Army DevX Autonomy Open Call for Innovative Autonomous Unmanned Systems Solutions (Discontinued)

The Army Applications Laboratory DevX Autonomy program is a continuously open solicitation seeking advanced technology solutions related to autonomy and unmanned systems for the U.S. Army. The solicitation W911NF-26-S-0040 runs from December 30, 2025 through August 31, 2026, with monthly submission cutoffs evaluated on a rolling basis. Instead of traditional written proposals, vendors submit a 6-minute video pitch describing their solution, capabilities, and readiness. Subject-matter experts assess submissions against published criteria, and approved solutions become immediately available in a repository for government-wide award consideration. The program accepts submissions in seven categories: Platforms (ground, sea, and air autonomous systems), Payloads (sensors and communications), Mission-Enabling Solutions (human-system integration and mission planning), Lethal Capabilities, Sustainment Solutions (maintenance for autonomous systems), Subcomponents (motors, sensors, controllers), and Disruptive Innovations (transformative autonomy technologies). Strong solutions can move directly into contracting pathways without further competition.

DevX Autonomy: Open Call Solicitation for Innovative AUS Solutions is sponsored by U.S. Army Applications Lab (AAL). DevX Autonomy Open Call Solicitation for Innovative AUS Solutions is a grant from the U. S. Army Applications Lab (AAL) that funds autonomous and unmanned systems solutions across hardware, software, and services to advance Army capabilities.

DevX Autonomy: Open Call Solicitation for Innovative AUS Solutions is sponsored by U.S. Army Applications Laboratory. DevX Autonomy Open Call Solicitation for Innovative AUS Solutions is a grant from the U. S. Army Applications Laboratory that funds autonomous and unmanned systems solutions for the U. S. Army through a long-term, open call solicitation.

The DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory issues a rolling Broad Agency Announcement (W911NF-23-S-0001) soliciting white papers and full proposals for foundational research aligned to ARL's essential research programs. Explicit AI and ML priorities include the Artificial Intelligence of Maneuver and Mobility (AIMM) program, autonomous ground systems, AI-enabled sensing and perception, human-autonomy teaming, reinforcement learning for tactical decision-making, and trustworthy AI for the future battlefield. The BAA supports basic and applied research relevant to the Army Modernization Priorities including next-generation combat vehicles, networked sensors, and soldier lethality. ARL's extramural program engages universities, federally funded R&D centers, nonprofit organizations, and U.S. industry of all sizes through cooperative agreements, grants, and contracts. The rolling BAA structure allows submission at any time and offers a low-friction entry point for new performers seeking long-term partnerships with the Army's principal land warfare laboratory.

This is the workhorse vehicle for getting Army basic research money into AI and autonomy work, and its distinguishing feature is duration: BAA W911NF-23-S-0001, the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory Broad Agency Announcement for Foundational Research, remains open until November 20, 2027, accepting proposals on a rolling basis rather than through an annual competition. That makes it structurally different from the deadline-driven solicitations that dominate this space - a team can approach ARL when the science is ready rather than when the calendar says so. The AI and autonomy content is concentrated in several named research programs and Collaborative Research Alliances that proposals can align to: Human Autonomy Teaming, which addresses human-machine collaboration; the Distributed and Collaborative Intelligent Systems and Technology CRA, covering collaborative autonomous systems and multi-agent coordination; the Scalable, Adaptive and Resilient Autonomy CRA, focused on autonomy that holds up under degradation and adversarial conditions; Tactical Behaviors for Autonomous Maneuver, targeting autonomous tactical operations; and the Army AI Innovations Institute CRA, ARL's dedicated AI research initiative. ARL frames the whole thing as seeking cutting-edge innovative research across multiple disciplines to produce discoveries benefiting Army capabilities, which in practice means basic and applied research rather than prototype delivery. The eligibility breadth is unusual and worth noting: institutions of higher education, nonprofit organisations, state and local governments, foreign organisations, foreign public entities, and for-profit organisations including both large and small businesses can all submit. Foreign organisation eligibility in particular is rare among DoD research vehicles. Submission runs through Grants.gov.

xTechAutonomy is one of the U.S. Army's xTech family of prize competitions, which give eligible small businesses a structured route to pitch novel technology directly to Department of War evaluators, earn non-dilutive prize money, and progress into SBIR Phase I and Phase II awards without entering a separate open-topic SBIR competition. The competition focuses on autonomy-related innovation, explicitly including unmanned systems, drones and autonomous ground vehicles, together with the supporting technology stack of advanced communications, power systems, sensors, and artificial intelligence and machine learning applications for military use. The four-stage funnel runs from a short concept white paper, through an in-person or virtual technology pitch, to an SBIR Phase I award and finally a Phase II demonstration award, with cash prizes at each of the first two stages serving to compensate companies for the effort of engaging. For AI companies the appeal is the low entry cost: a concept white paper is a far lighter lift than a full SBIR proposal, and the pitch stages give direct exposure to Army programme managers and transition pathways that are otherwise difficult for a company with no defence contracting history to reach. The broader xTech programme remains highly active in autonomy and robotics, with the related xTechHumanoid competition concluding in September 2026 with a 490,000 dollar prize pool across five winners plus follow-on contracts of up to 1,250,000 dollars, and xTech|Edge Strike: Ground running a 2,000,000 dollar pool with individual prizes up to 275,000 dollars, which indicates the Army's continuing appetite for embodied autonomy from non-traditional vendors.