NSF Engines Development Award: Advancing logistics technologies (TX, OK)

NSF引擎发展奖的重点是为得克萨斯和俄克拉荷马州的得克萨斯地区的物流开发一个包容性的创新生态系统和经济发展引擎。设想中的未来引擎有潜力将该地区的创新沙漠转变为强大的经济贡献者和高质量就业机会的创造者。服务地区包括德克萨斯州北部和俄克拉荷马州东南部的26个县。物流是第二大商业部门，超过8.89亿吨的货物通过该地区，价值1.1万亿美元，雇佣了超过45万名工人。与国家经济一样，该地区也面临着熟练劳动力的严重短缺。到2022年6月，全国有超过50万个物流职位空缺，仅司机缺口就超过8万。作为全球第二大工业市场和第四大货运市场，这些短缺在该地区尤为明显。大学、公司、政府机构和劳动力发展组织的合作将领导此次活动，包括北德克萨斯大学、南卫理公会大学、德克萨斯大学阿灵顿分校、达拉斯学院、俄克拉荷马州东南部立大学、德克萨斯研究联盟、达拉斯地区商会、俄克拉何马州乔克托族、Hillwood Properties、达拉斯市、workforce Solutions、以及南达拉斯县内陆港口运输管理协会。该项目将向物流界征集以使用为灵感的项目，并通过位于弱势地区的研究中心解决将新兴技术转化为创新系统、实践和劳动力发展计划的问题。这些中心将构思新产品和服务，孵化初创企业，并促进商业化。设想中的未来发动机将包括三大技术重点：自动驾驶、电气化和网络。Autonomy通过在监控/发送、计算机视觉、避碰、目标跟踪和智慧城市技术方面的创新，将自主系统集成到物流网络中。Cyber推进了整合整个供应链的物流功能、数据和软件所需的技术，包括人工智能、机器学习、区块链、网络安全、优化和数字孪生。电气化通过促进可再生能源发电和微电网、储能、电池技术、氢燃料、移动电动汽车无线充电、能量收集和电网弹性等方面的创新，促进了可持续物流。劳动力发展覆盖了每个重点，该项目将与区域劳动力发展组织密切合作，规划和开发新的教育工具，并将这些创新和行业投入整合到劳动力培训计划中。该发展奖将通过促进整个地区的大学、政府和非政府实体以及物流公司之间的合作，并为创建研究中心提供必要的支持，从而促进该引擎的创建。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This NSF Engines Development Award is focused on developing an inclusive innovation ecosystem and economic development engine for logistics in the Texoma region, spanning Texas and Oklahoma. The envisioned future engine has the potential to transform innovation deserts in the region into strong economic contributors and generators of high-quality employment opportunities. The region of service includes 26 counties in North Texas and Southeastern Oklahoma. Logistics represents the second largest business sector, with over 889 million tons valued at $1.1 trillion moving through the region and employing over 450,000 workers. Like the national economy, the region is experiencing a significant shortfall in skilled labor. In June 2022, over 500,000 logistics job openings existed nationally, with the driver shortfall alone at over 80,000. These shortages are particularly pronounced in the region as the second-largest industrial and fourth-largest freight market. A collaboration of universities, companies, government agencies, and workforce development organizations will lead the activity, including the University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University, University of Texas-Arlington, Dallas College, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Texas Research Alliance, Dallas Regional Chamber, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Hillwood Properties, City of Dallas, Workforce Solutions, and the Southern Dallas County Inland Port Transportation Management Association. The project will solicit use-inspired projects from the logistics community and address through research hubs located in disadvantaged areas to translate emerging technologies into innovative systems, practices, and workforce development programs. These hubs will conceptualize new products and services, incubate start-ups, and facilitate commercialization. The envisioned future engine will incorporate three major technical thrusts: autonomy, electrification, and cyber. Autonomy integrates autonomous systems into logistics networks by generating innovations in surveillance/sending, computer vision, collision avoidance, object tracking, and smart city technologies. Cyber advances the technologies necessary for integrating logistics functions, data, and software across the supply chain, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, cybersecurity, optimization, and digital twins. Electrification facilitates sustainable logistics by promoting innovations in renewable energy generation and microgrids, energy storage, battery technologies, hydrogen fuels, on-the-move EV wireless charging, energy harvesting, and grid resilience. Workforce development overlays each thrust, and the project will closely collaborate with regional workforce development organizations to plan and develop new education vehicles and integrate these innovations and industry input into workforce training programs. The Development Award will enable the creation of the Engine by promoting collaboration across universities, government and non-government entities, and logistics companies throughout the region and providing the support essential for creating the research hubs.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.