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    National Robotics Initiative: 2.0: Ubiquitous Collaborative Robots (NRI-2.0)SharePrint Friendly Email Twitter Facebook
    
    The NRI-2.0 program builds upon the original National Robotics Initiative (NRI) program to support fundamental research in the United States that will accelerate the development and use of collaborative robots (co-robots) that work beside or cooperatively with people. The focus of the NRI-2.0 program is on ubiquity, which in this context means seamless integration of co-robots to assist humans in every aspect of life. The program supports four main research thrusts that are envisioned to advance the goal of ubiquitous co-robots: scalability, customizability, lowering barriers to entry, and societal impact. Topics addressing scalability include how robots can collaborate effectively with multiple humans or other robots; how robots can perceive, plan, act, and learn in uncertain, real-world environments, especially in a distributed fashion; and how to facilitate large-scale, safe, robust and reliable operation of robots in complex environments. Customizability includes how to enable co-robots to adapt to specific tasks, environments, or people, with minimal modification to hardware and software; how robots can personalize their interactions with people; and how robots can communicate naturally with humans, both verbally and non-verbally. Topics in lowering barriers to entry include development of open-source co-robot hardware and software, as well as widely-accessible testbeds. Topics in societal impact include fundamental research to establish and infuse robotics into educational curricula, advance the robotics workforce through education pathways, and explore the social, economic, ethical, and legal implications of our future with ubiquitous collaborative robots. Collaboration between academic, industry, non-profit, and other organizations is encouraged to establish better linkages between fundamental science and engineering and technology development, deployment, and use. The NRI-2.0 program is supported by multiple agencies of the federal government including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). Questions concerning a particular project's focus, direction and relevance to a participating funding organization should be addressed to that agency's point of contact, listed in section VIII of this solicitation.

    Apply For Grant
    Dates may vary. Please see RFA for exact details.

  Reasonable Accommodation
  If you need a reasonable accommodation to access information related to this grant opportunity, please contact the Information Contact listed on this page no later than ten (10) days before the closing date.  If you need a reasonable accommodation for the webinar or event related to this grant opportunity, please contact the event host.
  Language Access Services
  NIFA offers language access services, such as interpretation and translation of vital information, free of charge. If you need interpretation or translation services, please visit NIFA Language Access Services and request service no later than ten (10) days before the closing date.
  
  Programs
    Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)

  Eligibility
    Other or Additional Information (See below)

  More Information on Eligibility
    Universities and Colleges - Universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in, the US acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions. Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. For USDA/NIFA: Eligible applicants/Principal Investigators (PIs) for the grant program implemented under this subpart include: (1) State agricultural experiment stations; (2) colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher); (3) university research foundations; (4) other research institutions and organizations; (5) Federal agencies, (6) national laboratories; (7) private organizations or corporations; (8) individuals who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents; and (9) any group consisting of 2 or more entities identified in (1) through (8). Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations.

  Posted Date
    Friday, November 23, 2018

  For more Information Contact
    Steven J. Thomson

  Closing Date
    Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Contact for Electronic Access Problemsgrantapplicationquestions@usda.gov
  Other Due Date
    Full Proposal Deadlines(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time)

  February 19, 2019
January 22, 2020
Fourth Wednesday in January, Annually Thereafter

  Funding Opportunity Number
    NSF 19-536

  Assistance Listing Number
    10.310

  Estimated Total Program Funding
    $35,000,000

  Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement
    Matching is not required
Range of Awards$250,000 - $1,500,000
  Previous Fiscal Year RFA
    National Robotics Initiative National Science Foundation (pdf - 749.92 KB)

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    Advanced Technologies Return to top
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