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TACFI Capability Package Phase II Proposal FA8750-22-C-0512 Sequential to AF19.2 001 Contract Number FA864920C0098

AFWERX · AFWERX TACFI · AFWERX

AI-Readiness Score
13/25
Pathway Speed
4/5
Timeline Realism
3/5
Problem Framing
2/5
AI / ML Fit
1/5
Award + Transition
3/5

Award

$1,699,112
Award ceiling
GRAFFITI ENTERPRISES LLC
Awardee
Posted July 11, 2022

Description

Key adaptations that this TACFI opportunity would allow for within the solution developed under a Phase II in the 19.2 round include the following: WiFi 6E Chipset integration: Integrating the newest WiFi 6E (802.11ax) technologies from Qualcomm into the SDR Mesh Networking Smart Radio would rapidly introduce a number of powerful, new capabilities. Among them is a suite of Multi-User MIMO features that allow for more simultaneous users, better network efficiency (more channels available), and lower power consumption. Introduction and Use of Beamforming Benefits of Incorporating Beaming Forming into the Current SDR Mesh Networking Smart Radio: 1. Beamforming would boost the power of transmissions in desired directions, thereby extending link distances and that of communications. 2. Reduced power of transmissions for nearby nodes, thereby reducing power consumption and interference issues while also decreasing enemy identification capabilities. 3. Better performance in noisy environments with a lot of interference like a 5th Generation battlefield. 4. 802.11ax devices use beamforming techniques to direct packets simultaneously to spatially diverse users. The AP calculates a channel matrix for each user and steers simultaneous beams to different users, each beam containing specific packets for its target user. 5. 802.11ax supports sending up to eight multi-user MIMO transmissions at a time, up from four for 802.11ac. 6. Each MU-MIMO transmission may have its own Modulation and Coding Set (MCS) and a different number of spatial streams. By way of analogy, when using MU-MIMO spatial multiplexing, the AP could be compared to an Ethernet switch that reduces the collision domain from a large computer network to a single port.

Score Rationale

TACFI is a legitimate fast-track instrument and scores well on pathway speed, but the problem framing and AI/ML fit drag this solicitation down significantly — the core work is SDR mesh networking hardware integration (WiFi 6E chipsets, beamforming, MU-MIMO), which is RF engineering and embedded systems work, not an AI-shaped problem; 'AI' appears nowhere in the description. The award ceiling of ~$1.7M with a named SBIR sequential transition pathway earns a mid-tier award score, but the unknown response deadline and absence of clear success metrics or end-user context limit confidence in timeline realism and framing.

Source

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