SOAR - Stereo Obstacle Avoidance Rig

The ultimate goal of the SOAR program is to develop robust hardware and algorithms for low light, passive terrain sensing. The SOAR system will provide NASA with a solution for real-time obstacle avoidance for large and small unmanned air platforms. During Phase-I, we will collect images with all of the leading low-light camera technologies. The image data will be used to derive, test, and enhance a passive terrain sensing algorithm based-on state-of-the-art, visual odometry and dense stereo algorithms. At the end of Phase-I, we will recommend the optimal hardware, algorithm, and computing platform for full prototype development during Phase-II. The factors used to make the recommendation include cost, range accuracy, size, power consumption, algorithm execution time, etc.

Potential NASA applications include tracking wildfires, weather monitoring, terrain mapping, cargo transportation, communication relays, emergency disaster relief, search and rescue, climate research, and crop surveying.

Commercial applications: Once the proper FAA regulations are in place, commercial companies can use the technology develop during this program for low cost delivery of goods. Defense applications: Any missions that require low altitude unmanned aircraft CONOPS including: surveillance, weapons delivery, communication relays, asset placement, and asset extraction.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.