Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. has approved a $6,720,805 grant to the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) to establish a groundbreaking National Center for Collaborative Autonomy (NCCA).
What? The NCCA will serve as a hub for cutting-edge research in multiple areas related to autonomous systems, including:
- Multi-domain collaborative autonomous systems
- Robust communication and networking techniques
- Collaborative manipulation and coordinated behavior
- Distributed artificial intelligence
- Machine learning techniques for multiple distributed autonomous systems
- Human-machine learning strategies for heterogeneous autonomous systems
But really, what’s an autonomous system?
- An autonomous system is a system—often a machine or group of machines—that can perform tasks, make decisions, and operate in a dynamic environment with minimal or no human intervention. These systems are designed to sense their environment, process information, make decisions, and act independently to achieve specific goals.
Details: The total project cost is $29,688,238, with IHMC and its partners contributing $22,967,433 in matching funds. With a completion deadline of April 30, 2034, this project represents a long-term commitment to building Florida’s research capabilities in autonomous systems.
Performance Metrics and Accountability
Triumph Gulf Coast has established clear performance metrics to ensure the grant delivers meaningful economic and educational benefits:
- Job Creation: IHMC must create at least 12 new jobs dedicated to the NCCA within four years of the initial funding.
- Research Grant Generation: The center must secure at least $20 million in competitive research grants related to NCCA’s work within ten years.
- Educational Outreach: Researchers must conduct a minimum of four research outreach activities annually (40 total) for audiences of all ages.
These metrics are backed by clawback provisions that require repayment of portions of the grant if targets aren’t met, ensuring strong accountability for public funds.
This investment aligns with Triumph Gulf Coast’s mission to diversify Northwest Florida’s economy following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. By establishing a world-class research center focused on next-generation autonomous technologies, the project aims to create high-paying jobs, attract additional research funding, and build educational pathways for Florida students interested in these emerging fields.