27 Jan
2003
27 Jan
'03
10:48 a.m.
http://www.darpa.mil/leaving.asp?url=http://www.dyncorp-is.com/BAA/index.as…
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) often selects its
research efforts through the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) process.
The BAA will be posted directly to FedBizOpps.gov, the single government
point-of-entry (GPE) for Federal government procurement opportunities
over $25,000. The following information is for those wishing to respond
to the Broad Agency Announcement.
The DARPA Information Technology Processing Office (IPTO) is soliciting
innovative research proposals in the area of information technology for
a new class of cognitive systems that can be characterized simply as
follows: a cognitive system is one that, among other things,
Ø can reason in a variety of ways, using substantial amounts of
appropriately represented knowledge;
Ø can learn from its experiences so that its performance improves
as it accumulates knowledge and experience;
Ø can explain itself and can accept direction;
Ø can be aware of its own behavior and reflect on its own
capabilities; and
Ø can respond in a robust manner to surprises.
Architecturally, a cognitive information processing system is likely to
comprise three types of processes: reactive processes, where system
responses are provided with low latency in direct response to inputs;
deliberative processes, where planning and other reasoning processes are
carried out, including those that deal thoughtfully with natural
language and other forms of communication; and reflective processes that
operate based on observations made about the system itself. Complete
and capable cognitive information processing systems and their
underlying processes are likely to be implemented in some combination of
novel software and hardware, and are further likely to be augmented with
memories of various sorts (long-term, short-term, etc.) and with
associated modules for perception and taking action, as appropriate for
the end application. Given their abilities to process knowledge and to
reflect on their own behavior, cognitive systems might be best
characterized as systems that know what they are doing.
....
The abstract (original and designated number of hard and electronic
copies) must be submitted to DARPA/IPTO, ATTN: BAA 02-21, 3701 N.
Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, in time to reach DARPA by 12:00
NOON (EST) Friday, April 4, 2003.