Robot Intelligence Kernel (RIK)

TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY - Robot Intelligence Kernel (RIK) Idaho National Laboratory (INL), operated by the Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA) under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to license, further develop, use and commercialize the INL's Robot Intelligence Kernel (RIK). License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include usage limitations. The INL may also be available to partner(s) to assist in further research and development of the technology under a sponsored research agreement or CRADA program. NOTE: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. ***Technology Description: The Robot Intelligence Kernel (RIK) is an R&D 100 award-winning software package that gives robots exceptional new levels of autonomy and intelligence. Today's mobile robots lack the intrinsic intelligence necessary to exhibit true independence, and they tend to fail in unstructured environments when external input is unavailable or inaccurate. The INL's RIK addresses this fundamental challenge in one portable software package that contains a reconfigurable suite of perceptual, behavioral and cognitive capabilities. The software can be used across many different platforms, environments and tasks. The RIK integrates algorithms and hardware for perception, world-modeling, adaptive communication, dynamic tasking, navigation behaviors, and search and detection. More information on the technology can be found at http://www.inl.gov/adaptiverobotics/robotintelligencekernel/index.shtml. ***Intellectual Property: The INL has filed nine U.S. patent applications covering this technology and has been issued one patent to date. The INL has also asserted copyright on its RIK software. ***Potential Applications: The RIK can be applied to mobile robots used for national security activities, search and rescue uses, industrial applications, and other fields where mobile robots with autonomy or intelligent control are needed. ***Commercial Opportunity: The INL is seeking industry partner(s) to license and commercialize this technology. Interested companies with experience and expertise commensurate with the commercialization efforts are invited to respond to this announcement by providing a detailed statement of interest no later than forty-five (45) days from the publication date of this notice. The statement of interest should describe the following company elements: 1. Related experience 2. Demonstrated ability to bring innovations to the market 3. Sufficient resources to accomplish further development and commercialization of the RIK 4. Interest in performing and/or funding cooperative research at the INL 5. Substantial manufacturing and operations presence in the United States 6. Preferred license arrangement (such as exclusive or nonexclusive, fields of use, etc.). Companies deemed appropriate may be provided with further information on the technology. Such information sharing may require an executed Nondisclosure Agreement. Respondents wishing to enter into negotiations for a commercial license may be required to submit a business plan for the commercialization of the technology prior to licensee(s) selection and negotiations. NOTE: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. ***Point of Contact: Charity Follett, Commercialization Manager, Phone 208-526-9353, Fax 208-520-0876, e-mail: Charity.Follett@inl.gov, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3805