Small Businesses Invited to Submit for Army Competition

The University of Maryland MATRIX Lab encourages small businesses to submit a concept white paper to the U.S. Army xTech Program xTechOverwatch competition. Any U.S.-based small business can apply.

The program will be awarding up to $1 million in cash prizes and up to $40 million in Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract awards.

The competition is seeking innovative autonomous systems that leverage AI, robotics, secure networking, and real-time data processing. The areas of interest and technologies include:

Autonomous Uncrewed Systems (UAVs, UGVs, Stationary Sensors)
Sensor Fusion, Data Integration, and AI-Driven Target Recognition & Classification
Secure Communications and Networking
Human Machine Interface (HMI) for Effective Decision-Making
Edge Computing for Onboard Processing
Resilient Robotics for Adaptive Terrain Navigation
Automated Self-Recovery Mechanisms
Collaborative/Mission-Focused Autonomy
UGV and UAS Payloads
Modular & Open Architecture

All submissions must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on May 21, 2025. Winners will be announced on October 29, 2025. In addition to money and contracts, the competition also provides technical feedback from Department of Defense (DoD) experts as well as connections to Army stakeholders and key decision-makers.

Find more information about the competition, its timeline and prizes, and its eligibility requirements on the xTechOverwatch web page.

Published April 18, 2025