October 20, 2026 – The ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute has received funding from the US Navy to issue a NEW Technology Project Call that seeks to address specific needs in the shipbuilding industrial base (SIB). The projects will focus on improving first-time quality, reducing rework, increasing manufacturing throughput, and accelerating qualification for two critical processes: thick-section naval welding and wire directed energy deposition.
The ARM Institute is soliciting submissions that address specific needs of the US Navy shipbuilding industrial base. The projects will focus on improving first-time quality, reducing rework, increasing manufacturing throughput, and accelerating qualification for two critical processes: thick-section naval welding and wire directed energy deposition (DED).
- The first project will develop, demonstrate, and validate an adaptive welding system that uses edge-compute artificial intelligence (AI) to support multi-bead, multi-layer welding of thick-section joints. The system will compensate for common variations in joint fit-up, helping ensure consistent weld quality, reduce costly rework, and improve the resilience and efficiency of naval manufacturing.
- The second project will develop robust, commercial-grade in-process volumetric inspection technology for wire DED components. The system must operate during dwell times between layers, withstand high heat and rough surfaces, and provide reliable defect detection while the part is still being built. Its purpose is to reduce late-stage defect discovery, support real-time feedback and rework, lower final NDE costs, and shorten manufacturing lead times.
Together, these projects will advance deployable technologies for operational shipyard environments and support the adoption of wire DED for safety-critical applications. This project call seeks targeted advancements aligned with the two Technical Objectives described in the Project Call document, which were developed directly from feedback provided by Navy sponsors.
While our Project Call is publicly available, you must be an ARM Member to submit a proposal.
Download our Project Call on this page
Public Webinar on Oct. 21
Join us for a public webinar on October 21 at 11 AM ET to learn more about this Project Call, better understand the submission process and requirements, and to ask questions.
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Learn More About the ARM Institute: 10th Annual Member Meeting
Interested in collaborating with the ARM Institute and our member consortium on robotics and physical AI projects to strengthen US manufacturing? Join our consortium by the beginning of November 2026 to be eligible to attend our 10th Annual Member Meeting taking place Nov. 17-19 in Pittsburgh, PA.
The ARM Institute Annual Member Meeting is our largest event of the year and your best opportunity to take full advantage of your membership. This event convenes representatives from across industry, government, and academia for 2.5 days of networking, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing.
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ABOUT THE ARM INSTITUTE
The ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute is a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII) funded by the Office of the Secretary of War under Agreement Number W911NF-17-3-0004 and is part of the Manufacturing USA® network. The ARM Institute leverages a world class consortium of 500+ member organizations and partners across industry, academia, and government to assert the US as the leading nation in manufacturing output through the adoption of robotics and AI. Based in Pittsburgh, PA since 2017, the ARM Institute has a dual focus on catalyzing innovative yet practical robotics and physical AI solutions while growing and preparing the US workforce for advanced manufacturing careers.
For more information, visit www.arminstitute.org and follow the ARM Institute on LinkedIn