The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) is soliciting research proposals to develop reliable peripheral interfaces (RPI) to control state-of-the-art prosthetic limb. “Such efforts will involve design, fabrication, testing, and analysis of new materials and technologies to demonstrate substantial improvements in reliability and quantity of peripheral motor-signal information,” the announcement said.
“Despite advances in robotic technologies which have enabled tremendous improvements in the field of electromechanical prostheses, existing peripheral-interface recording technology cannot adequately convey the users’ intent to the prosthesis,” the full-text announcement reads. “The RPI program will support the development of reliable peripheral interfaces, which ultimately will be suitable for clinical use over the lifetime of an injured warfighter (~70 years).
“Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in our understanding of peripheral biology and its relationship to recording and stimulation interfaces, implanted electronic systems, decoding and encoding algorithms, and overall functional capability.”
To that end, DARPA is seeking proposals in one or more of the following five technical areas:
- Demonstrate Reliable Tissue Interfaces.
- Demonstrate Reliable Tissue-Interface Electronics.
- Demonstrate Reliable Decoding Algorithms and Subsystems.
- Demonstrate Effectiveness of RPI Systems.
- Demonstrate Sensory-Feedback Technology.
DARPA anticipates issuing multiple awards, which may be in the form of procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions. Full proposals are due no later than 11:59 a.m. (ET), December 9. 2010.
To read the announcement, visit DARPA-BAA-11-08. The full-text of the funding opportunity is available for download from that page.
