Military researchers ask industry's advice on trusted computing approaches to ensure predictable behavior
ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers would like to compare notes with industry on the direction of efforts to develop trusted computing hardware and software that exhibit predictable behavior with no unpleasant surprises.
Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., have issued a request for information on the Formal Methods to Deliver Resilient Systems (FMDRS) -- also called the FMDRS Guide.
FMDRS Guide
DARPA officials say they are interested in receiving comments from companies with formal methods implementation experience on the scope and breadth of the FMDRS Guide. Industry responses will help guide use of the FMDRS Guide in future DARPA solicitations.
A draft of the FMDRS guide is available for download online at https://sam.gov/api/prod/opps/v3/opportunities/resources/files/756ecfe91d1a40de81f03875fb2fc12b/download?&token=.
DARPA seeks to create resilient trusted computing systems, including hardware, cyber-physical systems, and software that can help secure and prove the absence of exploitable vulnerabilities across nearly all existing and future military systems.
Cyber-physical systems use embedded computing and digital networks to monitor and control physical processes, and have feedback loops to enable physical processes and computing to influence one another. Examples of cyber-physical systems are automatic avionics, robotics, autonomous automobiles, smart grids, and process-control systems.
Mathematical methods
These kinds of tools employ software development practices based on formal mathematical methods, which are mathematically rigorous techniques for producing software and machine-checked evidence that systems will act in ways that are intended and not in unintended ways.
These tools seek to make drastic improvements to the security of the military's massive catalog of deployed legacy software code and future capabilities to ensure military capabilities can complete their missions.
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DARPA particularly is interested in assessing whether the FMDRS Guide provides sufficient information to create a plan for proposers who lack specific expertise in formal methods.
Responses are welcome from private or public companies, individuals, universities, university-affiliated research centers, not-for-profit research institutions, and U.S. Government-sponsored laboratories.
How to comment
Companies interested should email non-classified responses no later than 25 Feb. 2025 to [email protected].
Email questions or concerns to DARPA at [email protected]. More information is online at https://sam.gov/opp/127898f2979642eea65316c88a3169ba/view.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
