About the DARPA FANG Challenges

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) wants to revolutionize the design and manufacturing process for complex defense systems. This requires innovation and new sources for that innovation. This requires you.

The Fast, Adaptable, Next-Generation Ground Vehicle (FANG) program is a key component of DARPA's Adaptive Vehicle Make (AVM) portfolio, which takes a radically novel approach to the design and manufacture of a ground vehicle. FANG will engage new audiences outside of the traditional defense industry, tapping into the innovation of individuals and companies that may have new ideas that could benefit the U.S. Department of Defense.

The FANG Challenges

There are three FANG Challenges, each of which is an independent, prize-based design contest to create a next-generation amphibious infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). The first FANG Challenge required participants to develop a subsystem focused on mobility and drivetrain for the IFV. The second challenge will focus on the chassis and structural subsystems, and the third on the development of a full vehicle design.

Competitors in the FANG Challenges will create their designs in the VehicleFORGE collaboration environment using the portfolio's META design tools and the Component, Context and Manufacturing Model Libraries (C2M2L, or "camel"). VehicleFORGE has been developed to significantly change the design experience and open the window for design innovation, allowing challenge participants to work collaboratively on their system designs. Once a winning design is selected, it will become a physical reality in the foundry-style manufacturing facility, the Instant Foundry Adaptive through Bits (iFAB).

The first FANG Challenge was completed on April 15. Stay tuned for information on FANG Challenge #2, the Chassis/Structural Challenge, by registering for the FANG newsletter.

Scope:
Utilized new open source design tools
Designed the drivetrain and mobility systems for an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle utilizing component model "building blocks"
Assembled the component models into a functional vehicle architecture
Integrated the functional architecture into the provided hull
Virtually tested the performance of the vehicle against requirements such as land speed, water speed, mobility, payload and manufacturability
Submitted the design for a score

Timeline:
Registration began in October 2012
Challenge went live in January 2013
Three months in duration

Participant Pool:
U.S. persons

Incentive:
Prize was $1,000,000 USD for the winning design
Winner judged on ability to meet the stipulated design requirements as determined through the use of Challenge-specific simulation test benches

Design Tools:
Used pre-existing models found within the Component Model Library or new models created and submitted for curation by the competitors
Used provided META software for design and simulation
Used VehicleFORGE for design development, team creation and submission of designs

Build Approach:
Winning design will be constructed as an automotive test rig by the iFAB Foundry, a novel, re-configurable production approach
Performance of the test rig validated against typical ground vehicle acceptance tests
Winning team is not required to support any prototype build or test activities

Scope:
Utilize new open source design tools
Design an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle hull and structures around pre-defined drivetrain and mobility systems, utilizing component model "building blocks"
Integrate occupants and additional auxiliary systems not included in the Mobility/Drivetrain
Virtually test the performance of the vehicle against requirements such as payload, durability and survivability
Submit the design for a score

Timeline:
Registration, Challenge goes live in 2013
Three months in duration

Participant Pool:
TBD

Incentive:
Prize is $1,000,000 USD for the winning design
Winner judged on ability to meet the stipulated design requirements as determined through the use of Challenge-specific simulation test benches

Design Tools:
Use of pre-existing models found within the Component Model Library or new models created and submitted for curation by the competitors
Use of provided META software for design and simulation
Use of VehicleFORGE for design development, team creation and submission of designs

Build Approach:
Winning design will be constructed as a Hull Article test rig by the iFAB Foundry
Performance of the test rig validated against typical ground vehicle acceptance tests such as for survivability
Winning team is not required to support any prototype build or test activities

Scope:
Utilize new open source design tools
Design a complete set of systems for an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle utilizing component model "building blocks"
Assemble the component models into a functional vehicle architecture
Virtually test the performance of the vehicle against a comprehensive range of vehicle requirements.
Submit the design for a score based on the simulated performance characteristics

Timeline:
Registration and Challenge go live in 2014
Six months in duration

Participant Pool:
TBD

Incentive:
Prize is $2,000,000 USD for the winning design
Winner judged on ability to meet the stipulated design requirements as determined through the use of Challenge-specific simulation test benches

Design Tools:
Use of pre-existing models found within the Component Model Library or new models created and submitted for curation by the competitors
Use of provided META software for design and simulation
Use of VehicleFORGE for design development, team creation and submission of designs

Build Approach:
Winning design will be constructed as complete, production-ready vehicle(s) by the iFAB Foundry, a novel, re-configurable production approach
Performance of the vehicle(s) will be validated against requirements for the Marine Corps ACV (Amphibious Combat Vehicle) program and will be considered as a candidate for that program
Winning team is not required to support any prototype build or test activities