A-RAM: Advancing Bio-Innovation Through Multi-Domain Collaboration
Traditional construction and sustainment methods in contested or remote environments come with high costs, heavy logistics, and mission-limiting inflexibility. The Applied Research for Advanced Materials (A-RAM) initiative directly addressed this challenge by exploring bio-enabled solutions that reduce reliance on conventional building materials, cut transport costs, and enable on-demand, in-theater construction. By developing materials and processes that harness biology, A-RAM opened the door to significant Air Force cost savings and operational agility—allowing warfighters to adapt quickly to diverse and austere missions.
A-RAM is an initiative born from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Seedlings of Disruptive Capabilities Program (SDCP), established to nurture early-stage, high-risk/high-payoff projects. Under this program, seven research teams were selected to receive $3 million to $5 million per year each, over the course of a three-year project cycle. Over multiple years, A-RAM encompassed seven core tasks and several sub-tasks, supported by nearly all of WBI’s service offerings. WBI contributed through ecosystem engagement, partner integration, human-centered design, and technology transfer pathways, ensuring the project’s scientific breakthroughs translated into real-world impact. This approach proved a game-changer, transforming early-stage research into a multi-agency collaboration with lasting defense and commercial potential.
A Multi-Service, Multi-Disciplinary Effort
A-RAM was led by AFRL’s RX Directorate and spanned across multiple Air Force Directorates, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), and the Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). Together, this coalition tackled a diverse set of technical and operational challenges, from fundamental science to applied field testing.
Key areas of focus included:
Modeling and Simulation – predicting material performance and scaling pathways.
Test and Evaluation Methods – establishing standards for biocement and biomass applications.
Robotic Biomaterial Delivery – enabling precision placement and reduced manpower needs.
Bacterial Consortia Engineering – advancing microbial blends to optimize resource reduction.
Remote Soil Strength Measurement – developing field-ready diagnostic tools.
Autonomous Delivery Systems – integrating bacteria and feedstock into scalable deployment platforms.
Each of these tasks pushed forward the Air Force’s understanding of bio-enabled construction and sustainment while also addressing broader Department of Defense resilience priorities.
One of the most promising outcomes of A-RAM is Biomass T2, a spin-off effort that extends WBI’s mission into the commercial sector. Biomass T2 advises companies working to transition the bacteria formula into scalable, commercial manufacturing, bridging the gap between defense innovation and private-sector application. This work underscores how disruptive defense research can seed entirely new markets, from sustainable construction to environmental remediation.
A-RAM demonstrates how WBI’s services enable collaboration across government, academia, and industry. The initiative not only advanced science and technology but also accelerated tech transfer pathways, turning laboratory breakthroughs into real-world solutions.
From bio-cementing technologies that reduce logistical burdens, to robotic delivery systems that enhance safety and efficiency, A-RAM embodies the DoD’s push for resource-efficient, autonomous, and resilient systems. And with Biomass T2 charting a path into the commercial landscape, A-RAM’s impact will extend well beyond its original defense mission.