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

NSF引擎发展奖的重点是为德克萨斯州和俄克拉何马州的德克萨斯州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。设想的未来引擎有可能将该区域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何马州东南部的26个县。物流是第二大商业部门，有超过8.89亿吨价值1.1万亿美元的货物流经该区域，雇用了超过45万名工人。与国民经济一样，该地区正经历着熟练劳动力的严重短缺。2022年6月，全国物流职位空缺超过50万个，仅司机缺口就超过8万个。这些短缺在作为第二大工业市场和第四大货运市场的该地区尤为明显。大学、公司、政府机构和劳动力发展组织将领导这一活动，包括北得克萨斯大学、南卫理公会大学、德克萨斯大学阿灵顿大学、达拉斯学院、东南部俄克拉荷马州立大学、德克萨斯研究联盟、达拉斯地区商会、俄克拉何马州乔克托民族、Hillwood Properties、达拉斯市、劳动力解决方案和南达拉斯县内陆港口运输管理协会。该项目将从物流社区征集受使用启发的项目，并通过位于贫困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。设想的未来发动机将包括三大技术推力：自主化、电气化和网络化。Autonomy通过在监控/发送、计算机视觉、碰撞避免、物体跟踪和智能城市技术方面产生创新，将自动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、优化和数字孪生兄弟。电气化促进了可再生能源发电和微电网、能源储存、电池技术、氢燃料、移动电动汽车无线充电、能源收集和电网恢复方面的创新，从而促进了可持续物流。劳动力发展覆盖了每一个重点，该项目将与地区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。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来创建引擎，并为创建研究中心提供必要的支持。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.