Foundational Research in Robotics
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-06-08. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you're building fundamental science around how robots sense, decide, and act—not just deploying existing robotics—NSF will fund it, but you need a physical platform and a clear intellectual contribution.
Report stale or inaccurate summary
What this is
This NSF program funds basic research in robotics where the core focus is on a robot or class of robots gaining new capabilities or substantially improving existing ones. Proposals must articulate three elements: a clear robotic platform, a concrete new or enhanced capability, and a fundamental intellectual contribution to robotics itself—not just application of existing robotics. Physical experimental validation is encouraged. Research should span the intersection of intelligence, computation, and embodiment, and must not be better suited to other NSF programs.
Who can apply
Open to any type of entity (universities, small businesses, non-profits, individuals, startups) subject to clarifications in the full program solicitation. No explicit funding cap stated; consult NSF CISE/ENG typical award ranges (~$150K–$500K for individual grants). U.S.-based entities preferred.
Eligible applicant types
- Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"
Full description — from the agency
The Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) program, jointly led by the CISE and ENG Directorates, supports research on robotic systems that exhibit significant levels of both computational capability and physical complexity. For the purposes of this program, a robot is defined as intelligence embodied in an engineered construct, with the ability to process information, sense, plan, and move within or substantially alter its working environment. Here intelligence includes a broad class of methods that enable a robot to solve problems or to make contextually appropriate decisions and act upon them. The program welcomes research that considers inextricably interwoven questions of intelligence, computation, and embodiment. Projects may also focus on a distinct aspect of intelligence, computation, or embodiment, as long as the proposed research is clearly justified in the context of a class of robots. The focus of the FRR program is on foundational advances in robotics. Robotics is a deeply interdisciplinary field, and proposals are encouraged across the full range of fundamental engineering and computer science research challenges arising in robotics. To be responsive to the FRR program, each proposal should clearly articulate the following three points: The focus of the research project should be a robot or a class of robots, as defined above. [Is there a robot?] The goal of the project should be to endow a robot or a class of robots with new and useful capabilities or to significantly enhance existing capabilities. [Will a robot gain a new or significantly improved capability?] The intellectual contribution of the proposed work should address fundamental gaps in robotics. [Is robotics essential to the intellectual merit of the proposal?] Meaningful experimental validation on a physical platform is encouraged. Projects that do not represent a direct fundamental contribution to the science of robotics or are better aligned with other existing programs at NSF should not be submitted to the FRR program. Potential investigators are strongly encouraged to discuss their projects with an FRR Program Officer before submission. Non-compliant proposals may be returned without review.
Topics: foundational robotics research · robot intelligence and embodiment · computational robotics · physical robot platforms · robotic systems design · autonomous robot capabilities
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.