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Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Directorate for Engineering and Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering. The FRR program supports fundamental research that advances the science of robotics, including AI-integrated autonomous robotic systems, robot perception, learning, manipulation, human-robot interaction, and embodied intelligence.
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Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) Important information for proposers and award recipients All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in the funding opportunity and in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and its supplements .
All NSF grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the applicable set of NSF award terms and conditions . NSF has updated its research security policies for NSF funded projects. The Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) program, jointly led by the CISE and ENG Directorates, supports research on robotic systems that exhibit significant levels of both computational capability and physical complexity.
For the purposes of this program, a robot is defined as intelligence embodied in an engineered construct, with the ability to process information, sense, plan, and move within or substantially alter its working environment. Here intelligence includes a broad class of methods that enable a robot to solve problems or to make contextually appropriate decisions and act upon them.
The program welcomes research that considers inextricably interwoven questions of intelligence, computation, and embodiment. Projects may also focus on a distinct aspect of intelligence, computation, or embodiment, as long as the proposed research is clearly justified in the context of a class of robots. The focus of the FRR program is on foundational advances in robotics.
Robotics is a deeply interdisciplinary field, and proposals are encouraged across the full range of fundamental engineering and computer science research challenges arising in robotics. To be responsive to the FRR program, each proposal should clearly articulate the following three points: The focus of the research project should be a robot or a class of robots, as defined above. [Is there a robot?]
The goal of the project should be to endow a robot or a class of robots with new and useful capabilities or to significantly enhance existing capabilities. [Will a robot gain a new or significantly improved capability?] The intellectual contribution of the proposed work should address fundamental gaps in robotics.
[Is robotics essential to the intellectual merit of the proposal?] Meaningful experimental validation on a physical platform is encouraged. Projects that do not represent a direct fundamental contribution to the science of robotics or are better aligned with other existing programs at NSF should not be submitted to the FRR program.
Potential investigators are strongly encouraged to discuss their projects with an FRR Program Officer before submission. Non-compliant proposals may be returned without review.
Updates and announcements NSF-NIFA opportunity in agricultural robotics October 31, 2025 - Foundational Research in Robotics – National Robotics… October 30, 2025 - Foundational Research in Robotics – National Robotics… May 14, 2025 - 2025 ENG/CMMI CAREER Program Webinar May 14, 2025 - 2025 ENG/CMMI CAREER Program Webinar May 8, 2025 - 2025 ENG/CMMI CAREER Program Webinar May 8, 2025 - 2025 ENG/CMMI CAREER Program Webinar June 2, 2022 - Informational Webinar: Sunset of the National Robotics Initiative April 26, 2021 - Robotics Program Webinar for CAREER Principal Investigators Awards made through this program Browse projects funded by this program Map of recent awards made through this program Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (ENG/CMMI) Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ENG/ECCS) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Division of Computer and Network Systems (CISE/CNS) Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CISE/CCF) Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (CISE/IIS)
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: U. S. academic institutions, nonprofits, and research organizations. Industry collaboration is encouraged. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) is funded by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Directorate for Engineering and Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
NSF's Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) program supports fundamental research that advances the science of robotics, including AI-integrated autonomous robotic systems, robot perception, learning, manipulation, human-robot interaction, and embodied intelligence. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline (window open through the end of 2026), and awards range from $174,000 up to $5,000,000, with most AI-integrated robotics awards falling between $250,000 and $1,500,000.
NSF Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) Program for AI-Integrated Autonomous Robotic Systems is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Directorate for Engineering and Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering. This program supports fundamental research that advances the science of robotics, including AI-integrated autonomous robotic systems, robot perception, learning, manipulation, human-robot interaction, and embodied intelligence.
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