DEFENSE RESEARCH SCIENCES

Abstract

The Defense Research Sciences Program Element is budgeted in the Basic Research Budget Activity because it provides the technical foundation for long-term National Security enhancement through the discovery of new phenomena and the exploration of the potential of such phenomena for Defense applications. It supports the scientific study and experimentation that is the basis for more advanced knowledge and understanding in information, electronic, mathematical, computer, biological and materials sciences. The Bio/Info/Micro Sciences project investigated and developed the intersections of biology, information technology and micro/physical systems to exploit important technological advances and leverage fundamental discoveries for the development of new technologies, techniques, and systems of interest to the DoD. This research is critical to the development of improved training and cognitive rehabilitation. Programs in this project drew upon the information and physical sciences to discover properties of biological systems that cross multiple scales of biological architecture and function, from the molecular and genetic level through cellular, tissue, organ, and whole organism levels. This project developed the basic research tools in biology that are unique to the application of biological-based solutions to critical Defense problems. The Math and Computer Sciences project supports scientific study and experimentation on new computational algorithms, models, and mechanisms in support of long-term national security requirements. The project is exploring novel means of leveraging computer capabilities, including: practical, logical, heuristic, and automated reasoning by machines; enhanced human-to-computer and computer-to-computer interaction technologies; innovative approaches to the composition of software; innovative computer architectures; mathematical programs and their potential for defense applications; and new learning mechanisms for systematically upgrading and improving these capabilities. Promising techniques will transition to both technology development and system-level projects. The Cyber Sciences project supports long term national security requirements through scientific research and experimentation in cyber security. Information technologies enable important new military capabilities and drive the productivity gains essential to U.S. economic competitiveness. Meanwhile, cyber threats grow in sophistication and number, and put sensitive data, classified computer programs, and mission-critical information systems at risk. The basic research conducted under the Cyber Sciences project will produce breakthroughs necessary to enhance the resilience of DoD information systems to current and emerging cyber threats. Promising research results will be transitioned to both technology development and system-level projects. The Electronic Sciences project is for basic exploration of electronic and optoelectronic devices, circuits, and processing concepts to meet the military's need for near real-time information gathering, transmission, and processing. In seeking to continue the phenomenal progress in microelectronics innovation that has characterized the last few decades, the project should provide DoD with new, improved, or potentially revolutionary device options for accomplishing these critical functions. The resulting technologies should help maintain knowledge of the enemy, communicate decisions based on that knowledge, and substantially improve the cost and performance of military systems. The Beyond Scaling programs in this project will support investigations into materials, devices, and architectures to provide continued improvements in electronics performance with or without the benefit of Moore's Law (silicon scaling). Within the next ten years, traditional scaling will start to encounter the fundamental physical limits of silicon, requiring fresh approaches to new electronic systems. The Materials Sciences project provides the fundamental research that underpins the design, development, assembly, and optimization of advanced materials, devices, and systems for DoD applications in areas such as robust diagnostics and therapeutics, novel energetic materials, and complex hybrid systems. The Transformative Sciences project supports research and analysis that leverages converging technological forces and transformational trends in computing and the computing-reliant subareas of the social sciences, life sciences, manufacturing, and commerce. The project integrates these diverse disciplines to improve military adaptation to sudden changes in requirements, threats, and emerging/converging trends, especially trends that have the potential to disrupt military operations.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2018
• Source ID: 0601101E_1_0400_PB_2018
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 2016: Decrease reflects reprogrammings and the SBIR/STTR transfer. FY 2017: N/A FY 2018: Increase reflects expanded focus in Math and Computer sciences, Cyber, Electronics (including Beyond Scaling programs), Materials and Transformative sciences.
• Service Agency Name: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

Entities

Organizations

• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Advanced Electronics
• Autonomy
• Biomedical
• Cyber
• Energy and Power Technologies
• Engineered Resilient Systems
• Ground and Sea Platforms
• Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Cognitive Science
• Computational Science
• Computer Architecture
• Computer Programming
• Computer Programs
• Computers
• Construction
• Detection
• Engineers
• Frequency Combs
• Information Processing
• Information Systems
• Lasers
• Manufacturing
• Materials Science
• Microelectromechanical Systems
• Radio Frequency

Readers

• Defense Technology Research and Development.
• Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.

Technology Areas

• Biotechnology
• Cyber
• Microelectronics