge Urban Circuit. SubTv will be back Friday just before 10am PT/1pm ET: https://www.youtube.com/user/DARPAtv.