The U.S. Army has awarded nearly $19 million to 23 small businesses to develop their artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions that will lead to more informed Army decision-making, facilitate autonomous operations and increase the speed and scale of military action.
The awards are in response to seven contract opportunities released by the Army Applied Small Business Innovation Research Program for U.S.-based small businesses to propose technologies in the areas of electronic warfare, sensors, information systems, battlespace environments and human systems.
Fourteen of the 23 small-business awardees received Phase I contracts for up to $250,000 to focus on the scientific, technical and commercial merit and feasibility of their innovations. The program also awarded nine companies Direct to Phase II contracts of up to $1.7 million each for small businesses ready for the prototyping stage.