NSF-02-039
DIRECTORATE FOR ENGINEERING
DIVISION OF ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE(S): April 2, 2002
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
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Program Title: Integrated Sensing, Computation, and Networked Systems for Decision and Action
Synopsis of Program: This solicitation focuses on the challenges in future multimode and distributed sensor/actuator systems with emphasis on networking or applications which involve large scale computations. Among the advances sought are: (a) multiple sensors with different functionalities, computation, storage, communication and network interface on prototype chips, (b) imaging and computational video with multilevel and adaptive decision systems, and (c) networking methods for large arrays of geographically distributed sensor/actuator systems.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
B. Budgetary Information
C. Deadline/Target Dates
D. FastLane Requirements
Convergence of communications and computing has in the recent years been recognized as a major revolution. Indeed, the Internet and all other forms of communications and networking have facilitated rapid access to information and computing, overcoming the barriers of distance and time. In a new revolution, sensor and actuator systems, such as microaccelerometers, microgyroscopes, thermal probes at nanometer scales, and microsystems for biochemical analysis are beginning to have a significant impact on industry and our daily lives. However, in future years, sensing, along with communications and computing, will play an even greater role. They promise to be of enormous value in biomedicine, transportation, automotive and consumer electronics, and the security of the nation’s civil and engineering infrastructures.
The combination of ultra low-power wireless nodes together with emerging ad hoc networks will give rise to sensing networks that could be assembled and disassembled according to the need. Thereby, very rapid and cost-effective deployment would be achieved over small regions. On the other hand, on a much larger scale, the national backbone networks should incorporate fast-switched priority-based-routing protocols with sensor networks that would provide much faster transfer of data from sensors to the processing centers for intelligent information and decision systems. Integrated sensor networks that include computing and communication are expected to enable (a) accurate distributed sensing, (b) multimode data fusion, (c) transformation of data from one domain to another, (d) extraction of key information, and (e) detection and circumvention of faulty sensors in ultra large arrays.
In some applications, smart sensor systems with ‘sensors, processors and storage, and communication and network interface’ on a chip would enable new opportunities for design and prototyping of smart devices. The sensors may include mechanical, chemical, biological, fluidic, optical, and/or ultrasonic devices. The communications and networking interface on the chip would enable exchange of sensor data or critical information with the outside world.
Furthermore, imaging and computational video are becoming increasingly important for the observation of nanoscale to macroscale phenomena, and for cataloging atmospheric, undersea, and astronomical events. At the core of imaging and video systems is intensive computing, whereby the raw images from several cameras, strategically placed over a region, must be processed for enhancement, compression, or information extraction; or where autostereoscopic 3D multiview display would be made possible at one or more receiving sites. The information extraction may include detection of events or objects of interest, together with the estimation of key parameters, and may be followed by closed-loop adaptive feedback.
Proposals are sought under this announcement that seek to obtain major advances in the area of integrated sensing, computation, and networking. It is envisioned that the research will be carried out by single investigators, or multi-disciplinary groups, with the objective of generating new concepts, approaches, test beds, and prototype chips that are stimulated by the synergistic interaction of diverse disciplines. The goal of the initiative is to encourage collaboration between researchers from electronics, photonics, and device technologies and researchers from control, networks, computations, and systems engineering. Research advances that integrate multiple sensors on a chip and novel networking methods for distributed sensor/actuator arrays are encouraged. In addition, proposers are encouraged to develop innovative curriculum and test beds with broader impact on education of graduate and undergraduate students. It is important that the research programs on sensing, computing, and networking identify and address target applications. Research will be funded based in part on the proposer's explanation of how the research will further benefit the society and the nation. A specific intent of this initiative is to develop science and technologies that focus on systems and networks to accelerate progress in the area of sensors, computing, and networking.
TOPICAL AREAS
This initiative will provide research support under the following topical areas. Each of these areas is intended to be broadly defined. Examples are provided to enhance the definition of each topic, but are not intended to be all-inclusive.
The smart sensor systems may include a combination of mechanical, chemical, biological, fluidic, optical, and/or ultrasonic sensing capabilities. Architectural innovations, novel modeling and simulation tools, and implementation of sensors, computational elements, and networking interface on a prototype chip are of interest. The application examples include, but are not limited to, biometric measurements, identity-authentication, detection and analysis of biochemical agents, detection of moving objects, and sensing of turbulent flows.
Array of cameras for 2D and 3D video reconstruction of large-area activities, and test beds for high-resolution ‘autostereoscopic 3D multiview system’ are of interest. The application examples include, but are not limited to, surveillance, telemedicine, advanced manufacturing, distance education and video conferencing. The proposed research may develop novel modeling tools, high fidelity compression methods, and techniques for survivable layered digital video with adaptive feedback loops.
Modeling and simulation tools dealing with networked sensing/actuation of large-scale structures or systems, and test beds of ad hoc sensing networks are of interest. In addition, integration of fast-switched priority-based-routing protocols for sensor networks, hierarchical and reconfigurable schemes for distributed control over heterogeneous networks, are encouraged. Also of interest are reconfigurable interconnection networks for arrays of sensors, e.g., microelectromechnical systems/nanoelectromechnical systems (MEMS/NEMS), and processors, both for overcoming faulty units and mapping of multiple applications.
The categories of proposers identified in the Grant Proposal Guide are eligible to submit proposals under this program announcement/solicitation.
The awards made under this solicitation will be up to $300,000 for a single investigator and up to $500,000 for a small multidisciplinary group, for a duration of up to three years. Small multidisciplinary groups may be from the same institution or from different institutions, and should demonstrate substantial program enhancement resulting from the interaction of diverse disciplines. It is anticipated that the total funds available from NSF in FY 2002 for this initiative will be approximately $3 million. Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds and the quality of proposals.
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
Full Proposal:Proposals submitted in response to this program announcement/solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF Web Site at: http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (301) 947-2722 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
Proposers are reminded to identify the program solicitation number (NSF-02-039) in the program announcement/solicitation block on the proposal Cover Sheet. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.
Cost sharing is not required in proposals submitted under this Program Solicitation.
Proposals must be submitted by the following date(s):
Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this Program Solicitation through the FastLane system. Detailed instructions for proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user support, call 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail fastlane@nsf.gov.
Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the proposal Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal certifications (see Chapter II, Section C of the Grant Proposal Guide for a listing of the certifications). The AOR must provide the required certifications within five working days following the electronic submission of the proposal. Further instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane website at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov.
A. NSF Proposal Review Process
Reviews of proposals submitted to NSF are solicited from peers with expertise in the substantive area of the proposed research or education project. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with the oversight of the review process. NSF invites the proposer to suggest, at the time of submission, the names of appropriate or inappropriate reviewers. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts with the proposer. Special efforts are made to recruit reviewers from non-academic institutions, minority-serving institutions, or adjacent disciplines to that principally addressed in the proposal.
The two merit review criteria are listed below. The criteria include considerations that help define them. These considerations are suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal. While proposers must address both merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to address only those considerations that are relevant to the proposal being considered and for which he/she is qualified to make judgements.
NSF staff will give careful consideration to the following in making funding decisions:
A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and submitted by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the reviewers, are sent to the Principal Investigator/Project Director by the Program Director. In addition, the proposer will receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.
B. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard
All proposals are carefully reviewed by at least three other persons outside NSF who are experts in the particular field represented by the proposal. Proposals submitted in response to this announcement/solicitation will be reviewed by Panel Review.
Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either support or decline each proposal. The Program Officer assigned to manage the proposal's review will consider the advice of reviewers and will formulate a recommendation.
NSF is striving to be able to tell applicants whether their proposals have been declined or recommended for funding within six months for 70 percent of proposals. The time interval begins on the date of receipt. The interval ends when the Division Director accepts the Program Officer's recommendation.
In all cases, after programmatic approval has been obtained, the proposals recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division of Grants and Agreements for review of business, financial, and policy implications and the processing and issuance of a grant or other agreement. Proposers are cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements Officer may make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or authorize the expenditure of funds. No commitment on the part of NSF should be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with a NSF Program Officer. A Principal Investigator or organization that makes financial or personnel commitments in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement signed by the NSF Grants and Agreements Officer does so at its own risk.
Notification of the award is made to the submitting organization by a Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and Agreements. Organizations whose proposals are declined will be advised as promptly as possible by the cognizant NSF Program Division administering the program. Verbatim copies of reviews, not including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided automatically to the Principal Investigator. (See section VI.A. for additional information on the review process.)
An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any special provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments thereto; (2) the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of expense, on which NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates any specific approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3) the proposal referenced in the award letter; (4) the applicable award conditions, such as Grant General Conditions (NSF-GC-1)* or Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) Terms and Conditions;* and (5) any announcement or other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award letter. Cooperative agreement awards also are administered in accordance with NSF Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions (CA-1). Electronic mail notification is the preferred way to transmit NSF awards to organizations that have electronic mail capabilities and have requested such notification from the Division of Grants and Agreements.
*These documents may be accessed electronically on NSF's Web site at http://www.nsf.gov/home/grants/grants_gac.htm. Paper copies may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (301) 947-2722 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.
More comprehensive information on NSF Award Conditions is contained in the NSF Grant Policy Manual (GPM) Chapter II, available electronically on the NSF Web site at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpm. The GPM is also for sale through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402. The telephone number at GPO for subscription information is (202) 512-1800. The GPM may be ordered through the GPO Web site at http://www.gpo.gov.
For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing grants), the PI must submit an annual project report to the cognizant Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current budget period.
Within 90 days after the expiration of an award, the PI also is required to submit a final project report. Approximately 30 days before expiration, NSF will send a notice to remind the PI of the requirement to file the final project report. Failure to provide final technical reports delays NSF review and processing of pending proposals for that PI. PIs should examine the formats of the required reports in advance to assure availability of required data.
NSF has implemented an electronic project reporting system, available through FastLane. This system permits electronic submission and updating of project reports, including information on project participants (individual and organizational), activities and findings, publications, and other specific products and contributions. PIs will not be required to re-enter information previously provided, either with a proposal or in earlier updates using the electronic system.
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NSF welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists, engineers and educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to compete fully in its programs. In accordance with Federal statutes, regulations and NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from NSF (unless otherwise specified in the eligibility requirements for a particular program).
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The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals; project reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the proposal review process; to applicant institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies needing information as part of the review process or in order to coordinate programs; and to another Federal agency, court or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 267 (January 5, 1998), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 268 (January 5, 1998). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.
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