Foundational Research in Robotics

The Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), a U.S. federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. The FRR program is a joint initiative led by the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) and the Directorate for Engineering (ENG). It aims to support cutting-edge research in robotics, particularly focusing on systems that embody significant computational intelligence and physical complexity. This program defines a robot as an engineered system that possesses intelligence and is capable of processing information, sensing its environment, planning actions, and executing those actions to either navigate or alter its environment. The FRR program emphasizes the importance of addressing interwoven aspects of intelligence, computation, and embodiment in robotics. While comprehensive projects that address all three aspects are encouraged, proposals may also focus on one or two dimensions, provided the research advances the field meaningfully within the broader context of robotics. The primary objective of the FRR program is to support foundational advances in the science of robotics. The program encourages interdisciplinary research that addresses engineering and computer science challenges central to robotics development. Each proposal must satisfy three core criteria: it must center on a robot or a class of robots as defined by the program, it must aim to endow the robot(s) with novel or significantly enhanced capabilities, and it must address fundamental research questions specific to robotics. Applications must adhere to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and be submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov. The program accepts full proposals on a rolling basis year-round, with no fixed deadlines. Proposals declined for funding must observe a one-year moratorium before resubmission and must undergo substantial revision. NSF encourages proposers to consult with a cognizant Program Officer prior to submitting or resubmitting a proposal to ensure alignment with program objectives. Meaningful experimental validation on physical robotic platforms is encouraged. Projects that do not significantly contribute to fundamental robotics research or are more suitable for other NSF programs are not appropriate for the FRR program. Special proposal types such as EAGER, RAPID, and RAISE can also be submitted at any time with prior consultation. Proposals for supplemental funding or workshops are accepted on a rolling basis as well. For assistance and program guidance, multiple NSF Program Officers are available, all of whom can be contacted via Robotics@nsf.gov. These include Jordan M. Berg (703-292-5365), Cindy Bethel (703-292-4420), Huaiyu Dai (703-292-4568), Alexandra Medina-Borja (703-292-7557), Siddiq M. Qidwai (703-292-2211), Ralph F. Wachter (703-292-8950), Yue Wang (703-292-4588), Karl E. Wimmer (703-292-2095), and Cang Ye (703-292-4702). The FRR program remains open and accepting applications as of June 2025, and applicants are encouraged to contact program officers with questions before submission.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact program officers before submission, especially for resubmissions.