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123 SEE, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Gaze-independent contactless autorefractor for self-serve eye exam kiosk.
Contact
240 COMMERCIAL STREET
Boston, MA 02109--1385
NSF Award
2322305 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve access to vision care and eyeglasses for all Americans through a self-serve, rapid vision exam kiosk for retail stores and public spaces. An estimated 175 million Americans suffer from blurry vision, of which 30 million live without eyeglasses. By partnering with retailers, pharmacies, and supermarkets, the company has the potential to reach a large number of Americans via a network of kiosks spread across the US. With 70% of the population benefitting from eyeglasses, the development of the company?s rapid vision exam kiosk aims to democratize vision care and eliminate the gap in easily accessible vision exams.
This project develops a gaze-independent, contactless autorefractor technology (GIPR) for use in a self-serve and autonomous vision exam kiosk. Gaze-camera misalignment is a leading contributor to accuracy drift in autorefractors using the retinal reflex method. Eliminating the gaze alignment requirement marks a significant milestone in the company?s development. The GIPR design refracts the inner visual field in a single capture, thus providing a measurement of refractive error at the subject?s foveal position. Building on the success of the Phase I feasibility project, this Phase II project will continue the development of the GIPR module towards commercial readiness by optimizing hardware layout and improving data processing pipeline throughput.
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. -
2KR SYSTEMS, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Remote IoT Monitoring Network for Early Warning and Measurement of Structural Movements
Contact
217 MCDANIEL SHORE DR
Barrington, NH 03825--5052
NSF Award
2337470 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be in deploying an easy-to-use roof monitoring system. This affordable high-performance geolocated wireless monitoring system detects unsafe loads and movements on buildings, especially flat commercial rooftops found on schools, distribution centers, office buildings, malls, factories, arenas, apartments, condominiums, and warehouses. This project will innovate scientific and technological advancements that realize the promise of the Internet of Things, generating not just useful products demanded by the marketplace but products that can save lives and fundamentally improve life cycle infrastructure management. The affordability of our technology directly benefits disadvantaged communities, especially in rural areas where resources are severely limited, and serious infrastructure and substandard building problems tend to linger for years. In 2015, it was reported on a major national channel that more than 160 roofs collapsed or faced imminent collapse in Massachusetts alone due to snow load throughout 2014-2015. This SBIR project will inform precisely where unsafe rooftop snow and water loads exist to ensure resources are allocated in advance and as required.
The proposed project efficiently pinpoints risks in flat roof structures at an affordable cost. All 5.9 million commercial buildings in the USA are vulnerable to the destructive forces of nature and negligence. Out of building failures that occur for known reasons, accumulated ice, snow, and/or liquid water account for 33% of incidents. Dilapidation caused by a lack of maintenance, which makes up 30.7% of known-cause building failures, often develops slowly and is not apparent immediately. Complete or partial building collapses leave occupants at risk of mortal injury and the valuable property contained in the structure lost or damaged. Avoiding damage to large-scale infrastructure will save society significant resources and reduce lost productivity. Even minor collapses impact business continuity, affecting revenues and often the larger community, in the case of grocery stores and similar institutions. The sensor technology improves greatly upon current structural health monitoring methods, limited to single-dimension measurements, higher system costs, and complex installations. The project will develop sets of battery-powered wireless sensors and deploy them across several building rooftops. An intuitive online application will be developed to display building health data and provide users with alerts when loads exceed safety thresholds.
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. -
ADVISORY AEROSPACE OSC LLC
SBIR Phase II: A robust production scheduling optimizer for aerospace manufacturers
Contact
4460 GAYWOOD DR
Minnetonka, MN 55345--3808
NSF Award
2208742 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,550
Start / end date
12/01/2022 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to increase the competitiveness of the US in manufacturing high value parts for shops with high product variety, low volumes, large lead times, and large set up times. The application addresses a need to find the optimal way of utilizing existing resources in order to maximize production rates. The proposed technology may provide an affordable and easy-to-use solution for target markets in aerospace and medical technologies industries. The technology may also help strengthen the national defense of the United States by facilitating onshoring of defense manufacturing by making domestic producers more cost competitive.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project involves the development of a new technology that enables high value manufacturers in optimizing the flow of materials in their shops. For shops with high product variety, low volume, large lead times, and large set up times, there is a need to find the optimal way to utilize existing resources in order to maximize production rate. Most scheduling optimizers are unable to handle this problem reliably or affordably. The newly proposed methods, algorithms, and software may solve this challenge. The business model for delivering this software solution is designed for small and medium size businesses in terms of both cost and usability perspectives. The solution demonstrates double digit improvements in all Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), such as on-time delivery (OTD), inventory turns, and profitability. Phase II work will mature shop optimization software through demonstration in a real aerospace parts factory.
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. -
AEROMUTABLE CORPORATION
SBIR Phase II: Multi Sub-System Miniaturization and Development for Semi-Truck Fuel Savings Device
Contact
9431 DOWDY DR
San Diego, CA 92126--4480
NSF Award
2213299 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
04/01/2023 – 03/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is reducing fuel consumption, improving safety and stability, and reducing the carbon footprint of the trucking industry while increasing profitability. Over 70% of US freight tonnage is moved by trucks. At highway speeds, aerodynamic drag uses over 65% of the total vehicle energy. The proposed device modifies the aerodynamic behavior of semi-trucks using air injection by allowing continuous optimization of aerodynamic performance. This project will bring the pneumatic, sensor and artificial intelligence (AI) control systems from proof-of-concept to commercialization. Having a commercial product capable of determining and delivering the trailer?s best aerodynamic profile based on real-time operating conditions may be a game-changer for the trucking industry, as fuel is a significant operating cost. Commercializing this system has the potential to create an energy savings for all US fleets, saving more than 3 billion gallons of diesel fuel, reducing the release of more than 33.5 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, tripling trucking company profits, and saving an annual $22 billion.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes development of an aerodynamic add-on prototype for semi-trucks to save fuel by dynamically changing the trailer?s aerodynamic profile to accommodate diverse operating conditions. Objectives of this SBIR Project are to evolve the device from prototype to the first commercially viable release through system miniaturization and encapsulation, controller optimization, and improved overall system performance, reliability, and safety. Research conducted to miniaturize the overall system footprint will minimize any additional operational impacts, ensuring widespread adoption and utilization that maximizes fuel savings. Research to optimize the Artificial Intelligence-Controller operation will maximize fuel savings because it will allow the device to operate under a broader set of operational conditions. Further development to improve system performance, reliability, and the addition of a safety assist will improve the profit margins of the trucking industry while simultaneously improving on-road safety for the public. The project seeks to deliver 10% savings in operational costs for the trucking industry while improving the efficiency and safety of their country-wide operations.
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. -
AFFECTIFI INC.
SBIR Phase II: Developing a Novel Platform for Teaching Emotional Literacy
Contact
462 CARROLL ST APT 10
Brooklyn, NY 11215--1028
NSF Award
2152882 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
09/01/2022 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to deliver an engaging, scalable, and effective social emotional learning platform by integrating soft skills training with major streaming media sites. By leveraging the reach and appeal of popular streaming media platforms with the latest emotion and learning science, the project may lead to improved academic performance, health, and quality of life for America?s youth. The product seeks to benefit mental health professionals and K-12 schools, with potential future areas of growth in corporate training and social emotional skills certification
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to improve social and emotional skills like emotional literacy, empathy, and resilience among children, adolescents, and young adults at scale. The project aims to deliver a solution that addresses some of the shortcomings of existing social emotional learning (SEL) offerings, namely content quality and diversity. The technology will do so through the development of a platform that integrates SEL directly with major media streaming platforms using a browser extension technology. This technology will make it possible to leverage the wide range of popular content available on those platforms to build critical skills like empathy and emotion regulation. The platform will be powered by a training engine based on established emotion science principles to enable flexibility and personalization. The platform will support user collaboration as well as detailed performance analytics and will be designed to facilitate eventual integration with streaming applications on mobile devices and smart televisions. Efficacy studies will be conducted to evaluate the platform?s impact on social emotional skills.
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. -
AI POW LLC
SBIR Phase II: A Hardware-Aware AutoML Platform for Resource-Constrained Devices
Contact
2605 SOMERTON CT
College Station, TX 77845--7466
NSF Award
2335642 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
06/15/2024 – 05/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will support industries keen on harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things. By simplifying the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies, this project allows a broader range of businesses in the manufacturing sector to join the data revolution. It empowers businesses to leverage their existing data assets, leading to enhanced efficiency, fostering a culture of innovation, and carving out a competitive edge in the market. On the commercial front, the benefits are multifold, ranging from bolstered business efficiency and substantial cost reductions to potential market expansion for solutions in artificial intelligence of things. From a societal perspective, this technology contributes substantially to the development of a data-literate 21st-century workforce and strengthens human-technology synergies. The project will drive efficiency and standardization across diverse industries and streamline the process of analyzing and acting upon extensive data sets which will result in improved product quality, fuels innovation, and pave the way for more efficient decision-making processes in an increasingly data-driven world.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project addresses the complex challenge of efficiently deploying artificial intelligence models on edge devices for real-time defect detection in industrial manufacturing systems. The problem lies in creating a scalable, efficient, and easy-to-use solution that allows for the wide application of artificial intelligence technologies in Internet of Things devices. The research objectives include developing a modular end-to-end defect detection system, implementing advanced machine learning automation techniques, improving model interpretability, and enhancing model compression for edge devices. The research will leverage machine learning, edge computing, and user feedback to create a practical, robust, and user-friendly solution. The anticipated results include an artificial intelligence of things system that effectively performs real-time defect detection with improved interpretability and reduced resource usage. The expected outcomes comprise an artificial intelligence of things system capable of performing real-time defect detection with elevated interpretability, using minimal computational resources, and revolutionizing defect detection in industrial manufacturing systems.
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. -
AIDAR HEALTH, INC
STTR Phase II: Development of a Smart Remote Health Management System for Patients with Kidney Disease
Contact
3402 BIRCH HOLLOW RD.
Pikesville, MD 21208--1839
NSF Award
2243718 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is to develop a novel technology for the early detection of complications and effective management of kidney disease at home. More than 37 million patients in the US have chronic kidney disease, which is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, including a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, hospitalization, premature death, and progression to end-stage kidney disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2018, treating Medicare beneficiaries with chronic kidney disease cost over $81 billion, and approximately 20% of the Medicare budget was spent on kidney disease. This project leverages a medical device and digital tools with advanced analytics capabilities to provide actionable data and key health insights for timely interventions for at-risk patients. There is a rapid shift towards value-based healthcare from the traditional fee-for-service model accelerated by the significant cost burden and poor outcomes, especially in kidney care management. This solution is designed to facilitate this transition seamlessly, lowering unnecessary emergency room visits and/or hospitalizations, and minimizing exacerbations and associated healthcare costs in a disease condition that contributes over $100 billion in healthcare expenses.
This STTR Phase II project develops a comprehensive disease management solution for chronic kidney disease by offering a personalized clinical-decision support system for providers as well as a companion diagnostic solution for patients to improve therapeutic benefits. There is a dearth of reliable and accurate predictive tools that can non-invasively measure critical biophysical and biochemical markers to inform clinical care and empower self-identification of undesirable effects. The objective of this research is to develop and validate disruptive technologies for the non-invasive assessment of biomarkers critical to chronic kidney disease diagnosis and management such as hemoglobin levels, electrocardiography (ECG)-based arrhythmia, estimated potassium levels, and lung functions, augmenting the existing capability that measure 10+ vital signs. The innovation also includes a novel concept for any medical device, to record and broadcast personalized messages in a trusted voice (physician/family member), to improve treatment adherence and outcomes. The project further incorporates a proprietary cloud-based analytics system that leverages both subjective and objective data to generate a unique ?digital fingerprint? for effective management and triage. Consistent use of the proposed solution will improve symptoms management, care delivery, and diagnosis, and ultimately lead to dramatic reductions in hospitalizations, total medical expenditure related to morbidity and lost productivity, and patient anxiety.
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. -
AIR COMPANY HOLDINGS, INC.
STTR Phase II: Earth-abundant catalyst for power-to-liquids chemical production at the kiloton scale
Contact
407 JOHNSON AVE
Brooklyn, NY 11206--2805
NSF Award
2304275 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$997,743
Start / end date
04/15/2024 – 03/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is to help lessen the environmental burden of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. Climate change is an urgent environmental challenge and to address it, it is essential to provide alternatives to the use of fossil fuels that generate greenhouse gases. Nearly all the jet fuel or aviation fuel in use today is made from crude oil, which is a fossil fuel. This project provides an alternative technology that makes sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using only carbon dioxide (CO2) captured from waste sources, relatively small volumes of water, and renewable (e.g., solar and wind) electricity. Catalysts are one of the key components of the process that is used to produce this SAF, helping the chemical reactions that produce the fuel occur more efficiently. This project will optimize the catalysts for improved production of SAF.
This STTR Phase II project seeks to significantly improve SAF production by developing and characterizing catalysts that convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into the hydrocarbon constituents in sustainable aviation fuels using advanced characterization techniques such as x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. The process will use catalysts as mimics for photosynthesis, taking air (as a CO2 source), water (as a hydrogen source) and sunlight (as an energy source) and converting them into sustainable chemicals and transportation fuels. The only by-products are oxygen and water. Many other related processes often rely on multiple reaction steps to target the same products. This project develops a novel family of proprietary catalysts to convert CO2 to fuels and chemicals in a single step via a direct CO2 hydrogenation process, enabling yields even greater than the theoretical maximum of legacy processes, such as Fischer-Tropsch. This new process eliminates the need for extra intermediate steps that negatively affect process energy demands, emissions, capital and operational cost, and product selling price. The successful outcome of the project will allow significant improvements in production and economics of sustainable aviation fuels.
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. -
AKORN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Edible, water soluble corn zein films for shelf life extension and improved safety of perishable foods
Contact
3997 LYMAN RD
Oakland, CA 94602--1858
NSF Award
2150748 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$995,590
Start / end date
07/15/2022 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is in the reduction of food waste and improved nutrition. Each year, more than 30% of fresh produce is wasted. The value of this wasted produce is estimated at more than $60 billion globally. This project?s main goal is to extend the shelf life of perishable foods with an edible coating that regulates the rate of both transpiration to slow moisture loss and respiration to delay ripening. The project aims to enable produce growers and distributors to preserve the freshness and quality of fruits and vegetables. Consumers could benefit by having access to fresher, tastier, and more appealing produce. This technology may also promote healthier food choices, especially in currently underserved food deserts. Packers would benefit by being able to offer a high-quality product that will last longer and that can better withstand the rigors of various types of transport. Extended shelf life also extends the market reach of U.S. exports in global markets.
The core innovation underlying this project is the creation of stable Zein colloids that employ only edible, plant-based ingredients, are non-flammable, non-corrosive, and meet most global food regulations. These colloids will be initially developed as coatings for fresh whole or minimally processed foods, root crops, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. The coating will not impede the delivery of nutrients, flavors, and other functional ingredients that make foods appealing, improve their quality, and encourage consumption. The technology will also reduce food spoilage and improving food safety. Experimental work will be focused on further improving the stability of Zein dispersions and demonstrating the ability to adjust the film properties (water vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide permeances) to respond to the physiology of a broad range of crops. This technology will also be piloted at various packing plants to evaluate its operational fitness with existing operations. This research will also enable related applications, such as for compostable coatings on food packaging and pharmaceutical and nutraceutical coatings.
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. -
ALERJE, INC.
SBIR Phase II: A digital platform to support food allergy oral immunotherapy treatments
Contact
440 BURROUGHS ST STE 328
Detroit, MI 48202--3471
NSF Award
2233429 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide the food allergy patient community with a digital platform in order to improve care and support the implementation of emerging food allergy oral immunotherapy treatments. Today there are no cures for food allergies. Patients and their families are in constant fear of anaphylaxis reactions. The proposed technology is a comprehensive platform addressing pain points of food allergy oral immunotherapy, meeting the needs of patients, families, and caregivers. The platform enhances patient treatment adherence and allows healthcare professionals to assess the progress of the patient?s condition remotely and efficiently. Furthermore, the solution provides artificial intelligence analytical capabilities for a systematic approach to food allergy oral immunotherapy that is currently not available. There is a promising commercial opportunity in developing and commercializing such a holistic digital platform. While the platform will enable the creation of a clinical database of food allergy immunotherapy experiences not available previously, it will also shed light on yet unknown factors of food allergy conditions and their potential treatments.
This project addresses the challenge of patient adherence to oral immunotherapy treatments. Oral immunotherapy is still an emerging treatment that consists of feeding an allergic individual an increasing amount of an allergen, under clinical supervision, with the goal of desensitizing the immune system against the allergen. However, perfect adherence of patients to the treatment plan is essential to ensure safety and enhance treatment efficacy. This platform is the first-ever solution aimed at providing a systematic and comprehensive approach to food allergy immunotherapy treatment. The platform includes an innovative epinephrine auto-injector (EAI) that integrates into an ad-hoc smartphone case and a smartphone app that supports the daily life of food allergy patients. The team will develop a HIPAA-compliant database, a machine learning engine to analyze relevant clinical data and unveil data patterns that allow predicting relevant events in the treatment, a web-based application for allergists to help patients with data management and analyses, and a digital access point for pharmaceutical companies to receive a raw data feed for research and development purposes.
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. -
ALTYX SURGICAL, INC.
SBIR Phase II: A mesh-free, sling-free, minimally invasive treatment for stress urinary incontinence in women
Contact
2717 LINCOLN ST
Evanston, IL 60201--2042
NSF Award
2233106 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$975,713
Start / end date
01/01/2024 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is a novel, surgically implanted device for treating female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Nearly 50% of women in the U.S. will suffer from stress urinary incontinence with age resulting in over 40 million suffering women by 2050. No pharmacological solutions currently exist and mesh-based midurethral slings (MUS) are the mainstay surgical option, even though they are associated with various long-term complications, challenges, and risks. Furthermore, all SUI repair products on the market are polypropylene mesh-based with no alternatives available. This project aims to address this gap in options with a mesh-free, sling-free, outpatient transvaginal repair device for female urinary incontinence.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to develop and validate a novel, transvaginal surgical procedural technology for treating stress urinary incontinence. This project progresses findings from the SBIR Phase I project which demonstrated functional proof-of-concept biomechanical feasibility. This Phase II project aims to further the surgical procedure and system in a manner suitable for human use. The scope of technical activities includes design optimization, mechanical testing and validation, surgical procedure validation, biocompatibility testing, and histological characterization in a series of benchtop, cadaveric, and animal studies. The scope of the activities will be conducted in accordance with practices needed to demonstrate chronic implanted safety and efficacy in pre-clinical models in order to gain eventual U.S. regulatory approval.
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. -
APOGEE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Low-Cost Packaging Solution for Space-Grade and High-Reliability Integrated Circuits
Contact
840 CENTRAL PKWY E STE 140
Plano, TX 75074--5673
NSF Award
2304975 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,561
Start / end date
12/01/2023 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project enables the use of modern packaging technologies for integrated circuits in space applications. While failures in satellites are common and high insurance claims due to such failures are frequent, the space industry continues to use integrated circuits (ICs) that are either unreliable (non-space-grade) and are prone to failure, or space-grade ICs with large and costly packaging and compromised performance. This innovation offers a cost-effective and reduced-size solution for the packaging of ICs that can operate reliably over the extreme temperature cycles experienced in space applications. Wafer Level Chip Scale Packaging (WLCSP) is lighter, smaller, and has superior electrical and thermal performance when compared to traditional leaded packaging solutions. These attributes make it desirable to the space industry by reducing size and weight, while not compromising performance. As this packaging technology is limited due to its performance under temperature cycling, this project seeks to address this reliability problem by using existing manufacturing techniques coupled with a novel design concept.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to redesign specific layers within the existing Wafer Level Chip Scale Packaging (WLCSP) to improve reliability under temperature cycling. The temperature cycle reliability problem in the WLCSP is caused by a thermal expansion rate mismatch of silicon die and the copper circuit board. This project will redesign the redistribution layer within the WLCSP to compensate for this mismatch by effectively moving the interconnects on the silicon die in accordance with the faster moving printed circuit board (PCB). This project will make the benefits of WLCSP accessible for the entire space community.
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. -
APPLIED OCEAN SCIENCES, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Developing the First Flow-Through Sensor for Real Time Microplastics Measurements
Contact
11006 CLARA BARTON DR
Fairfax Station, VA 22039--1409
NSF Award
2335438 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$998,320
Start / end date
05/01/2024 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to revolutionize microplastics detection with the development of the first near real-time automated in-situ sensor. Unlike existing sensors that take hours to days for a single sample, this
technology promises quick and cost-effective analysis of microplastics abundance in water samples. This technology can enable communities nationwide to monitor drinking water and characterize undersampled environments and sources of human exposure to microplastics pollution. Given the
alarming environmental and human health implications of microplastic contamination, a rapid and affordable sensor is crucial to the NSF?s broader impact goal of advancing the health and welfare of the American public. The commercial sensor caters to scientists, drinking water providers,
monitoring facilities, conservation organizations, and health professionals, facilitating widespread access to microplastics data.
The goal of this project is to create an ultrasound-based sensor that can detect and characterize microplastics in water or other fluids. Traditional optical-based methods for microplastic detection are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive, and cannot detect the smallest microplastics
that are most harmful to human health and environmental systems. Traditional ultrasonic particle detectors use reflection and scattering to detect particles based on the material's different bulk modulus (compression resistance) compared to that of the fluid. However, the bulk modulus of
plastic is similar to that of water. This project utilizes a novel detection method inspired by tomography and interferometry to measure spectral differences as a function of concentration and composition of microplastics, even for the smallest of microplastics. The method leverages
observables from multiple physical processes including scattering, reflection, absorption, attenuation, and resonance in order to empirically map the received ultrasonic energy to concentration and composition of suspended particulates in a fluid sample.
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. -
AQUAGGA, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Optimized Hydrothermal Reactor for Scalable and Affordable Destruction of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS)
Contact
326 EAST D ST
Tacoma, WA 98421--1804
NSF Award
2232969 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$979,270
Start / end date
05/01/2023 – 04/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the acceleration of a new technology for the destruction of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS), otherwise known as ?forever chemicals?. PFAS chemicals are widely used in firefighting foams and consumer goods. However, they are incredibly recalcitrant environmental pollutants, highly toxic to humans, and very hard to destroy. Widespread contamination of soil, groundwater, and drinking water at sites near airports, military bases, and manufacturing sites is driving a global effort to remove and destroy PFAS toxins. PFAS are poorly broken down by incineration and they do not have a natural half-life. The environmental remediation industry needs effective technology for on-site, end-of-life destruction of PFAS. The technology being developed in this SBIR Phase II project is energy efficient, scalable, pairs with existing technologies, and can be deployed at-scale for the destruction of PFAS-rich wastes.
This SBIR Phase II project seeks to reduce technical risks related to system corrosion and chemical consumption in the development and scale-up of the hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT) process for the destruction of PFAS. Hydrothermal processing has historically been plagued by challenges with corrosion and low component lifetimes, and/or has requiring the use of expensive alloys, replaceable system components, and/or elegant chemical corrosion prevention strategies. This said, hydrothermal processes are some of the most effective and efficient technologies for destroying hazardous wastes, such as PFAS. This project will focus on measuring and mitigating the material corrosion challenges to enable more widespread adoption of hydrothermal processes for waste disposal. Additionally, HALT processing requires the use of alkaline chemicals as process additives. In this project, by adopting chemical recycling strategies, the use of chemicals may be drastically reduced, improving overall unit economics and reducing the environmental footprint of HALT processing.
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. -
ARACARI BIOSCIENCES, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Vasoreactive Perfused in Vitro Vascular Network
Contact
226 JASMINE AVE
Corona Del Mar, CA 92625--3034
NSF Award
2127102 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$988,018
Start / end date
09/15/2021 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2).
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve clinical outcomes related to cardiovascular side effects of various treatments. It is currently not possible to test this activity on cells in a petri dish, and mice are not an accurate model for predicting these outcomes in human clinical trials. Rodent lifespans, metabolism and responses to drugs are often very different from those of humans. This project advances a pre-clinical drug screening platform, leading to the development of better and safer drugs.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project improves accurate pre-clinical screening of new pharmaceutical compounds that may trigger unwanted effects on vascular tone and blood pressure. Both hypertension and hypotension can have immediate and long-term life-threatening effects on patients, and are almost always disqualifying for further development of a new drug. As a result, there is a need for improved, human cell-based models to screen vasoactive drugs for human patients. This project advances a platform to accurately mimic physiologically-relevant vasoactivity.
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. -
ARTIMUS ROBOTICS INC
SBIR Phase II: A study of the electromechanical failure modes in hydraulically amplified aelf-healing electrostatic (HASEL) actuators
Contact
2985 STERLING CT STE B
Boulder, CO 80301--2321
NSF Award
2136844 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$955,030
Start / end date
07/15/2022 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the novel scientific knowledge gained by understanding the effects of high electrostatic fields on composite dielectrics, the translation of experimental materials to robust and high performance HASEL (Hydraulically Amplified Self-healing ELectrostatic) actuators, and, more generally, the impact of HASEL actuation technology within real-world applications. This knowledge contributes to many highly interdisciplinary fields of science, ranging from electrostatics, materials science, mechanical engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering. The advancements of HASEL actuators achieved during this project may have broad impacts on commercial, research, education, and defense sectors. These actuators may be an enabling component for a variety of industries including automation, automotive, medical devices, robotics, and defense applications. Key features of HASEL actuators include: analog motion, mechanical compliance, high speed, high strain, silent operation, customization, and self-sensing. By bringing forward actuator technologies, industries may adopt robotic technologies, strengthening the economic competitive advantage of these industries. The team will continue to leverage academic partnerships to contribute to and train a highly capable technical workforce of scientists and engineers.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project seeks to advance the performance of HASEL (Hydraulically Amplified Self-healing ELectrostatic) actuators. HASEL actuators harness electrostatic forces to drive shape-change in a soft hydraulic structure, providing a variety of muscle-like actuation modes and the ability to self-sense their deformation state. HASEL actuators address critical problems in existing soft actuator technologies. For example, soft pneumatic actuators must be tethered to a system of valves and pumps for high performance actuation, whereas HASEL actuators are electrically controlled and can be operated with battery-powered portable power supplies. The team will develop and validate approaches to advance the performance and ease of use of HASEL actuators. These advances of the technology will be realized through material optimization, fabrication improvements, and a more fundamental understanding of solid-liquid composite dielectric structures under high electrostatic fields. Performance improvements will be applied to actuators well-suited for industrial, consumer, defense, and experimental applications.
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. -
ASANTE BIO LLC
SBIR Phase II: Additive Manufacturing for Soft Tissue Repair by Three-Dimensional Microfiber Fabrication (3DMF)
Contact
5923 POWHATAN AVE
Norfolk, VA 23508--1012
NSF Award
2404176 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$979,298
Start / end date
05/01/2024 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve the outcomes for upwards of 500,000 Americans each year who undergo shoulder soft tissue repair surgeries. Shoulder repair surgeries have an unacceptably high failure rate of around 25% and lack effective, economical, and easy-to-use treatment options in this $7B market. This NSF Phase II SBIR campaign will develop a multi-axial filament winding process (3DMF) for robotically positioning biological materials to medical device implants. 3DMF implants will be made more rapidly and economically than existing technologies, with extraordinary biomechanical performance, and, importantly, designed for facile surgical use without additional tooling or fixation for delivery, based on extensive surgeon-guided inputs. Upon commercialization, this technology will significantly reduce the cost of surgical implant augmentation and minimize surgical touch time, surgical complexity, and overall costs while providing a superior healing implant for challenging rotator cuff repairs.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will biomanufacture 3DMF orthobiologic implants using human collagen resin and biopolymer yarns to form physiologically high-strength microfibrous implants that mimic native tissue strength and biology. This research advances knowledge in the field, progressing beyond existing limited additive and fiber-based manufacturing technologies (i.e., electrospinning, weaving, braiding, 3D printing, etc.) to provide features critical for the end-user surgeon. The work?s main objectives include: 1.) To biomanufacture quality-controlled 3DMF implants at the clinical scale; 2.) To optimize 3DMF arthroscopic surgical delivery and human factors, 3.) to determine 3DMF biomechanical performance, and 4.) To determine 3DMF device biocompatibility. Completing this work will progress product development of the 3DMF device with proven manufacturability, yielding implants with the required strength and accessible surgical approach for facile implantation within the existing surgical workflow to drive commercial adoption and reimbursement. This work specifically targets research and development of 3DMF implants for the rotator cuff repair niche with a large market with an unmet need for an accessible, economical, and effective solution.
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. -
ASTROLABE ANALYTICS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Forecasting Battery Health and Maintenance using Data-Driven Predictive Analytics
Contact
4625 UNION BAY PL NE, SUITE 215
Seattle, WA 98105--4026
NSF Award
2243671 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$991,095
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project includes enhancing US economic competitiveness, improving the health and welfare of the American public, and developing the US technical workforce. The success of this project will have a direct impact on the manufacturers, integrators, and operators of battery-powered assets. Empowering battery engineering teams with predictive analytics across their product life cycle will be a crucial competitive advantage to accelerating the scale-up of domestic battery technology development and deployment. Bringing better battery technology to market faster and ensuring a long, safe operating life will, in turn, catalyze the transition away from fossil fuels and towards electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage, and other clean technologies. The social and economic implications include clean energy jobs, improved environmental quality, and ubiquitous low-cost energy. The potential commercial impact of this project will help accelerate the development and deployment of new battery-powered vehicles, energy storage systems, and other assets. It will allow the company to serve the wider battery industry by de-risking operation and extending service life of battery assets, thereby increasing customer revenue and avoiding costly warranty events.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project's goal is to de-risk the deployment, operation, and maintenance of battery energy storage systems. It will combine results from the Phase I with data from partners to forecast system maintenance and inform warranty design, thereby lowering the total cost of ownership and minimizing liability. Access to cell testing, outgoing quality control, and field data will allow for a deep dive across the product life cycle to identify how known degradation mechanisms manifest in the real-world battery data. Physics-informed feature engineering will be used to extend models to incorporate these insights and then implement these models at scale in the cloud. Criteria for success include: 1) correlating real-world operating conditions with known Lithium-ion battery degradation pathways, 2) engineering new features that are correlated with physics- and electrochemical-based insights, 3) accurately estimating remaining useful life to within 5% of total cycle life, and 4) implementing data-driven model in a scalable cloud environment.
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. -
ATOM BIOWORKS INC
SBIR Phase II: COVID-19 Rapid Sensing Using Structural DNA Biosensors
Contact
1201 RIGGINS MILL RD
Cary, NC 27519--8117
NSF Award
2127436 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$998,507
Start / end date
08/01/2022 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be the development of a platform technology for creating rapid virus diagnostics that directly recognizes the virus surface protein pattern from a patient sample and generates accurate results within minutes. Current standards for high-fidelity viral pathogen diagnostics require complex instruments, technical expertise to run the instruments, and hours to produce and interpret results. The proposed platform creates a virus-specific biosensor that selectively binds to the target virus and produces visible results without time-consuming pre-processing or expensive instruments. Lower cost tests and faster sample-to-result turnovers could result in more effective control of disease spread.
This project seeks to develop a highly functional, sensitive, and specific diagnostic for the detection of coronavirus. This technology is based on the company?s Pattern-Recognition Enhanced Sensing and Therapeutics (PEST) concept. The solution is a first-in-class diagnostics that uses algorithmically-designed structural DNA to form a trap that may detect and selectively bind a signature pattern of the pathogen. This recognition and binding may generate visual signals without the need of DNA/RNA preprocessing or amplification associated with the current generation of molecular tests (polymerase chain reactions, PCRs). This project will involve building a preclinical prototype of PEST-enabled lateral flow based COVID-19 rapid diagnostics with a goal of providing results for each sample within 5 minutes. This fast test result will be followed by preclinical validation to determine the test?s specificity, limits of detection, and implement mechanism to improve the assay specificity and to avoid cross-reaction to other virus types.
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. -
AV-CONNECT, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Improving fleet operational metrics through service optimization with automated learning of vehicle energy performance models for zero-emission public transport
Contact
1054 FONTANA DR
Alameda, CA 94502--6820
NSF Award
2220811 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,339
Start / end date
04/15/2023 – 03/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase (SBIR) II project will research and validate an internet-of-things (IOT) platform to help commercial fleets transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). The ZEV transition is the primary solution to the decarbonization of the transportation sector, which is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the US. The project focuses on transit agencies, with the ultimate goal of lowering both operating costs and capital costs of their ZEV fleets. Coupled with the current funding support by federal, state and local governments to transit agencies to purchase ZEVs, this project could accelerate the decarbonization of the US transit fleet. A 50% transition of the US transit fleet to ZEVs will reduce nearly 200 million metric tons of carbom dioxide (CO2) equivalent, providing cleaner air quality and reducing urban noise pollution, particularly in low-income communities that rely more heavily on transit services for their transportation needs. The addressable market of Transportation Management Systems will grow from $8.8 billion in 2020 to $27.48 billion in 2028. Demonstrating success in the transit segment will enable the replication of this approach to other fleet segments like school bus fleets, last-mile and mid-mile delivery fleets, and long-haul trucking fleets.
The intellectual merit of this project is the design and implementation of an artificial intelligence software platform to automatically learn predictive vehicle models of transit ZEVs and provide recommendation services to transit agencies. The Phase II project has three integrated goals. The first goal is the development of energy prediction algorithms which are scalable and highly accurate. Transit ZEV fleets have stochastic load changes, high sensitivity to operator driving style and high variation of battery size, weight and driving range, even for similar vehicles. These challenges will be addressed by developing automated learning techniques built on algorithms developed in Phase I, which use contextualized data from ZEV stops and trips. The second goal is to validate the prediction accuracy via pilots with ZEV fleets providing scheduled bus services. The final goal is development of real-time, scalable, fleet optimization algorithms which optimize daily assignment and charge management of ZEV fleets. Chance-constrained optimization will be merged with predictive control theory to address scalability and real-time performance of the resulting optimization algorithms. These recommendations will, if successful, demonstrate highly accurate predictions of charge usage, a substantial increase in ZEV fleet utilization, and a reduction of transit ZEV fleet operating costs.
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. -
AVICENATECH, CORP.
SBIR Phase II: Ultra-high Throughput Parallel Optical Links for Chip-to-Chip Interconnects
Contact
1130 INDEPENDENCE AVE
Mountain View, CA 94043--1604
NSF Award
2151747 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$989,153
Start / end date
09/01/2022 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to create very low power and very high capacity optical interconnects for general computer applications. Computer performance is limited by the speed, power, and latency of connections between chips and memory. The limitations of electrical interconnects are well known, and optical interconnects overcome the limitations and offer 100-1000 times performance improvements. While historically optical interconnects have been hampered by high cost and high power, recent developments show that the promise of optical interconnects can be practically realized. Optical interconnects will dramatically improve overall performance of enterprise and cloud computing services, especially when used in data center computers, while reducing electrical power consumption. This will in turn permit a vast improvement in resource utilization and dramatic reduction in the cost of computation across all segments of society
The proposed project will develop an optical peripheral component interconnect expreess (PCIe)-compatible transparent bridge for general computer interconnects. PCIe is the most prevalent interconnect used today in computers. The technology developed in this proposal, based on light emitting diode (LED)-based transmitters, multicore optical fibers, and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible photodetectors, seeks to reduce electrical power consumption from ~10 pJ/bit for electrical solutions to ~100-200 fJ/bit. The use of LEDs leverages investments already made for cost and power effective LED lighting and displays. The small size of the LEDs and multicore fibers allows for data densities of >1 Pbps/cm2. Electrical interconnects and other optical interconnect technologies cannot compare with the performance of these LED based optical interconnects. These advantages enable physical disaggregation of the compute, storage, and memory functions, improving system performance and resource utilization. This Phase II effort is focused on the development of a PCIe-compliant transparent bridge for applications in chip to chip and chip to memory interconnects.
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. -
Abram Scientific, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: CoagCare-A POC Blood Coagulation Diagnostic Platform That Utilizes A Hand-held Meter and Mechanically Sensitive Test Strips for Broad Spectrum Hemostasis Monitoring
Contact
2337 SHARON RD
Menlo Park, CA 94025--6807
NSF Award
2050272 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$968,825
Start / end date
03/15/2021 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to develop and commercialize a new technology for accurate, portable, and inexpensive measurement of multiple blood clotting parameters. Common tests are routinely performed on patients who suffer from conditions like atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, or have had heart valve replacement. These conditions affect millions of patients in the US alone and represent $2 B of spending annually. However, many current solutions cannot accurately or conveniently perform multiple blood clotting tests on the same system or sample, causing clinically significant problems for end-users and raising the cost and inconvenience of performing these tests routinely. The technology in this project will enable various blood clotting tests to be performed in a single portable system. This will potentially lead to cheaper and more convenient blood coagulation testing for medical professionals and improve medical outcomes by bringing accurate and multiple tests to a single portable devices.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a technology that will enable the first-of-its-kind implementation of a point of care (POC) direct, mechanical test in a meter and single-use disposable card format, to more closely replicate the mechanical methods that underpin blood clotting tests in the clinical laboratory. As a mechanical measurement, the card will measure physical properties of a clotting whole blood sample and account for confounding factors, such as hematocrit. Specifically, the objective of the project will be to develop a POC, hand-held, battery-operated system that can enable the generation of a viscoelastic curve and associated thromboelastography parameters in less than 10 minutes, a significant improvement over current bulky and labor-intensive solutions with turnaround times of up to 30 minutes or more. Beyond addressing the thromboelastography needs, the proposed broad-spectrum portable hemostasis platform can be extended to other coagulation tests based on fluid mechanical characterization of a blood sample, including prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and activated clotting time. This project will demonstrate the implementation of a blood coagulation test in a portable POC system.
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. -
Accelerate Wind, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Integrated Solution for Low Cost Distributed Wind Energy Generation
Contact
911 WASHINGTON AVE STE 501
St. Louis, MO 63101--1272
NSF Award
2036552 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,016,000
Start / end date
05/15/2021 – 09/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is in its strong potential to disrupt the small wind market, which to date has lagged behind solar counterparts. Through dual installation with solar on commercial buildings, the proposed roof-edge wind turbines will be able to deliver enhanced energy capture systems to buildings, with a shorter payback period, thus improving cost-efficiency and power potential, and attracting a broader body of adopters. By improving product offerings in the renewable energy sector, this technology has the potential to promote sustainable infrastructure, reducing reliance on and consumption of fossil fuels.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project develops a roof-edge wind capture technology with commercial viability. The proposed distributed wind technology reduces costs by harnessing elevated wind speeds at the roof edge, optimizing powertrain architecture, and mitigating soft costs through sale to solar installers, who have already achieved significant market penetration yet would benefit from a diversified portfolio. The project aims to: 1) Prove the feasibility of integrating a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine into the system 2) Design for additional stakeholders, with respect to aesthetics, structural integration, ease of installation, and code compliance, while maintaining cost targets needed for scaleup 3) Design and test full powertrain architecture using components intended for commercial scaleup and 4) Build and test the full turbine for reliability and certification testing. These efforts will inform critical needs to address prior to large-scale commercial rollout, providing a strong foundation for translation as a reliable and cost-efficient distributed wind solution.
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. -
Advaita Corporation
SBIR Phase II: A multi-omics data integration approach for precision medicine and improved clinical trial success
Contact
3250 PLYMOUTH RD STE 303
Ann Arbor, MI 48105--2552
NSF Award
1853207 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$714,707
Start / end date
03/01/2019 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be the development of an analysis method and software package to identify human disease subtypes using omics data. This technology will enable the ability to provide personalized treatment for patients, and more successful and cost-effective clinical trials, bring drugs to market more rapidly. The goal is identification of disease subtypes and patient subgroups, a prerequisite to the ability to distinguish between patients who are in danger and need the most aggressive treatments, and those who are less suited to treatment because they will never progress or recur or they will develop resistance. Currently, 70% of drugs entering Phase III clinical trials fail, leading to a loss of more than $1 trillion per year. This may be avoided by refining trial inclusion criteria and administering the drug only to the patients most likely to respond. The technology is designed to identify patient subgroups most likely to respond or not respond to a given treatment. This technology also may reduce the cost of prophylactic clinical trials by reducing the number of subjects and/or duration necessary to achieve sufficient power. The technology will significantly reduce drug development costs while simultaneously improving patient care by selecting the correct treatment for each patient.
The intellectual merit of this SBIR Phase II project is to develop a novel analysis method and software package that is able to identify subtypes of disease based on the integration of multiple types of omics data. Many drug candidates fail and many patients receive inappropriate treatment because of the current inability to distinguish between subgroups of patients (respondents vs. non-respondents) and/or subtypes of disease (aggressive vs. non-aggressive). The current unmet challenge is to discover the molecular subtypes of disease and subgroups of patients. Attempts to achieve this based solely on gene expression signatures have been undertaken but yielded only modest success (very few gene expression tests are FDA-approved to date). The technology proposed here may be used to discover clinically relevant disease subtypes by integrating multiple types of high-throughput data. In addition, the Phase I results obtained on real patient data demonstrated that the technology is able to distinguish between more and less aggressive types of cancer based on their molecular profiles alone. This Phase II project proposes to extend this technology to integrate genomic and clinical data.
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. -
Alchemie Solutions, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Re-envisioning alt text for education through concurrent authoring and diagram design
Contact
4735 WALNUT LAKE RD
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301--1328
NSF Award
2404541 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
05/01/2024 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this SBIR Phase II project is to create a pathway to success in STEM for all students, including those who are blind or have low vision (BLV), with a truly usable and effective description system for STEM diagrams. The lack of accessible accommodations creates roadblocks for BLV students in STEM education, leading many students to give up, even though they have equal potential as the general population for academic success. All web-based, non-decorative diagrams are required to include alternative (alt) text descriptions for use with screen readers. Current methods for making STEM visualizations accessible through alt text are not scalable or amenable for use with dynamic digital media. Visualizing STEM concepts through a linear string of text can be difficult for BLV students, because of the high cognitive load. Integrating an interactive method for querying specific information provides screen reader users a more personalized learning experience. This interactive system can be used by all students to make sense of STEM concepts, creating a use case where all users benefit from the inclusion of alt text. Commercialization will be from integration into existing learning platforms to meet accessibility requirements required of federally funded educational institutions.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will create an expandable system for generating detailed and standardized descriptions of STEM diagrams in interactive media. The goal is to provide real-time alt text generation for screen reader users (SRUs) and to create an inclusive and accessible communication method for all students in STEM courses. The alt text description engine provides a method for integrating visual information from STEM diagrams with large language models and the algorithms of current artificial intelligence (AI) platforms. The AI-driven learning assistant from this project guides SRUs in understanding complex alt text descriptions in a manner that best matches their skillsets and prior knowledge. The AI learning assistant also provides personalized contextual learning support for all users. The technical objectives include 1) Expanding the architecture to scale the alt text generation engine to other STEM subjects and readily integrate with AI platforms, 2) Implementing accessibility features to the suite of learning interactives, and 3) Developing a database of learning activities aligned to learning objectives. Usability studies with SRUs and instructors will guide iterative product development. Research studies in classrooms will demonstrate the promise of outcomes to enhance commercial success for the suite of accessible learning interactives.
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. -
Anaflash Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Logic compatible non-volatile neural network accelerator using analog compute-in-memory architecture
Contact
1290B REAMWOOD AVE OFC E
Sunnyvale, CA 94089--2233
NSF Award
1951113 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$806,000
Start / end date
05/01/2020 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to enable energy efficient smart internet of things (IoT) devices capable of running a neural network locally. The proposed energy-efficient neural network accelerator solution uses circuit architecture that allows for chips with a small area, a key enabler for cost-effective adoption and inclusion in space-constrained systems such as mobile devices. The solution is energy-efficient compared to the existing digital logic-based accelerator solutions, which will enable edge implementation for systems with power constraints. The manufacturing process is fully scalable in advanced standard logic processes at almost all manufacturing foundries, thus allowing for widespread adoption of the architecture. The outcome of this project will be an energy-efficient system on a chip (SoC) solution that offers artificial intelligence integration in smart IoT devices without cloud access, while enabling security and privacy enhancements.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to further develop an energy efficient analog circuit topology and variation tolerable system solution. To enable analog compute-in-memory architecture based neural network accelerator solution in an advanced semiconductor process technology, significant design challenges need to be solved with reduced supply voltage and noise margin. Along with the newly proposed area efficient and performance efficient analog compute-in-memory architecture solution, the logic compatible non-volatile neural network accelerator intellectual property core will be designed, fabricated, and validated in the advanced process technology through the project. Once verified successfully from the fabricated silicon in this project, the proposed neural network IP will be ready to be integrated as a key building block of future artificial intelligence systems on a chip and enable energy-efficient smart edge IoT devices.
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. -
Aquasys LLC
SBIR Phase II: Machine Learning Driven Synthetic Sensor for Plant Water Stress
Contact
1925 KENYON ST NW
Washington, DC 20010--2620
NSF Award
2026058 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
12/15/2020 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
This SBIR Phase II project will advance a novel system for sensing, predicting, and addressing plant stress, offering affordable guidance for permanent and specialty crop farmers. This guidance will simultaneously reduce irrigation water and agricultural chemical applications, while also increasing crop yields and farmer profits. The project will develop easy-to-use equipment and software that delivers guidance compatible with installed irrigation systems and processes. The addressable market for this technology is $3 B in the United States and $30 B internationally. The system's ability to reduce the use of irrigation water and chemicals has a profound societal benefit. The system will conserve scarce fresh water resources, allowing for population growth and an increase in irrigated land. The system will reduce water pollution from agricultural activities, addressing a $210 B annual problem in the United States; furthermore, it will improve agricultural yields, ensuring adequate food for growing populations, with reduced use of pesticides and fungicides.
This SBIR Phase II project will demonstrate a software and distributed hardware system for measuring and predicting yield-reducing plant abiotic and biotic stressors, and delivering intervention guidance to farmers to mitigate these stressors. In order to predict plant stresses at a localized level, many data feeds must be fused and analyzed to create a synthetic sensor estimating plant water stress, predicting microclimatic conditions, and performing localized plant disease and pest modeling. The project will advance the fields of ultra-low power sensor arrays, wide-area networking, machine learning, and human interface design for big data interpretation.
This project will expand a test system by adding microclimate and disease and pest model prediction algorithms for precision temporal and location-targeted interventions of irrigation, fertilizer, fungicide, pesticide, and biostimulant applications to mitigate plant stress.
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. -
Arieca Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Ultrasoft Thermal Interface Elastomer for Microelectronics
Contact
201 N BRADDOCK AVE STE 334
Pittsburgh, PA 15208--2598
NSF Award
2233069 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$858,714
Start / end date
04/15/2023 – 03/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is in improving the efficiency and performance of electronic devices. Modern devices, including cell phones, laptops, and electric vehicles contain high-powered semiconductor components which generate unwanted heat that, in turn, reduces their efficiency. If left unchecked, this heat may destroy the devices and even injure users or cause damage to the environment. This project addresses excessing heating in electronic devices by introducing new high-performance thermal interface materials based upon embedding liquid metal droplets inside of stretchable polymers. These so-called liquid metal embedded elastomer (LMEE) materials can be applied to computer processors, graphics cards, advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips, and even power modules in electric vehicles, to help keep electronic devices operating at peak performance at all times. The growing prevalence of the Internet of Things, 5G network infrastructure, and electric cars all necessitate better thermal solutions so that devices can function properly. This project could contribute to the semiconductor, automotive, and healthcare industries.
This project?s goal is to develop and commercialize a thermal interface material (TIM) for packaged microelectronics, building upon the LMEE composite architecture. The technology will outperform existing TTIMs by combining the superior thermal resistance of metal-based solid TIMs (S-TIMs) with the mechanical reliability of polymer-based TIMs and the high-volume manufacturing compatibility of thermal greases. Specifically, LMEEs possess a unique combination of metal-like thermal resistance, rubber-like elasticity, and liquid emulsion-like rheology prior to curing, thereby solving two main challenges present with existing S-TIMs: (i) poor mechanical reliability over long durations and (ii) incompatibility with syringe-based dispensing for high volume manufacturing. The strategy proposed in this project is to synthesize an LMEE-based TIM that forms a robust bond between the surfaces of the semiconductor chip and surrounding enclosure, maintains a controlled thickness between the chip and enclosure, and ensures the necessary rheology for syringe-based dispensing. Specific project tasks build around a comprehensive technical plan that includes materials synthesis, performance characterization, and in-package evaluation. In parallel, the project will examine methods for storage, shipment, and dispensing to ensure a product that is ready for integrated device manufacturers and semiconductor assembly and testing industry by the end of this project.
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. -
Axalume Inc.
SBIR Phase II: High-performance, tunable silicon laser arrays designed for mass production
Contact
16132 CAYENNE CREEK ROAD
San Diego, CA 92127--3708
NSF Award
1927082 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$919,519
Start / end date
09/15/2019 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is demonstrate new lasers for advanced communication and sensing applications. The proposed work includes the design, simulation, and testing of new lasers to meet rapidly-growing high-speed data center optical communication and emerging automotive laser range-finding requirements.
The proposed project activities will include the design, simulation, and experimental verification of hybrid, external-cavity silicon-based optical sources to meet rapidly-growing high-speed datacenter optical communication and emerging automotive laser range-finding requirements. The project will demonstrate that a flexible electronic-photonic integration process can be created to enable dense integration of silicon-photonic and silicon-electronic circuits, independent of specific foundry or fabrication production limitations. This process can be used to develop arrays of high-performance, low-noise, and widely-tunable lasers for advanced optical communication and sensing applications. The proposed project will address existing laser mode-control issues and reduce back-reflection issues. The result will be silicon-photonic lasers suitable for commercial production that will demonstrate industry-leading semiconductor laser capabilities including low-noise, narrow-linewidth, and wide tunability in single and multi-laser chipsets.
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. -
Axon Dx LLC
SBIR Phase II: Development of AI Software to Capture and Identify Circulating Rare Cells in Lung Patients
Contact
379 REAS FORD RD STE 1
Earlysville, VA 22936--2407
NSF Award
2230782 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,702
Start / end date
03/15/2023 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is a new cancer treatment liquid biopsy product using Artificial Intelligence (AI) that can detect and classify cancer derived rare cell (CRC) from a blood draw. There are over 100 different types of cancers and over 1.9 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the US in 2022 resulting in over 600,000 deaths (1,670 deaths per day). Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease. New treatment therapies are being developed for a substantial proportion of cancers with many clinical trials for new therapies on-going world-wide. The minimally invasive, high sensitivity blood test will monitor therapeutic response and progression at low-cost, supporting development of these new cancer treatments. Specifically, with a less invasive and more comprehensive diagnostic tool, the test results will give clinical researchers real-time insights into cancer tumor biology, providing better understanding of cancer heterogeneity.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project combines Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically deep learning neural networks used for computer vision, with CRC immunofluorescent reagents integrated into an immunofluorescent microscope. The main objective of this effort is to identify and classify CRCs with high accuracy. There is increasing evidence that CRCs are correlated with cancer type, staging, treatment response, minimal residual disease, and overall disease progression. However, in a typical blood sample, there are over 7 million blood artifacts with very few CRCs present. Current techniques to analyze CRCs are expensive, lengthy, and are limited in automation. To meet project sensitivity, specificity, and runtime requirements, the AI image analysis will be further optimized to: 1) find CRCs, 2) discriminate against false positives, and 3) classify CRCs into clinically relevant types. The developed AI architectures will be selected through extensive training using thousands of clinical samples compared to expertly characterized cancer blood pathology images. After high sensitivity and specificity are demonstrated, development work will continue to mature the AI-revolutionized CRC liquid biopsy test to meet clinical research use only (RUO) requirements. For the cancer research community, the product offering will be used in the conduct of non-clinical laboratory research.
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. -
BABYLON MICRO-FARMS INC.
SBIR Phase II: Intelligent modular vertical farming system
Contact
700 HARRIS ST STE 107
Charlottesville, VA 22903--4584
NSF Award
2035792 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,056
Start / end date
05/01/2021 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve vertical farms. The global threat to food security and the need to deal with unpredictable climate conditions have opened the doors to advanced precision agriculture and vertical urban farming. Rapidly growing global populations, demand for higher agricultural yields with limited arable farmland drive demand for vertical farming and new technologies to expand access to this method of sustainable crop cultivation. The proposed system will reduce the burden on the environment by decreasing water, fertilizers and pesticides required to grow crops. These micro-farms will boost agricultural profitability by providing a reliable, sustainable food system with fresh, healthy, and eco-friendly produce. This reduces food waste and the environmental impact of the food supply chain while improving yields and nutritional density.
This SBIR Phase II project advances a system with integrated environmental control, consumables management, alerting, and scheduling. Furthermore, the automated controls are continuously improved by using camera vision to estimate yield and machine learning to forecast yield and optimize the environmental variables. To make the system cost-effective, a novel multispectral camera will be developed to collect agricultural data. Using machine learning, the images collected will be correlated to the environmental variables, such as pH and nutrient concentration, so that those variables can be optimized to increase yields. In order to improve scheduling and logistics, the platform will track inputs such as seeds, nutrients, and pH solution, using sensors and QR codes to automate consumable replacement. Sensors and software checks will determine when component or human failure have occurred, before they lead to crop failure, leading to just-in-time component replacement and maintenance.
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. -
BEAMLINK, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Adaptable Ad Hoc Network Architecture for Rapid Infrastructure Development in Disaster Zones
Contact
892 N FAIR OAKS AVE
Pasadena, CA 91103--3046
NSF Award
2322049 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,932
Start / end date
12/01/2023 – 11/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project reduces the cost and complexity of building modern cellular networks. In grave emergencies such as natural or manmade disasters, and in rural areas where infrastructure for Internet access is limited, one of the largest barriers to digital access is the cost and complexity of building cellular networks. Cellular networks are relied upon everyday by millions of Americans to communicate with others, conduct business, work together, access healthcare and information resources, and power the economy through Point of Sale (PoS) devices, utility meters and transportation infrastructure. Loss of these cellular networks constitutes a major disruption in life, an example being Hurricane Maria that struck Puerto Rico in 2017 and created a massive island-wide communications blackout that lasted several weeks. Even in normal times, the lack of high-speed Internet sets communities back. According to the U.S. Census in 2020, more than 12% of households across the nation's 50 states do not have internet access. As digital infrastructure is upgraded to 5G and even 6G, cellular base station technology is more expensive, requires expertise to configure, and widening the digital divide. This project will combat these problems.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will create new cellular base station technology (the equipment that provides cellular signals) to decentralize cellular networks and make them easier to establish. Compared to current solutions, this project will reduce the cost to set up new cellular networks, by at least an order of magnitude compared to existing networks. The technology will reduce the deployment time and enable individuals with no training to easily set up a large network, even if no infrastructure exists. The cellular infrastructure increases the reliability resulting from the use of a mesh network to communicate and transfer data between base stations. The research objectives of this project are to develop integrated digital and radiofrequency (RF) circuitry and the enclosure for a production-ready base station device reducing the cost by 2.5x and the weight by 2x. In addition, the objectives are to develop a high-performance amplifier to allow the base station to operate on any band at higher power up to 1 W peak output, implement telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) communication ability for the radio and amplifier, implement a spectrum access system, and design a phased array antenna to increase the link budget by up to 18 dBi for the mesh network.
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. -
BEZWADA BIOMEDICAL LLC
SBIR Phase II: Development of a bioabsorbable tissue adhesive
Contact
15-1 ILENE CT
Hillsborough, NJ 08844--1920
NSF Award
2221790 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$962,735
Start / end date
01/15/2023 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is advancement in the development of an effective wound closure product for internal gastrointestinal (GI) surgical applications. Anastomotic leaks resulting from ineffective GI surgical wound closures are associated with significant healthcare and economic costs. Effective closure of wounds decreases the likelihood of complications that significantly impact patient outcomes and increases the cost of care. Development of an enhanced tissue adhesive to address the limitations of current products has the potential to offer a reliable wound closure product to support improved patient outcomes. Successful development and commercialization of the enhanced GI wound closure product will provide surgeons with an effective tissue adhesive that is easy to use and can be safe for the closure of internal GI wounds, thus ensuring safe and reliable closure, decreasing anastomotic leaks, and allowing for enhanced patient outcomes. Additionally, this project has the potential to support additional product development to generate improved tissue adhesives/sealants for a wide range of surgical applications that will have the potential to decrease surgical complications related to ineffective wound closure.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will advance the development of an enhanced tissue adhesive to improve surgical wound care specific to gastrointestinal (GI) tract surgeries. Gastrointestinal tract surgical wounds have a high rate of anastomotic leaks resulting from incomplete and sub-optimal surgical closures. These leaks put the patients at an increased risk of infection and creates an estimated $28.6 million in hospitalization and readmission costs per 1000 patients. Current tissue adhesives for GI applications are biologically derived, which are amenable for internal use but pose a risk of infection. The technology being developed is a polyurethane-based adhesive that is biodegradable, easy to use, and biocompatible. The overall goal of this SBIR Phase II project is to demonstrate in vivo efficacy for the use of the surgical adhesive in GI surgical wound care. To meet this goal, the surgical adhesive formulation developed from Phase I will be refined to identify the ideal formulation for GI use and a lead formulation will be assessed for in vivo performance. The results from this project have the potential to identify a safe, easy-to-use, and effective lead tissue adhesive for implementation in GI surgical applications to prevent anastomotic leaks and improve GI surgical wound closures.
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. -
BIOCHIP LABS, INC.
STTR Phase II: Optimized manufacturing and machine learning based automation of Endothelium-on-a-chip microfluidic devices for drug screening applications.
Contact
10000 CEDAR AVE STE 3-139
Cleveland, OH 44106--2119
NSF Award
2332121 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$904,947
Start / end date
04/01/2024 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is to address the unmet need in the companion diagnostic guided therapy market for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). SCD is a lifelong disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Emerging therapies are estimated to be $150k-$200k per patient each year. A companion diagnostic cost in SCD anti-adhesive therapies is estimated at least $3,000 per patient. With improved accessibility to patients living in low- and middle-income countries and scalable curative therapies, the global SCD treatment market size is projected to increase to $8.75B by 2029. Additionally, companion diagnostic-guided drugs have an increased regulatory approval probability of 50% in Phase III clinical trials. The proprietary Endothelium-on-a-chip platform with human donor cells provides a physiologically relevant means to study blood-endothelium interaction. This platform can be integrated into preclinical studies to screen the effect of novel drug candidates as well as for assessment of drug toxicity. In Phase I of the STTR project, standards and quality control criteria for experimental conditions on the Endothelium-on-a-chip were established. The continuing projects with pharmaceutical companies have highlighted the need to scale the manufacturing process.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project will focus on optimizing the manufacturing process to enable the scale-up of the assay and develop the machine learning system for automated data analysis. Currently, this assay involves in-house fabrication and is limited to the central laboratory at the company?s location. Manufacturing will be optimized with proper selection of material, fabrication methods, scalable techniques, and systematic integration of different elements of the assay. This will potentially enable the commercialization and implementation of the technology at a larger scale. Current methods of analysis include counting adhesion events manually. This method will be replaced by a machine learning-based system to identify and classify adhesion events and separate those from the endothelial cells in the background. Automated data analysis will enable faster outcomes and remove user bias. Since this approach relies on enhancing the capabilities of the existing platform for scale-up and streamlined analysis, it is anticipated that it will improve its accessibility to the broader research community.
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. -
BIOMESENSE, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Development of a Novel Measurement Technology to Enable Longitudinal Multiomic Investigations of the Gut Microbiome
Contact
1452 E 53RD ST
Chicago, IL 60615--4512
NSF Award
2314685 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$976,771
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project would be a significant increase the commercial, scientific, and human health potential of the microbiome field by enabling large-scale, dense longitudinal measurement and analysis of microbial RNA. This could enable: (1) a significant reduction in false discoveries caused by a lack of reproducible data; (2) a major cost reduction ? ensuring these advancements are accessible to the entire industry; (3) high-frequency sampling, making time-series explorations routine; and (4) the creation of a large-scale database that contains both DNA and RNA data, which could lead to unprecedented discovery and validation of precision medicine biomarkers. Successful completion of this project could have a high likelihood of advancing the health and welfare of the American public, increasing the economic competitiveness of the United States healthcare and life sciences sector, and enhancing partnerships between academia and industry.
The proposed project describes the development of an RNA feature to an existing microbiome measurement and analysis platform that consists of an automated sample collection system and an analytics engine for sequence data. Currently, the question of which genes are being expressed by gut microbes (which can be studied using RNA transcripts) is an extraordinarily promising research field for advancing the understanding of host-microbial interactions. This is because bacteria that make up a small amount of the gut microbiome can still influence the community dramatically through their gene expression. This can be overlooked by DNA sequence data, which only measures bacterial abundance. Despite this, RNA remains under-utilized, as RNA quickly degrades outside of the cell, and most laboratories lack the capability to measure RNA at any significant scale reliably. The main activities of this project will be (1) refining a process for RNA capture and storage, (2) integrating these into the automated hardware system, and (3) developing the methods and infrastructure for analysis of the resulting RNA datasets. This project will allow studies of gene expression in the gut microbiome to become commonplace, allowing researchers to discover more powerful clinically relevant biomarkers for precision medicine applications.
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. -
BIOSENS8, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Novel progesterone biosensor for monitoring fertility health
Contact
750 MAIN ST
Cambridge, MA 02139--3544
NSF Award
2341568 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
01/15/2024 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project provides more 7.7 million women in the U.S. struggling with infertility a quantitative and affordable way to assess their ovulatory health. This progesterone biosensor is the first outcome of a platform technology built to improve at-home blood diagnostics and telehealth implementation. This project will produce a novel class of inexpensive, real-time, and point-of-care biosensors. The commercialization of this product may also increase public engagement and comfort with biosensors and at-home diagnostics. In concert with informational videos, website pages, and workshops the commercialization of this product will improve scientific literacy. Finally, the affordability of this product may help narrow the disparity of access to fertility technology allowing for more socioeconomically disadvantaged and underserved populations equal opportunity to assess their fertility.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is developing a novel class of biosensors for progesterone. The technical hurdles to be addressed are to first translate optical transduction technology onto low-cost paper strips, then to determine the efficacy of the biosensors as paper test strips. The team will then develop a low-cost and portable measurement device which reads the paper lateral flow strips. The anticipated technical results are a lateral-flow strip device which can measure progesterone from clinical blood samples of women who have never been pregnant, women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), pre-menopausal women, and post-menopausal women down to levels which indicate successful ovulation.
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. -
BioAmp Diagnostics, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Development of a urine dipstick test that can guide immediate and appropriate antibiotic therapy for treatment of complicated urinary tract infections
Contact
845 SUTTER ST APT 103
San Francisco, CA 94109--6109
NSF Award
2213034 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
01/15/2023 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve the clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients suffering from complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI). Today, cUTIs account for 400,000 hospitalizations annually in the United States. Unfortunately, multidrug resistant pathogens are a common cause of cUTI. Many are resistant to the first-line antibiotic (Ceftriaxone), which is used as the empiric treatment of this condition. However, the high incidence of multidrug resistant pathogens causing cUTI delays the time until patients receive more appropriate treatment. Delayed time to appropriate therapy in cUTI has been attributed to extended hospital stays and an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The current standard test for diagnosing a drug-resistant cUTI takes 2-3 days from obtaining a patient sample. Therefore, diagnostic tests that can rapidly inform the initial treatment of UTIs are urgently needed to improve patient care.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to develop a rapid urinary diagnostic test that will enable the detection of ceftriaxone-resistant uropathogens. Early detection of resistance to first-line therapies would enable antibiotic prescribing to be informed, reducing the risk of disease progression in patients. In the case of UTIs, disease progression can lead to severely invasive infections, predominately sepsis. Therefore, diagnostics that can detect resistance to first-line antibiotics enable early treatment interventions, reducing the time to appropriate treatment and reducing the risk of disease progression. Decreased treatment time also lowers the healthcare costs associated with drug-resistant cUTI, as disease progression is associated with increased lengths of hospital stays compared to susceptible infections. The completion of the Phase II project will yield the development of a prototype test that can provide actionable information regarding ceftriaxone susceptibility in less than 5 minutes. This project?s success will provide clinicians with a diagnostic solution for cUTIs that can be acted on immediately to improve patient outcomes and aid antibiotic stewardship by preventing the unnecessary use of inappropriate antibiotics.
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. -
CANOPII INC.
SBIR Phase II: Full-Scale Demonstration of Autonomous Robotic Greenhouse for Sustainable Local Food Production
Contact
191 IOWA ST
Silverton, OR 97381--1942
NSF Award
2233520 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,991
Start / end date
05/01/2023 – 04/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project promotes small and mid-sized farming in the United States through environmentally friendly means. Through cost-effective labor automation, a fully automated, turn-key greenhouse production system can be made more accessible. This project will provide farmers with a tool that can guarantee a baseline annual production of leafy greens and herbs, independent of weather variables and labor accessibility. By removing weather limitations and labor requirements, small and mid-sized farms can be made more profitable and scalable. This project will have a positive impact on the advancement of local and regional food systems. By advancing a market that has been historically ignored from a technological standpoint, an attractive alternative to large-scale industrial agriculture and foreign fresh food imports will be created. Making small and mid-sized farms more economically viable will create a more robust and sustainable food system.
This SBIR Phase II effort will design, build, and demonstrate a full-scale, automated greenhouse farm prototype. This prototype will remain completely autonomous for weeks at a time requiring no humans to enter the farm while all processes from seed to storage of harvested crops are performed robotically. No greenhouse technology, at any price point, has been able to demonstrate an ability to achieve this degree of automation. This technology will advance the implementation of robotics in food production by addressing the capital costs, labor, and energy barriers that controlled environment agriculture systems currently face. Key challenges include the production of approximately 340 plants per day without any human intervention, a low-cost design for setup and ongoing operations, and the ability to adjust product outputs in real-time to meet market demands. Human interaction with the growing process will be limited through a high degree of system automation, including computer vision for plant inspections and self-cleaning processes. Novel plant growth and handling processes will allow for virtually any type of leafy green or herb to be grown. A variety of sensors will be used to monitor conditions and adjust the system, allowing fresh produce in areas without suitable agricultural opportunities.
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. -
CELLUDOT LLC
SBIR Phase II: Nanocellulose-based Adjuvant Formulation for the Reduction of Agrochemical Drift and Volatilization
Contact
123 W MOUNTAIN ST
Fayetteville, AR 72701--6069
NSF Award
2304528 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$959,510
Start / end date
08/15/2023 – 07/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide an ecofriendly, efficient, and cost affordable adjuvant product to solve the pressing problem of herbicide drift. For years, farmers growing organic, non-genetically modified (non-GM) and specialty crops have incurred financial losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars due to drift of volatile herbicides such as dicamba, a highly volatile and efficient herbicide that is used to get rid of weeds. The devastation of dicamba on non-GM crops and the natural landscape has been a widespread issue. In 2021, about 4,000 dicamba-related herbicide misuse complaints were reported across 27 states. If successfully commercialized, the new adjuvant will help all key stakeholders, including farmers who grow GM crops and use dicamba, and those who grow non-GM crops and do not want drift of dicamba. The award reflects NSF?s statutory mission of promoting and improving national economy and health, as well as protecting the environment for the well-being of U.S. citizens.
The innovation proposed in this SBIR Phase II project is a bio-based emulsion adjuvant, derived from renewable resources, with the combined functionality of a volatility and drift reducing agent and surfactant that will be used to reduce the volatility and off-target movement of herbicides and improve their spreading. The adjuvant has environmental and financial benefits that give it a competitive edge over commercially available but less efficient petroleum-based and synthetic adjuvants on the market. The patent-pending technology is a platform technology that can be applied to other industries from paints and coatings to pharmaceuticals. The project sets the following technical objectives to evaluate and demonstrate the commercial feasibility of the innovation: 1) assess droplet dynamics of several drift-prone herbicides when used in conjunction with the adjuvant at different use rates, 2) complete the registration of the adjuvant, 3) conduct field trials to evaluate particle drift of dicamba and dicamba-glyphosate tank mixes when used in conjunction with the adjuvant, 4) low tunnel field test to assess volatility of tank mixes on different surfaces, 5) evaluate the effects of the adjuvant on dicamba efficacy that are common in the South and Mid-West, and 6) scale up the production of the minimally viable product.
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. -
CHIBITRONICS INC.
SBIR Phase II: Computer Aided Design Toolkit for Desktop Digital Fabrication of Circuits on Paper
Contact
1652 MOUNTAIN ASH WAY
New Port Richey, FL 34655--4144
NSF Award
2233004 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$991,408
Start / end date
06/15/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to bring new and more diverse audiences to circuit design and digital fabrication through an integrated STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) approach. Research shows that the STEAM approach is especially successful for reaching underrepresented minorities, girls, and women. This project continues the development of the Phase I circuit design software and accompanying physical toolkit for do-it-yourself (DIY) digital fabrication of circuits on paper. Through the design, development, and evaluation of this toolkit, the team will contribute to the scientific understanding of human computer interaction design for STEAM learning, accessibility, and equity. By introducing the novel category of technology-integrated crafts to mainstream education and craft markets, open market opportunities create a new ecosystem of products and accessories, customers, and inventors. This innovation brings the digital manufacturing of electronics out of traditional technical environments and into entirely new, more mainstream, and more diverse audiences.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will continue the development of the Phase I activities towards commercial deployment. The team is developing a novel electronics design software that greatly reduces the complexity of existing computer-aided design tools and prepares a custom toolkit optimized for the do-it-yourself digital fabrication of circuits. The research objective is to blend engineering activities with arts and crafts in innovative ways to radically reduce the barriers to entry for learning, designing, and producing electronic circuits. The team will develop a production version of their software that includes advanced simulation and design features, as well as a library of projects and resources to scaffold the circuit learning and design process. The team will also refine and manufacture the toolkit for user testing and deployment at scale. In close partnership with K-12 educators and hobby crafters, the technology will be developed to meet the needs of target users.
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. -
CHOSEN DIAGNOSTICS INC
SBIR Phase II: Absolute protein quantitation in in vitro diagnostics for gut inflammation
Contact
1441 CANAL ST
New Orleans, LA 70112--2714
NSF Award
2242174 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,749
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to advance clinical methods that address the extensive physiological variation that is age- and race-dependent. Well-publicized over the last few decades is the lack of healthcare solutions for diseases in preemie babies, who are born to mothers with significant socioeconomic inequalities. Case in point, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a common and often fatal gastrointestinal, or gut, emergency in premature infants that disproportionately affects African American babies. The disease has not only confounded doctors and nurses for 200 years, but also these neonatal emergencies are also frightening to almost all preemie care providers due to its high mortality rate. Its healthcare in the US requires $3 billion annually due to repeated x-ray testing, surgery, longer hospital stays, and long-term complications of its survivors. An early and accurate diagnostic test for NEC would be a disruptive paradigm shift in preemie intensive care: it would enable medical intervention to be more effective, reduce risk of disease progression, decrease medical care expenses by hundreds of millions annually, and lower mortality.
The proposed project will develop requisite reagents for a diagnostic test that will enable detection of infant proteins that play a role in gut health. Absolute quantitation is a prerequisite for data interpretation and validation between experiments, laboratories, and testing platforms. Research objectives are directed toward critical technical hurdles: (1) determination of optimal reference standard to quantitate host biomolecules in clinical settings and (2) understanding the usage limitations of these reference standards in the background of high variation in the human population. Native and recombinant candidates will be compared and analyzed with various methods. Anticipated results are reference standards that are age-specific for diagnostic use in the most fragile and smallest patients and that are acceptable to regulatory stakeholders.
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. -
CL CHEMICAL COMPANY
STTR Phase II: Scalable Thermochemical Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Commodity Chemical Intermediates
Contact
17815 GREEN WILLOW DR
Tampa, FL 33647--2242
NSF Award
2151560 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$951,530
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is to advance dynamic chemical reactor systems that repurposes waste gases (primarily carbon dioxide (CO2)) for use as fuels and as chemicals. This effort can have substantial commercial and market impacts as its output is compatible with existing infrastructure. This project leverages significant recent investments into carbon capture, renewable energy generation, and green hydrogen. A particularly interesting application of this technology is the production of chemical feedstocks that are used to make plastics and other commodity chemicals from living organisms. This is inherently a step towards carbon negative manufacturing.
The proposed project aims to re-purpose pollutants to a feedstock for fuels and chemicals. Although renewable energy sources are increasing and becoming cheaper, these technologies are not ready for heavy-duty transportation and chemical sectors. No commercial scale operation is in existence in which CO2 is captured from the air or flue gas and converted to value-added fuels despite much fundamental research effort. The research objectives are to scale up the materials and system from the Phase I results and conduct a design and analysis of a full-scale system. The main advance is to achieve dynamic chemical reactor modules that achieve high reactant conversions. These results will permit analysis of a pilot-scale facility as well as translation of the benefits of this sustainable chemical reaction toward industrial scale production of clean and green hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals.
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. -
CLEARSIGHT, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Presbyopia Correcting Intraocular Lens with a Novel Refractive System for Restoration of a Complete Range of Vision and Spectacle Independence
Contact
12635 E MONTVIEW BLVD STE 155
Aurora, CO 80045--7336
NSF Award
1951259 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$800,000
Start / end date
04/01/2020 – 09/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase II project aims to address two common conditions in the aging population, presbyopia and cataract, with a single device. Presbyopia, the age dependent loss in the ability of the eye to adjust focus, is expected to affect an estimated 1.4 billion people worldwide by 2020. Cataract, the irreversible clouding of the lens that results in blurred vision and the leading cause of blindness in the world, is expected to affect an estimated 30 million Americans by 2020. Currently no single product restores both visual clarity and a complete range of spectacle-free vision following cataract surgery. The proposed device will change the standard of care for cataract surgery, leading to improved outcomes.
This SBIR Phase II project will develop an intraocular lens using a new, highly sensitive optical system that leverages large differences in refractive indices and has a novel mechanism of action, potentially leading to levels of accommodation on par with the abilities of a young, pre-presbyopic individual. Prospective technologies may fail to exhibit adequate accommodative amplitude to restore a full range of vision, produce unwanted visual artifacts, or are too complex for adoption at scale. Using highly sensitive optics, the proposed device mimics the shape of the natural lens while still maintaining relative simplicity, allowing for maximum utilization of the minute forces in the eye to produce significant accommodation and permitting the use of standard cataract surgical procedures. This technical tasks associated with the new intraocular lens include: (1) assuring visual quality through the device?s accommodative range, (2) optimizing mechanics for restoration of a complete range of vision, (3) integrating seamlessly with existing surgical procedures, and (4) testing implant longevity and safety. Validating the objectives above through optical and mechanical testing in benchtop, cadaver, and animal models will provide a strong foundation for clinical investigations and translation.
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. -
COMON SOLUTIONS LLC
SBIR Phase II: High-Resolution Image Segmentation for Natural Resource Management
Contact
519 CONGRESS AVE
Pacific Grove, CA 93950--4111
NSF Award
2233680 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
04/15/2023 – 03/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The commercial/broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide economic benefits, health advantages, and improved natural disaster response readiness to the USA. Historically, natural resource and conservation organizations have had difficulties mapping their targeted ecosystems, whether due to high costs of manual surveys or poor resolution of imaging technologies. Annually, organizations spend more than $27 billion on geospatial monitoring and analysis. This Phase II project will decrease the cost of ecosystem mapping while increasing resolution, allowing for the best quality vegetation health tracking available. Additionally, this project will result in a 50-90% reduction in work hours for natural resource mapping. By saving time, stakeholders can allocate effort to other aspects of natural resource management. By mapping land use over time, managers and conservationists can track land changes and determine if currently-implemented programs are having intended impacts on the ecosystem. This project will also improve monitoring and managing of vegetation across watersheds that provide roughly 80% of US drinking water - systems where water quality relies on healthy and biodiverse vegetation to filter pollutants. Lastly, this project will improve the ability of government agencies to rapidly monitor environmental impacts of natural disasters and inform responses.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop a comprehensive software system that can provide unparalleled spectral and spatial detail on diverse landscape scenes. Compared to current labor-intensive field testing, this project?s outputs will offer scene characterization at comparable, or better, levels of detail, while surmounting the time, cost, and accessibility constraints that have historically precluded comprehensive and repetitive monitoring. Accomplishment of these Phase II goals will yield a user-friendly land cover mapping system that will enable high-resolution environmental monitoring. System outputs on population dynamics, climate change-induced vegetation shifts, and disease assessments can facilitate data-driven decision-making for precision ecosystem management and climate action. The framework of the innovation consists of three main components: 1) image pre-processing and alteration, 2) image segmentation, and 3) resolution recovery. This approach provides rapid replicability between ecosystem types and versatile scalability due to processing efficiency, while providing currently unavailable ecosystem health indicators.
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. -
COMPACT MEDICAL SOLUTIONS LLC
SBIR Phase II: A Novel Respiratory Bag-Valve-Mask Resuscitator
Contact
7711 ASHTREE DR
Indianapolis, IN 46259--8603
NSF Award
2242331 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,931
Start / end date
11/01/2023 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is a novel device which reduces injury to patients by emergency personnel when using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) manual resuscitator. BVMs are used in pre-hospital and hospital settings by emergency medical personnel on a daily basis to deliver air to critically ill patients. Their basic design has been in place for over 60 years and are often misused resulting in damage, complications, or occasionally fatal lung injury. This project will complete development of a novel BVM that precisely controls the volumes and pressures delivered, and aims to redefine the stagnant BVM market which is projected to surpass $750M annually by 2025.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project develops a novel, adjustable, universal bag-valve-mask resuscitator enabling emergency providers to deliver air volumes and pressures customized to patient body size. Current devices are commonly misused, even by highly trained medical personnel, resulting in hyperventilation, barotrauma, and occasional death. The project will complete remaining design and testing tasks, and a human factors proof of concept study to demonstrate users are able to quickly and properly utilize the device with minimal instruction will be performed. The second objective will address manufacturability and testing requirements within standards for US approval. Finally, the third objective is to establish the assembly processes and initial quality control testing to ensure consistent manufacturing at scale and in a cost effective and quality consistent manner.
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. -
COMPLETIONAI LLC
SBIR Phase II: Simplifying the use of recycled plastics in film extrusion
Contact
20 HIGH ST
Marblehead, MA 01945--3408
NSF Award
2212917 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$981,780
Start / end date
02/01/2023 – 01/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to allow recycled plastics to be used more efficiently and affordably than is currently possible. Regulatory and societal pressures are forcing reconsideration of single use plastics, and manufacturers of plastic film must use recycled plastic at higher quantities. However, it is difficult for the manufacturers to affordably reincorporate single-use plastics due to the low quality and unpredictable content of the material. Increasing yield of usable plastics through use of the proposed technology is expected to reduce waste, offering the potential to annually save 6.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in the US and Canada, and 28 million metric tons globally. Also, the greater use of artificial intelligence in manufacturing is of strategic advantage to the US, with the proposed technology also applicable to metals, paper, or advanced materials. Furthermore, skills shortages are impacting manufacturing and are likely to worsen due to a rapidly aging workforce. A great deal of on-the-job expertise will be lost in the coming years as a generation of experienced operators retires. The proposed solution can ease this transition, acting as an expert decision system to carry the intelligence forward and help maintain US manufacturing competitiveness.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will apply artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and process control methods to plastic film extrusion, and subsequently to other types of manufacturing. Currently hardware solutions exist for manufacturers, though they can be expensive, difficult to use and maintain, and can require specialized skills to use. By contrast, the proposed technology is a software-based approach to the control of complex plastic film extrusion processes, particularly in the context of widely variable input materials such as recycled plastics. The AI software will be robust to changes in the production environment and will account for process drift over time. These technology capabilities are industrially novel and not known in the academic literature. Phase I outcomes suggest that the technology can automatically control extrusion processes to achieve optimal steady state production faster than is the currently possible via human control. The AI-based expert system effectively recreates the knowledge tacitly held by long-experienced factory operators. This type of industrial automation has the potential to be value-generating for the wider manufacturing sector. The proposed technology may be applicable to a wider range of extrusion manufacturing processes, such as extrusion of metals, paper or advanced materials.
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. -
CONCHA INC.
SBIR Phase II: Software Technology for Improved Perception of Speech/Audio to Self Personalize Hearing Aids/Devices
Contact
855 SOMERSET CT
San Carlos, CA 94070--3516
NSF Award
2154649 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$996,723
Start / end date
08/01/2022 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to potentially provide personalized hearing health care for those with hearing loss. Providing a customized amplification device and app solution that allows the user to understand speech more clearly may avoid audiologist appointments and allow the user to take control of their hearing right from their phone. Hearing loss is often associated with decreased employment and potentially lower income. An effective amplification device may enable those with mild-to-moderate hearing loss to improve their employment and earnings. Additionally, this technology may remove the discomfort that certain populations experience within the medical system and provide individualized empowerment in relation to their hearing.
This SBIR Phase II project seeks to deliver personalized sound profiles from the comfort of the user?s home at a fraction of the cost of traditional hearing aid solutions. This self-fitting technology differentiates is differentiaed from the majority of over-the-counter or direct-to-consumer hearing solutions as the new technology allow the hearing aid enable personalize sound profiles in a variety of different listening environments. The technological goals are to allow users to optimize sound profiles in situ for live sound environments, and to standardize the software platform to enable partnerships with any hardware manufacturer in order to expand the suite of products that can help people hear clearly. The proposed project will continue the development of the technology including: increasing the range of frequencies that are adjusted during the self-fitting process, including the adjustment of non-linear gain parameters in the self-fitting process, an allowing users to obtain profiles for different listening environments.
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. -
CONOVATE, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Domestically produced, novel carbon-based active anode materials for rechargeable lithium ion batteries
Contact
1408 E OLIVE ST
Shorewood, WI 53211--1828
NSF Award
2132769 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
09/15/2022 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project is both to provide novel, domestically produced raw materials to the US battery supply chain and to generate affordable, safer, fast-charging, long-lasting lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for electronics. With these raw materials, the US can manufacture lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) using its own resources; US battery manufacturers need no longer depend on foreign suppliers. The manufacturing process will employ readily available US manufacturing capabilities to generate domestically produced, value-added materials and thus strengthen the high-tech US economy that critically needs new materials for more effective energy storage. Further, the proposed materials will improve battery performance and safety, such as in wireless, battery-powered medical devices (e.g., implants and sensors) that use phone apps to monitor people's health and welfare. These apps need improved LIBs made from novel, lighter, and safer anode materials that can charge faster and store more energy than current versions.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to introduce a value-added active anode material with high-quality performance to the battery supply chain. The anode material aims to reduce the quantity of expensive?but critical?cathode materials (Ni, Co, and others) required for successful battery designs. Funding will enable upgraded production methods to produce anode material at scale, thus demonstrating how to produce a lithiated version of the anode material which will increase its desirability for battery manufacturers. The main R&D activities will improve both key desirable performance value propositions through engineering optimization approaches to synthesis and scaleup, and improve upon the currently low initial coulombic efficiency for the first charging cycle through introducing pre-lithiation and full-lithiation methodologies. Research outcomes include: (1) a value-added active anode material?with higher capacity than graphite mid potential between lithium titanate and graphite, low irreversible lithium capacity loss, and potentially increased lithium availability?to reduce the size and cost of the overall battery system per kWh, (2) a third-party demonstration of minimum viable product 200mAh batteries with superior performance, and (3) a roadmap for battery manufacturers to effectively incorporate additive amounts of the novel, lithiated material (even to completely replacing graphite) in existing battery designs.
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. -
CORELESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Large-Scale Synthesis of Hollow Metal Nanospheres: Conversion of Batch Synthesis to Continuous Flow
Contact
2125 DELAWARE AVE STE D
Santa Cruz, CA 95060--4942
NSF Award
2127133 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$991,478
Start / end date
01/01/2022 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is based upon establishing a consistent, reliable source of high-quality hollow metal nanoparticles, thus enabling their commercial adoption in applications where they markedly outperform their conventional counterparts. One such application is point-of-use testing: by switching to hollow metal nanoparticles, lateral flow assays will reach higher levels of sensitivity and lower limits of detection, improving field testing for environmental contamination; detection of toxins and pathogens in agriculture; and early disease identification in clinical and veterinary care. Integration into rapid antibody and antigen tests for highly contagious diseases such as COVID-19 should prove particularly impactful, as the resulting higher sensitivity would reduce the occurrence of false negative results, thereby improving the performance (and public perception) of rapid testing. Critically, it would also improve baseline testing availability for rural and under-served populations who do not have access to PCR-equipped clinical laboratories. They can be applied to many other industries as well.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will advance the state of the art of continuous flow synthesis of plasmonic nanomaterials. Nanoparticle synthesis is a highly sensitive process, and obtaining high quality samples of advanced architectures has previously required labor-intensive, small-batch processes incompatible with large-scale production. Simply scaling traditional batch techniques has led to product with poor quality and prohibitive costs. This project advances a prototype reactor that has demonstrated high-throughput production of hollow plasmonic nanoparticles with control over size and color, while maintaining structural uniformity (<15% CV). Importantly, it reduced the cost of labor per liter of product by 950% from that of small batch synthesis. The proposed project will increase fidelity, further scale production volume, post-process and stabilize the final product, and benchmark its optical performance. The resulting production-scale reactor will have the capacity necessary to supply LFA manufacturers with ready-to-use, advanced color labels. It will enable new research and new nano-enabled devices by creating a consistent commercial supply of high performance plasmonic nanostructures with well-controlled physical properties. The manufacture of hollow metal nanoparticles for point-of-use testing applications will also pave the way for their expansion into other industries that would also benefit from their advantageous optical and photothermal plasmonic properties, such as photocatalysis, water purification, and phototherapeutics.
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. -
CYTORECOVERY, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Bioelectrical Cell Enrichment, Sorting, and Recovery with On-Chip Sample Prep and Monitoring
Contact
1872 PRATT DR
Blacksburg, VA 24060--6322
NSF Award
2222933 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$952,558
Start / end date
02/15/2023 – 01/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is a label-free, biological sample preparation and cell isolation platform for recovery of rare cells from a variety of sample inputs. Specifically, by carrying out sample preparation, manipulation, and monitoring on a single chip platform for selective cell recovery, the sample handling steps will be greatly reduced, thereby ensuring the maintenance of cell viability, improving sample consistency, and sustaining native cell behaviors. This recovered sample is essential for the development of cell-based therapies in regenerative medicine and cancer management. Personalized medicine also requires precision cell recoveries.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will develop an electrically functional microfluidic sample manipulation platform for phenotype-selective recovery of cells, based on their biophysical attributes. Specifically, microfluidic designs will be integrated to swap cells from complex biological inputs into an optimized buffer to enable cell manipulation. Also, instrumentation will be developed for on-chip monitoring of the sample during various stages of the phenotype-selective cell recovery process. Further, a variety of sample inputs will be validated on the designed devices to ensure performance, consistency, and reliability for translation into commercial product lines.
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. -
Camerad Technologies, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Point-of-Care Patient Photography Integrated with Medical Imaging
Contact
2098 SYLVANIA DRIVE
Decatur, GA 30033--2616
NSF Award
1853142 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$759,942
Start / end date
05/15/2019 – 04/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the widespread adoption of an efficient and accessible technology to integrate patient photographs with radiology images to improve patient safety, increase healthcare efficiency, and reconnect radiologists with their patients. A successful commercialization outcome is this adoption leading to direct cost-savings in healthcare by improving patient safety and hospital quality; even a 10% improvement in radiologists' efficiency leads to healthcare savings of ~$900 million. The broader impact of this novel technology is that it can provide patient authentication for the digital data being generated by hundreds of new digital medical devices. Any of this digital data could end up in the wrong patient's medical record and authentication is crucial. Rapid advances in smart, telehealth systems present the danger that patients can turn into mere data, but these photographs can return the interpreting physician's focus to the patient, leading to improved outcomes through patient-centered care. The technology achieves this by allowing doctors to connect with the patient as a person before diving deep and exploring data at anatomic, physiologic and molecular levels.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will seamlessly and securely integrate a radiology patient identification system to improve patient safety, by avoiding preventable errors, and enhance throughput. This transformative approach overcomes the failure of existing patient identification methods while harnessing the power of an embedded camera system to improve patient care. Technology to automatically and simultaneously obtain and embed audio and video data of the patient during X-ray and CT acquisition will be developed under this award. Specifically, the following objectives will be completed: 1) develop a mature software framework for rapid system scalability to a large number of hospitals, 2) expand the system to CT scanners and stationary X-ray machines, 3) improve image quality by adding infrared stereoscopic image capture, to ensure photographs add value even when obtained in low light settings, 4) enhancing the cameras with video and audio capabilities, which will improve patient identification, while simultaneously gathering rich clinical information, and 5) refine the triggering method for photograph acquisition. The long-term objectives are to increase the detection rate of wrong-patient errors by embedding an intrinsic, externally visible biometric identifier with medical imaging studies; and increase interpreting physician throughput by decreasing interpretation time.
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. -
Capacitech Energy, Inc
SBIR Phase II: Self-Powering Textiles for Electronic Wearables
Contact
3251 PROGRESS DR STE 140A
Orlando, FL 32826--2931
NSF Award
2139803 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$936,667
Start / end date
09/15/2022 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project is to enable innovations in wireless Internet-of-Things (IoT), wearable sensors, and wearable products. Portable electric energy is a key component in many technological devices. This project advances a transformative technology that integrates energy capture, storage, and delivery into a single device to advance the portability and utility of small electronic devices.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to overcome two key challenges faced in wireless IoT, wearable, and electronic products: battery life, and the costly inconvenience of frequently replacing batteries. The project integrates advanced solar cell, supercapacitor, and power electronic technologies into a single unit (Supercell) easily connected to electronic loads. Design priorities include physical flexibility, wide operating temperature range, heat management, ultra-low Equivalent Series Resistance and leakage, high energy storage capacity, and good operating efficiency. The approach pairs solar cell and supercapacitor technologies to work together, each complementing the other. Advantages include size, weight, and installed lifetime cost, when compared with single-use batteries, or with discrete solar cells. The proposed work will accelerate adoption of IoT, wearable, and electronic technologies by offering a better source of energy than field-replaceable batteries or discrete solar cells.
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. -
CellDrop Inc
STTR Phase II: Stem Cell Delivery in Microscopic Hydrogel Droplets for Faster and More Complete Healing of Equine Tendon and Ligament Injuries
Contact
1938 HARNEY ST
Laramie, WY 82072--3037
NSF Award
2304324 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,999
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project involves continued development of technology to extend the therapeutic window of cell-based tissue regeneration therapies. This technology could significantly enhance the scientific understanding of cellular therapies and enable the healing of injuries more rapidly and less invasively than current techniques. A significant need for this technology has been identified in the competition horse market. A significant fraction (98%) of competitive horses suffers from soft tissue injuries and more than 80% of these horses develop a tendon or ligament injury. These injuries can take years to heal and are the leading cause of missed performances? drastically reducing quality of life for the animal and often necessitating euthanasia. This is a significant emotional and financial pain-point for horse owners and veterinarians. The technology being developed offers a solution by providing veterinarians a means of healing tendon and ligament injuries in a faster and more durable manner than currently possible, resulting in fewer missed performances, reduced need for animal euthanasia, and significantly reducing earning losses. Initial implementation of this technology in the equine market is expected to result in the subsequent commercialization of products to improve the healing of orthopedic injuries in humans.
This project addresses the slow healing and frequent reinjury of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries in elite equine athletes. A significant fraction (98%) of veterinarians uses stem cell injections to aid in recovery of these injuries, however, this strategy has limited efficacy due to poor viability of injected cells and short cell retention times at the site of injury. This problem is addressed by this technology to preserve and localize mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at an injury site through delivery in inert, injectable hydrogel microparticles. The research objectives are twofold: 1) examine early healing metrics in an equine model of SDFT injury treated with encapsulated MSCs compared to conventional unencapsulated MSCs, and 2) examine long term healing metrics using the same model. The goal of this research is to provide evidence of two key customer needs: faster tissue healing and more durable tissue regeneration of SDFT injuries. Functional, histological, genetic, and biomechanical metrics will be used to assess experimental outcomes and the results are anticipated to lead directly to a clinical trial in elite equine athletes.
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. -
Charmtech Labs LLC
SBIR Phase II: PeTeS: Personalized Text Simplification For Struggling Readers (COVID-19)
Contact
77 GOODELL ST STE 441
Stony Brook, NY 11794--4600
NSF Award
2036502 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
06/15/2021 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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This phase II award received additional funding to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis.Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project seeks to develop a Personalized Text Simplification (PeTeS) technology to be used as a Computer Assisted Tool for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Several automatic text simplification tools are available in the market. Unfortunately, the existing tools are one-size-fits-all solutions offering no personalization and not supporting the teacher?s instructional goals. The innovation of PeTeS is in the use of Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing algorithms to perform automatic text simplification customizing texts for each student, enabling him/her to understand the curriculum and improve vocabulary knowledge at the same time. PeTeS will be compatible with both independent use by students and teacher-driven data-driven instruction. PeTeS will be usable both in class and in remote education settings, which is a new critical demand in our schools caused by COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this Phase II Project is to fully develop the PeTeS product and evaluate its effectiveness in classroom and remote education settings.
The objective of this Phase II Project is to develop PeTeS a Personalized Text Simplification tool. PeTeS will enable teachers of material in courses such as education, reading, language, and literacy coaches to provide personalized reading accommodations and intervention to their students to improve their reading skills by automatically simplifying the text to match the individual student?s knowledge. PeTeS will be compatible with both independent use by students and teacher-driven data-driven instruction. PeTeS will be usable both in class and in remote education settings, which is a new critical demand in our schools caused by COVID-19 pandemic.
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. -
Clairways LLC
SBIR Phase II: Medical Device for Monitoring Respiratory Disease
Contact
16 CAVENDISH CT
Lebanon, NH 03766--1441
NSF Award
2132716 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,612
Start / end date
09/15/2021 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2).
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Project is to aid the development of new and better respiratory therapeutics. Over 1 billion individuals suffer from chronic respiratory diseases including conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic cough, and bronchiectasis. COPD is the third deadliest disease in the U.S. and globally. Due to the prevalence and impact of these diseases, $8.6 billion is invested in respiratory clinical trials annually. Currently, in respiratory therapy research and pharma clinical trials, participants? coughing and wheezing can be a primary or secondary endpoint for measuring drug efficacy. Current solutions for capturing daily fluctuations in cough or respiration are burdensome to use and often produce unreliable data that is less helpful for drawing reproducible conclusions. Additionally, these current solutions add significantly to the cost of respiratory therapy clinical trials. This SBIR Project seeks to address these challenges by producing a wearable device that passively captures accurate, remote data that is essential to unlocking scientific discoveries in respiratory care. This project serves an urgent, unmet need for a reliable, low-effort, low-cost way to measure daily fluctuations in clinical trial participant respiratory signs.
The proposed Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Project employs advanced edge computing to address challenges in objectively monitoring respiratory signs. The proposed activity may make advances in the field of ultra-low power biomedical wearable devices. In particular, new nonlinear analog processing techniques will be developed to make it feasible for long-term monitoring of respiratory signs, including coughing and wheezing. The resulting analog techniques may also be used to implement other types of state-of-the-art medical wearable devices.
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. -
Codecraft Works, LLC
SBIR Phase II: A Co-creation, Cross-curricular, Standard Aligned Computer Science, Engineering, and Cybersecurity Education Technology Platform
Contact
2428 IRWIN ST
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951--2716
NSF Award
1831060 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$888,640
Start / end date
09/15/2018 – 09/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
This phase II award received additional funding to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis.Abstract
This SBIR Phase II project aims to transform the lives and future economic opportunities of young people and their communities through democratized access to cross-curricular computer science, engineering, and cybersecurity education. Daily life, economies, innovation, and national security all depend on having a strong and skilled STEM workforce. For this workforce to exist, our schools must provide the necessary education and experience to prepare students for such careers. Unfortunately, a vast majority of K-12 educators today are not equipped with the resources to do so successfully. The importance of solving this problem cannot be overstated; developing a plentitude of competent STEM professionals is critical to ensure economic and security stability. These project goals are aligned with NSF?s mission to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense. The resulting technology innovation is of potential service to more than 50 million primary and secondary school students and 3.5 million educators nationally, with an ability to impact their course of study, improve STEM outcomes, increase hands-on project-based experience, and improve future economic opportunities.
This technology innovation emerges at the intersection of cloud-based software technology, real-time collaboration tools, and learning management systems. This reimagined technology tool easily connects, attracts, and fosters delivery of cross-curricular, educational computing literacy resources aligned with national and state educational standards. The project aims to empower and support educators and students in tackling the many new opportunities and growing number of resources in computer science (CS) and engineering education at home, in classrooms, and in community centers. As the CS education landscape evolves with new and exciting technical curriculum, this innovation analyzes the willingness of educators to create or adopt new computer science education, the effectiveness of real-time collaboration tools on CS education outcomes, and measures student awareness and feelings about computer science and engineering disciplines. This technology innovation promotes customer participation and a unique ability to provide support at the ground level in real-time. There are solutions that provide massive online CS courses and curricula; however, none targeting K-12 classrooms or educators which support and integrate cross-curricular computer science, engineering, and cybersecurity education. Offering cloud-based, synchronous technology tools this technology enables real-time, expert mentoring and pair-programming in a K12 virtual learning environment on a massive scale.
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. -
Cognitive ToyBox
SBIR Phase II: Facilitating Early Childhood Teacher and Family Engagement During COVID-19
Contact
150 COURT ST STE 2
Brooklyn, NY 11201--6274
NSF Award
2151349 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$964,915
Start / end date
07/15/2022 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to ease the burden on early childhood teachers and ensure they have the information needed to support children?s learning. COVID-19 has upended the lives of millions of children and families and disproportionately affected low-income children. The incoming class of preschoolers have increasingly variable levels of development and skills than ever before, and educators need to assess their need and help them to catch up academically. The industry leading tools in early childhood assessment rely solely on observation-based assessment, in which teachers make judgments about a child?s performance based on observations made in the classroom. Observation-based measures have limitations, including time burden, teacher bias, and variability in scoring due to differences in teacher education and training. Observational assessment is especially challenging in the remote context, since teachers were not able to physically monitor children?s development. Even when children are back in the classroom, face masks may shield some of the more subtle cues around learning and development.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to ensure an accurate assessment of child development, so that teachers can leverage the data for tailored instruction to help children catch up from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Child assessments are typically observational or direct. This Phase II project collects both observational and direct data, providing an opportunity to compare the data and help teachers understand areas where there may be assessment error due to teacher bias or other factors. At the end of Phase II, it is anticipated that teachers will have access to a self-led teacher training and reliability certification, which may help to ensure a more consistent assessment experience in the classroom. Moreover, educational programs will have access to an assessment quality monitoring dashboard that seeks to highlight differences between observation and game-based assessment scores and provide a path towards reconciliation. Educational programs may be able to customize this technology to fit the needs of English language learners, who are often subject to assessor bias. Finally, teachers may be able to leverage the game-based assessments to understand both academic and ?soft? skill development. Overall, the technology may\provide teachers with a robust child assessment system that helps them to accurately and efficiently assess whole child development.
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. -
Cytocybernetics
SBIR Phase II: Developing a platform for superior predictive analysis of HERG Ion Channel-Drug Interactions for the Comprehensive In-vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA)
Contact
5000 B TONAWANDA CREEK RD N
North Tonawanda, NY 14120-
NSF Award
2151522 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
03/01/2022 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact /commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve drug safety. This project advances software to identify the potential of new drugs to provoke dangerous cardiac side-effects. Because sudden cardiac death is an infrequent and relatively rare phenomenon, predicting it with conventional tools is either impractical or impossible. The proposed technology will make the development of all new classes of drugs safer, faster, and less expensive. This will be integrated into investigational new drug submission packages for submission to the FDA for drug approval. This will improve pharmaceutical safety and clinical outcomes.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will address the critical problem of predicting the arrhythmogenic potential of new drugs seeking FDA approval. Current basic science research methods are based on trying to reproduce exact and infrequently encountered in vivo phenomena in an in vitro setting. The economic and practical constraints on drug development therefore requires industry to use proxies, primarily drug binding to the HERG potassium channel, as a predictor arrhythmogenicity. The intellectual challenge in this project is to combine mathematical modeling and quantitative analysis of rigorous experimental protocols to bridge this gap and identify underlying features which are strong predictors of arrhythmogenic behavior. Key to understanding this is the rapid development and deployment of state-dependent Markov models of drug action based on limited patch clamp data, which is both time-consuming and expensive to obtain. This project combines mathematical analysis directly to direct patch-clamp assay protocols to minimize time and expense while increasing predictive accuracy.
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. -
DARCY SOLUTIONS INC.
SBIR Phase II: Innovative Advection-Enhanced Geothermal Heat Pump Fieldloop Demonstration
Contact
5451 ZUMBRA CIR
Excelsior, MN 55331--7758
NSF Award
2127107 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$995,074
Start / end date
09/15/2022 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase II project focuses on the high costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with conventional heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) methods. HVAC constitutes approximately 48% of building energy consumption representing a significant cost to society. Much of this energy is generated by fossil fuels, resulting in substantial environmental impacts: carbon emissions associated with residential and commercial use are 35.6% of total US emissions. Geothermal or ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) represent the most energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly HVAC solution currently available, however, their high upfront capital costs have significantly slowed their deployment. The innovation in the present project takes a fundamentally different approach to GSHP heat transfer, resulting in reductions of 50% in installation costs and 20% in operating costs compared to conventional GSHP systems, enabling an expansion of the geothermal market. The present project seeks to thoroughly field test and analyze the performance of the GSHP innovation, optimizing the fabrication and installation parameters, and readying it for commercial deployment.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to address the high installation cost and large, disruptive footprint of conventional GSHP systems. The project objective is to demonstrate a compact, cost-effective, easily-deployable, renewable solution for HVAC. The advection-driven GSHP (AGHP) takes advantage of the 4-5 times greater heat capacity of water than rock. Under the present project, AGHP will advance beyond numerical and laboratory analyses to manufacturing and field testing performance under real-world conditions. The research objectives include: 1) finalization of field site, 2) preliminary design and numerical modeling of the AGHP system for a chosen field site; 3) engineering retrofit design; 4) fabrication of the custom designed submersible pump and heat exchanger; 5) installation and testing of the AGHP system; 6) operation, monitoring, and analysis of the performance of AGHP system, including the development of a comprehensive cost, energy use, and emissions model for the AGHP system; and 7) use of the compiled data to estimate the potential for the economic viability of AGHP in various regions of the United States. The anticipated result of this project is a commercially-ready GSHP product with design and installation guidelines for determining the potential for deploying the innovative AGHP system at any given location.
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. -
DEEPCONVO INC.
SBIR Phase II: Voice-based telehealth interface for symptom monitoring and screening for chronic and acute respiratory diseases
Contact
317 CORNWALL DR
Pittsburgh, PA 15238--2643
NSF Award
2213110 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,994
Start / end date
03/01/2023 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is a voice-based telehealth interface deployed on mobile devices for symptom monitoring and screening for respiratory diseases. This technology may improve the quality of respiratory care and could prevent costly hospitalizations by delivering monitoring and exacerbation warnings to healthcare providers and patients. Chronic and acute respiratory diseases affect over 70 million Americans and 1 billion people globally. This technology may help improve patient outcomes and save on patient care costs.
The proposed project will further develop the existing Chronic Obstructive Respiratory Disease (COPD) Early Exacerbation warning system to measure the earliest deterioration in a patient?s respiratory system through voice and breath data captured through mobile phones. The research objectives include (1) productizing lung function measurement by improving algorithms for measuring lung function in varied real-world environments and on datasets reflective of the target population of patients with respiratory conditions in the US; (2) productizing exacerbation prediction by further training the proof-of-concept algorithm with true respiratory exacerbations resulting in hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and prescription of new or increased medication and treatments; (3) developing and launching a direct-to-patient product with the goals of learning how to most effectively engage the patient to drive usage, communicating effectively with the patient, and bridging the gap between patient and provider to provide timely and effective interventions; and (4) exploring additional use cases by testing products with patients who suffer from varied lung diseases.
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. -
DEXTROUS ROBOTICS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Automated Perception for Robotic Chopsticks Manipulating Small and Large Objects in Constrained Spaces
Contact
802 ROZELLE ST
Memphis, TN 38104--5052
NSF Award
2321919 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,746
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project supports the development of robotic solutions for unloading non-palletized packages of different shapes and sizes in logistics and similar industries. This technology may provide workers with more skilled jobs that remove the need for physically strenuous labor in unhealthy environments. The project seeks to increase US competitiveness in supply chain logistics ($150 billion / year market in the US) by helping solve long-standing and worsening employee recruitment and retention problems. The project helps the US become an early leader in the robotic manipulation of diverse objects in constrained, unstructured environments while simultaneously training a workforce capable of remote manipulation in safe environments.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project supports the development of robotic solutions for unloading non-palletized packages of different shapes and sizes in logistics and similar industries. At present, there are few commercially-available automated solutions for this task. Those few machines are brittle, slow, and only work well with uniform packages. The research objectives include: 1) upgrading the robot?s perception system to fuse high-speed vision and force sensory inputs, which will enable closed-loop picking with greater speed, more robustness, higher safety, and less package damage; 2) upgrading the robot?s vision system to perceive object categories beyond boxes; 3) investigating a user interface to allow a human operator to most-easily correct inevitable perception system errors; and 4) field testing the robotic system. The cumulative result will be a rigorously validated system that safely (for packages and users) operates at high speed with little manual intervention.
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. -
DIAMOND AGE TECHNOLOGY LLC
SBIR Phase II: Composing Digital-Twins from Disparate Data Sources
Contact
15714 CRESTBROOK DR
Houston, TX 77059--5218
NSF Award
2321894 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,757
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project relates to the creation of a digital twin, an interactive, 3-dimensional model of a real-world system, of complex industrial environments and assets. This digital twin provides infrastructure necessary for the application of virtual reality training and augmented reality live-guided procedures in industrial workplaces, at scale. By making the full-scale roll-out of these technologies possible, the technology seeks to impact human health and safety, operational efficiencies, and environmental risk reduction for process operations facilities, such as oil refineries and chemical plants. The long-term impacts of this technology may also enable automation and optimization, improving their efficiency, security, and safety. Such facilities are critical infrastructure and play a significant role in the national economy. The availability of this product may also enhance market opportunities for other businesses in the scanning, spatial computing, and training markets. The impact may be further broadened by adapting the process for digital twin production to new domains unrelated to the industrial market.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is advancing knowledge and understanding in both machine learning and spatial computing. This project focuses on a method for digitizing a complex, real-world system, in an efficient manner, sufficient to recreate the captured reality as an interactive digital twin. The primary technical hurdle is the combining of different data sources, that describe aspects of a particular real-world system, into a single, complete description. The initial physical systems being modelled are industrial process operations, but the core methods could apply to other types of systems, including natural systems, such as a rainforest. For industrial process operations, the goal is to encode the entire process operations facilities, at the component level, with sub-centimeter accuracy, at 10% of the current time and cost requirements. To achieve this, this project will combine physical scans with engineering documentation and relational probabilities. Once combined, the model will be used as the basis for a digital twin of the real-world system projected into spatial computed environments, such as virtual and augmented reality. These techniques replace a tedious and limited static scan and intensive human labor workflow with rapid scans, computer vision, and a combination of procedural and trained algorithms.
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. -
DOCUGAMI, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Authoring Assistance via Contextual Semantic Labeling
Contact
11335 NE 122ND WAY STE 105
Kirkland, WA 98034--6933
NSF Award
2233508 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$998,314
Start / end date
06/15/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project comes from extracting meaningful, useful, specific information from ?dark data.? Dark data are the countless documents companies produce and receive, which contain unused information ? usually because they are in formats that computers do not understand. Many of these documents do not even contain accessible text: only pictures of text. Word-processing documents and emails do have text, but no information about what the text is. Computers can easily tell that ?10/05/2022? is a date, but knowing it is the date a particular agreement starts or ends (or something else) is needed to make it useful. This project uses a range of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques that work in real time while people are writing new documents or extracting data from old documents. The AI learns quickly from examples, finds patterns across similar documents, and uses that learning to save the user from having to search for items again and again in varying contexts. This saves a lot of tedious work and reduces errors. The extracted information helps companies understand, analyze, and make business decisions.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project identifies and extracts useful information items from long natural language documents, especially contracts and agreements. The technology identifies items much more specifically than typical extraction methods; for example, not only as person, organization, or place names, but as to what role each plays. Likewise, addresses, dates, money amounts, and other data items only become useful when you know what they?re for. This is a valuable focus for advancing Natural Language Understanding. The team combine and extend Machine Learning technologies such as few-shot learning, fine-tuning, and semantic parsing to achieve these stronger, more ?semantic? results. This solution allows companies to generate value from huge troves of information they already collect but cannot yet automate or leverage.
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. -
ECLIPSE ENTEROGENESIS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Endoluminal Fixation of a Distraction Enterogenesis Device
Contact
1440 OBRIEN DR
Menlo Park, CA 94025--1672
NSF Award
2232550 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$970,484
Start / end date
05/01/2023 – 04/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the advancement of an innovative therapy for Short Bowel Syndrome. Compared to current non-curative treatments that are chronic and associated with dangerous complications, rehospitalization, and high mortality, the proposed solution has the potential to substantially improve outcomes and quality-of-life for patients and their families. The potential commercial impact of this project is likewise substantial. Treating short bowel syndrome currently costs hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient per year. adds more than $5 billion to US healthcare expenditures annually. Thus, the proposed curative solution can lead to enormous savings in dollars and in specialists? time.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will create a curative therapy for patients with Short Bowel Syndrome, which is currently managed with intravenous nutrition and lacks effective treatments. The proposed solution will lengthen the intestine, increasing the absorptive surface area and restoring the natural function of the gut, enabling patients to get sufficient nutrition from the food they eat. The proposed system comprises nondestructive tissue anchors and a spring that pushes against them to stretch the intestine and force it to grow. Having previously developed the tissue anchors, this project develops a delivery method that will allow the system to be implanted in the intestine through a minimally invasive procedure. Feedback will be gathered from pediatric gastroenterologists and surgeons about the delivery method, and device performance will be measured in pre-clinical large-animal studies. Successful completion of the proposed project will demonstrate intestinal lengthening in vivo, achieved via a minimally invasive procedure, and establish a foundation for planning subsequent preclinical testing that will be required for regulatory approval to commercialize the product.
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. -
ECO-SHELTER, INC.
STTR Phase II: A non-woven bamboo-based strand composite process to manufacture low-cost roofing
Contact
3316 6TH AVE UNIT 1
Tacoma, WA 98406--5904
NSF Award
2136481 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$998,164
Start / end date
02/15/2022 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is to develop a viable and scalable process to manufacture a bamboo-based strand composite for application in low-cost roofing globally. This project develops a new production process for exterior-grade natural fiber composite building products, derived from a highly renewable resource, bamboo, through public-private partnership. The resulting roofing product will help protect users from extreme heat by passively cooling and reducing indoor temperatures. In addition, this solution can be used to create value-added energy-efficient building products from highly renewable natural fiber waste. The innovation holds immense potential to replace harmful and hazardous materials, including asbestos, in many regions of the world, store captured carbon into long-lifecycle products, and reduce heating and cooling energy use.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project will: (i) refine the design of the 3D panel geometry used to make commercial-size panels with improved load-carrying capacity and constructability; (ii) improve the bamboo-stranding process, evaluate a bio-based adhesive system, impart fire-retardance, enhance panel durability, manufacture panels using the new geometry, and evaluate performance; and (iii) demonstrate and evaluate panel use as a roofing material through field tests and the versatility of the corrugated panel in interior and exterior energy-efficient building products. This research will advance the field of natural fiber composites by addressing challenges of long-term construction applications that can withstand hot and humid climates, including moisture resistance, biodegradation, and effective binders for functionality.
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. -
ECOCLOSURE LLC
SBIR Phase II: High Performance Microalgae Building Enclosures for an Energy Efficient Retrofitting Application
Contact
5530 BALLANTYNE COMMONS PKWY
Charlotte, NC 28277--0566
NSF Award
2151666 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$995,534
Start / end date
07/15/2022 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is in enabling an energy-efficient and cost-effective solution for a healthy, sustainable built environment. Stringent environmental protection policies are presenting the building industry with challenges in reducing environmental impacts. High performing windows could play an role in reducing energy use and pollutant emissions. Creating a window system that reduces building energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions may have broad societal, economic, and commercial impacts. The proposed biochromic windows can serve as an alternative, energy efficient retrofit and help meet net zero energy, net zero carbon buildings. Their multiple environmental, economic, and social benefits include high energy efficiency, improved air quality, carbon capture, and renewable energy production. Energy efficient window retrofitting accounts for over 60% of the global window market share. In 2021, the global window market grew to $10 billion for replacement and renovation and $6 billion for new construction with a compound annual growth rate of 8.6% and 8.3% respectively. This energy efficient, carbon sink technology may result in 20~30% energy savings and carbon reductions. The good air quality further benefits occupant health and well-being, making the building more appealing to occupants, industry professionals, and stakeholders.
The key technical innovation of the biochromic window is to integrate biological cells within a window assembly for commercial building retrofitting applications. As a primary building enclosure system mediating between indoor and outdoor environments, the biochromic window offers improved insulation, dynamic shading efficacy, daylight penetration, views to outside, carbon dioxide (CO2) biofixation, and biomass production, all of which are attributes of improved building energy efficiency, good indoor air quality, beneficial carbon sequestration, novel biofuel production, and user satisfaction. The primary project objectives are to: 1) prototype of a biochromic window, integrated with an intelligent control system to enable the maximum performance; 2) conduct performance testing and obtain performance certificates; and 3) scale-up mass production manufacturing and carry out technology demonstrations at early adopter?s buildings. Project outcomes seek to save building energy consumption in heating, cooling, and artificial lighting load while producing on-site renewable energy and sequestrating CO2. The biochromic windows, coupled with an intelligent control system, further enhance economic and environmental performance depending on solar intensity and carbon concentration. The view-out area within the biochromic window admits year round daylighting. Proximity to green nature is expected to provide aesthetic quality and emotional comfort for user satisfactions.
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. -
EMTRUTH, INC.
SBIR Phase II: A Platform for Health Care Data Integration Using Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence
Contact
1830 DEERMONT RD
Glendale, CA 91207--1028
NSF Award
2304102 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,658
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide the personal healthcare data needed to improve the patient?s outcome and experience]. Because healthcare data is protected, a secure way of sharing the right data, with the right people, at the right time is needed. Currently, attempts to harmonize data from many systems, and in many formats and sizes is very difficult and expensive and so such efforts are lacking. Advancing blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies for distributed data management and enabling radical data interoperability benefits patients and addresses a priority need in a $3.93 trillion healthcare market.
This team develops the technology for a platform that secures data of any type from anywhere in immutable blockchains while respective data owners retain ownership and control to securely share just-needed data following their data governance criteria. Data is transformed and normalized into more granular blockchains and that can be combined for individual or aggregated population health modeling. Natural language processing is combined with a curated thesaurus to automatically create metadata tags for encrypted blockchains, facilitating data searches, discovery, and advanced analytics. Because healthcare data is complex and diverse, this project demonstrates, through priority use cases, how data needs to become interoperable. Such use cases include 1) sharing patient clinical data for participation in clinical research with consent; 2) creating a more complete patient healthcare record that spans many services or treatments; 3) bridging an operational gap between clinical data and claims; and 4) collaborating among research organizations in severe disease treatment. Additional technologies include instantiating a "datamart on demand" from blockchains for analytics, machine learning, and automating sharing of data, via smart contracts, capturing criteria, and like consent.
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. -
EMVOLON, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Internal Combustion Engines as Small Scale Chemical Plants for Compact, Low Cost Gas-to-Liquids Systems to Reduce Methane Flaring
Contact
176 WILSHIRE DR
Sharon, MA 02067--1562
NSF Award
2136751 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
08/15/2022 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to eliminate the wasteful and polluting practice of natural gas flaring using low-cost, distributed, mini chemical plants utilizing modified automotive engines as small compressors and chemical reactors. More than 140 billion cubic meters of natural gas produced in remote regions is flared (burned). This quantity of gas is valued $1.9 billion in the US and $18.4 billion globally and generates more than 400 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions, as well as significant air pollution (i.e., particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides). Currently, there are no economically-viable solutions to address the flaring problem. Compressing or liquefying the natural gas leads to prohibitively high operating costs, while conventional gas-to-liquid chemical conversion systems are not cost effective for the small scale required for remote flaring sites. Converting the flared gas in the US to liquid chemicals would result in more than $6 billion/year of added value for the economy. The impact of the project may extend beyond this specific application as it may be a stepping stone to the low cost, distributed synthesis of fuels or chemicals or to avoiding waste from other stranded resources like waste biomass and curtailed renewable power.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to convert mass-produced automotive engines into chemical reactors and compressors that replace large, custom-made chemical process equipment, thus enabling cost reductions in the flaring of natural gas. The engine-based reactor system seeks to process associated gas into methanol near the wellhead. Methane is a high value chemical that can be transported to market, eliminating the associated greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. The objectives of this project are to expand the single-cycle demonstration in Phase I by testing the engine-based synthesis technology in a multiple-cycle engine, providing the information required by commercial partners for a field pilot. The goal of this work is to rigorously test an engine-based reactor that provides robust operation with high throughput and high conversion per pass, which are required to achieve promising economics.
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. -
ENGENIOUSAG, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Low-cost in-planta nitrate sensor
Contact
1111 WOI RD
Ames, IA 50011--1085
NSF Award
2155110 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$998,683
Start / end date
05/01/2023 – 04/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide farmers with a low-cost plant sensor for direct, instantaneous measurement of nitrate-nitrogen (N) levels in crop sap. Widespread adoption of the sensor could support cost-effective and improved N fertilizer management, which may increase farmers? productivity and profitability. Low-cost, instantaneous nitrate testing readouts from plant stalks will provide more actionable information to guide farmers? fertilization decisions than current methods to test N levels in soil (e.g., collect soil samples, ship them to lab, and then wait ~1 week for lab analysis). The improvements in fertilizer-management decisions, enabled by more accessible and more actionable data, have the potential to reduce total N fertilizer applications in the US by some 2 million tons annually. This large reduction in N fertilizer applications would decrease the energy footprint of agriculture, reduce emissions of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300 times as potent as carbon dioxide, and improve water quality through reductions in N runoff, improving ecosystem services and human health through improved rural water quality and the reduction in hypoxic dead zones.
The proposed project represents an innovation in the function and application of an in planta nitrate sensor. The project goals are to: i) improve the sensor for reliable deployment in field measurements; ii) conduct research in farmers? fields to develop predictive models that input nitrate levels from sensor measurements of corn stalks and other data to output N fertilization recommendations; and iii) build a lab-based multi-probe nitrate sensor that extends the work to other crops in the existing plant and soil testing market. Anticipated results are that the data from the sensors will be used to build predictive models that output optimum N fertilization recommendations that will outperform conventional models. The accomplishment of this goal will lead to the commercialization of rugged low-cost sensors that provide rapid measurements of plant sap nitrate. This ability will make it possible to provide farmers with low-cost fertilizer recommendations based on data-driven, predictive modeling of N demand.
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. -
ENVISION ENDOSCOPY, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Novel Image Guided Suturing System For Endoscopic Surgery
Contact
15 FAIRFAX ST APT 2
Somerville, MA 02144--1107
NSF Award
2111775 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,952
Start / end date
07/15/2021 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of a novel image-guided full-thickness suturing system that is simple, easy to use, and cost-effective for gastrointestinal (GI) defects. These issues are more likely to require intensive care and a long hospital stay and have high rates of morbidity and mortality. Managing gastrointestinal defects endoscopically has obvious advantages over surgical intervention, including shorter hospital stays, reduced post procedure pain, faster recovery, and reduced total cost of care. The proposed technology is single-use, disposable, and attached to an endoscope (such as colonoscope, gastroscope), for better patient outcomes.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will advance the development of a novel, low-cost, image-guided suturing device for flexible endoscopes simple and intuitive to use. Currently, no good solutions exist for endoscopic tissue approximation and closure of large gastrointestinal (GI) defects. Endoscopic clips are only effective for mucosa closure and small size defects and the only endoscopic suturing device is considered cumbersome, difficult to use, and expensive. The technical innovation of the proposed device comprises a circular needle and a novel needle drive mechanism for a simplified suturing technique. This project will be specifically focused on the advancement of the technology, product development, design verification and validation of the device.
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. -
EPIImaging, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Epipolar-Plane Imaging for Robot 3D Vision
Contact
414 PACO DR
Los Altos, CA 94024--3827
NSF Award
2242216 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,407
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to improve robotic interactions with the humans. Currently, robots are involved in large sectors of society including logistics, manufacturing, autonomous navigation, video communication, remote supervision of complex mechanical maintenance/repair tasks, support in battlefields and disasters, and interactions in various training, educational, and interventional scenarios including telemedicine. This technology may offer more effective automation in the workplace through higher quality 3D sensing, greater precision visualization and increased worker quality of life. The technology addresses precision and reliability of passive 3D scene measurements.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses the acquisition of reliable and precise three-dimensional representations of a scene from passively acquired image data for use in navigation, grasping, manipulation, and other operations of autonomous systems in unrestricted three-dimensional spaces. This technology has been a long-standing challenge in the computer vision field, with many efforts providing adequate solutions under certain conditions, but lacking applicability across a breadth of applications. Other approaches typically deliver inaccurate results where there are, for example, repeated structures in the view, thin features, a large range in depth, or where structures align with aspects of the capture geometry. Based on the matching of features across images, current technologies fail when features have similar appearance. This technology removes the uncertainty of this process through a low-cost use of over-sampling, using a specific set of additional perspectives to replace the ?matching? with deterministic linear filtering. Increasing the reliability and precision of 3D scene measurements will open new opportunities for robotic interactions with the world. Success in this project will advance the underlying light-field technology to broader application areas where human-in-the-loop operations using artificial reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) or mixed reality (such as remote collaboration and distance interaction) depend on accurate and responsive visualization and scene modeling, reducing influences of vestibular and proprioceptive mismatch that can cause disruptive effects such as nausea.
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. -
ESTAT ACTUATION, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Rotary Electroadhesive Clutch for Lightweight and Energy-Efficient Actuators in Next-Generation Robots
Contact
1028 WELFER ST
Pittsburgh, PA 15217--2651
NSF Award
2208905 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$944,190
Start / end date
02/01/2023 – 01/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to create a lightweight and efficient rotary electroadhesive clutch that enables improved robotic hardware performance across the manufacturing, logistics, and medical industries. Despite decades of research and commercial effort, society has yet to realize the widespread availability of affordable robots that can safely work alongside humans and assist them in their daily lives. A central obstacle in achieving this vision is the prohibitive cost and poor performance of actuators. Efficient, lightweight clutches that can improve robot operation time and safety at a competitive price are a gateway to the proliferation of human-assistive robotic systems into everyday life. For example, inexpensive motion assistance exoskeletons could improve the quality of life for millions of physically impaired people who are otherwise unable to engage in normal daily activities. Affordable robots could also increase access to expensive labor-intensive services, such as daily physical rehabilitation or full/part-time in-home care.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be used to develop new materials understanding and correlate parameters such as morphology, dielectric thickness, and chemical modification to rotary electroadhesive clutch performance. The materials will be assessed for electrical and physical properties, as well as ease of incorporation into electroadhesive clutch assemblies and lifetime. Selecting optimal materials will improve fundamental performance while continuing to lower the weight, footprint, and energy consumption of rotary clutch designs. These research and development activities will de-risk the technology and enable the construction of a production-ready product. To efficiently achieve these goals, testing capabilities will be improved through the development of automated test stands to aid in rapid materials assessment, lifetime testing, and iterative design. For fundamental materials understanding, novel testing protocols will be developed that assess the electrical and wear properties of new materials, producing a widespread scientific impact in fields such as corrosion, coatings, and adhesion.
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. -
ESal
SBIR Phase II: Novel Water Flooding Technique to Enhance Oil Recovery
Contact
1938 HARNEY ST STE 255
Laramie, WY 82072--5388
NSF Award
1853136 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$949,876
Start / end date
05/15/2019 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project is to deploy a revolutionary water-flood technology to increase oil recovery. The best current technology is limited to 30 - 50% recovery leaving significant resources in the ground. The available methods to further increase recovery are expensive, have limited application and can cause environmental damage. The proposed method is much less expensive and has minimal environmental impact. Our technique does not use chemicals or additives thus avoiding the risk of contaminating ground and surface water resources. Rather than drill thousands of new wells, our approach revitalizes old fields and requires little modification to the existing infrastructure and operational procedures. It would allow older fields to continue to operate, providing jobs and taxes while increasing and further diversifying our domestic oil reserves. Full success of enhanced oil recovery,could produce up to 21.7 billion barrels of additional oil generating over $1 trillion for the US oil industry over the next twenty-five years, thereby increasing the energy security of the U.S. and creating more jobs while stabilizing domestic oil production at much lower costs than other technologies.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to validate the technology to optimize wettability in existing oil reservoirs through flotation experiments, computer modeling and field pilots. Once we have achieved good pH control during the flotation experiments, we will determine the impact on reservoir wettability, the effect of salinity on wettability and the equilibrium constants for the surface complexation computer model. Finally, we will conduct concept validation projects in field to verify a minimum of 5% OOIP increase in oil production. Thus, we will provide producers with a field-verified process operators can implement to yield significant results for little cost.
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. -
EYEDEA MEDICAL, INC
SBIR Phase II: Development of a novel, highly efficient Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty preparation device expands the donor pool
Contact
101 W DICKMAN ST STE 800
Baltimore, MD 21230--5025
NSF Award
2212687 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
12/01/2022 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project relates to the significant, unmet clinical and commercial need of more than 25 million individuals waiting for a corneal transplant to restore their vision. Corneal blindness leads to an increased risk of physical harm, mental disorders, social isolation, and cognitive decline, resulting in an over 15-year reduction in life expectancy. Fortunately, 95% of corneal diseases can be treated via a transplant. Partial thickness corneal transplants are innovative procedures that provide the best clinical outcomes for over 90% of patients with corneal disorders; however, the difficulty of safely and efficiently separating the layers of the cornea to prepare corneal grafts and perform transplants has led to under-utilization of these procedures. This project seeks to commercialize single-use, assistive devices for tissue separation in corneal graft preparation and corneal transplant surgery with the potential to improve the efficiency of eye banks and ophthalmologists, increase access to corneal transplants, and improve the outcomes of these procedures. These devices have a time- and capital-efficient path to improving patient outcomes and entering the $340 million global market, annually.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project involves development of novel, first-in-class graft preparation and assistive surgical devices that standardize, de-skill, and improve the viability of the liquid bubble (LBT) and big bubble techniques (BBT) in corneal transplantation. LBT is a graft preparation technique shown to prepare grafts in minutes from all donor eyes; however, it is more difficult and rarely used by eye banks. BBT is a surgical technique shown to provide efficient, precise separation of layers of the cornea in transplant patients; however, it is extremely challenging and leads to high rates of tissue perforation, with even experienced surgeons reporting 5?39% failure rates. This project leverages a technology for controlled separation of tissue layers to overcome the major barriers of LBT and BBT and enable adoption of partial thickness corneal transplant procedures. This proposal will test the hypotheses that this technology can provide high quality grafts that fit into existing clinical workflows and can enable safe, efficient, and standardized separation of corneal layers without complications. These studies, in collaboration with leading eye banks/corneal specialists, will advance device designs to ensure functionality, usability, manufacturability, and efficacy in human donor eyes.
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. -
EYSZ, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Assessing comorbidities in epilepsy using eye movement recordings
Contact
107 SANDRINGHAM RD
Piedmont, CA 94611--3614
NSF Award
2304297 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$997,668
Start / end date
06/15/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve the treatment and cognitive function of epilepsy patients by using eye-tracking measurements to detect neurocognitive symptoms associated with epilepsy as well as the side effects of anti-epilepsy drugs. Epilepsy results in an estimated $28 billion in direct costs annually in the United States, in addition to hurting the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. Eye tracking technology, paired with cognition monitoring modules, will have a positive economic and societal impact. For example, some patients with epilepsy may be able to return to work sooner and the burden on caregivers to monitor seizures and side effects may be reduced. Earlier identification of comorbidities can enable simple interventions, such as additional support in classrooms, to improve long term outcomes. In addition, the technology will help clinicians diagnose and refer drug-resistant patients to specialized epilepsy centers much sooner than the current average of 18 years. Finally, the solution will improve side effect monitoring in clinical trials for new antiepileptic drugs and help optimize dose recommendations. These advances will, in turn, accelerate the development of new anti-epileptic therapies.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to improve the lives of epilepsy patients by using passive observation of eye movements in a naturalistic setting to objectively and reliably identify seizures and monitor neurocognitive symptoms and drug side effects. The proposed solution will use a wearable device to collect eye movement data over time and this data will be analyzed to quantify changes associated with impairments in cognitive functions such as attention and reading speed. This data then will be used to develop a personalized therapy response profile to assist clinicians in managing epilepsy. The goal of this project is to collect non-seizure, spontaneous eye movement data and develop algorithms that provide insight into clinical features, including the improvement or worsening of symptoms and possible antiepileptic drug side effects. The outcome of this research will enable a fully powered, pivotal study to be designed and carried out to compare passive eye tracking data to the gold standard neuropsychiatric assessments for the treatment of naïve absence epilepsy patients over time and as medication adjustments are made.
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. -
Emagine Solutions Technology
SBIR Phase II: Improved Maternal Health with Predictive Patient Monitoring
Contact
990 E CALLE DE LA CABRA
Tucson, AZ 85718--2929
NSF Award
2233743 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$975,040
Start / end date
06/15/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop further a predictive model for health providers to address the life-threatening condition of preeclampsia in pregnant and postpartum patients. Preeclampsia affects 1 in 20 births, or 150,000 women in the U.S. each year. Not only does Preeclampsia cost 70,000 lives globally each year, it is also an expensive burden for healthcare systems. It costs nearly three times more to treat a patient with preeclampsia than one without this complication. When deployed at scale, the technology proposed in this SBIR grant could be a key factor to reducing maternal mortality in the United States, improving obstetric patient outcomes, reducing the cost of obstetric care, and helping to reduce health disparities.
The proposed project will research and develop a method to potentially detect preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. This dangerous condition also costs the U.S. healthcare system $2.18 billion per year or one-third of the total amount spent on maternal healthcare in our country. Research objectives include optimizing a machine learning model, integrating patient-facing software into Electronic Health Records systems, implementing the predictive model for preeclampsia, integrating with peripheral wellness devices, developing reminder notification mechanisms, determining appropriate interface enhancements, and defining commercialization and regulatory strategies. Improving maternal health outcomes advances the general health and welfare of American families and can improve our country?s economic competitiveness on the world stage.
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. -
FAKHRO, LOUAY K
SBIR Phase II: Enhancing Performance and Achieving Commercial Readiness for the PQS1.0 Rapid Phenylalanine Blood Level Monitor
Contact
27061 MALLORCA LN
Mission Viejo, CA 92691--6111
NSF Award
2332518 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$997,142
Start / end date
05/01/2024 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses a pressing need for a rapid and user-friendly method to monitor blood phenylalanine levels in individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU), a lifelong genetic disorder impairing phenylalanine processing, an amino acid found in many common foods. Left untreated or poorly managed, PKU can result in intellectual disabilities, behavioral issues, and severe health complications. In the U.S., an estimated 20,000 to 35,000 individuals grapple with PKU, demanding consistent blood phenylalanine level monitoring as part of their disease management. The annual costs of PKU care can vary from $15,000 to $200,000 per individual, with higher costs linked to inadequate management, leading to irreversible damage and substantial healthcare services. Currently, monitoring occurs with intervals of 3 to 5 days or even up to two weeks, constrained by factors like test sites, facility availability, and turnaround times. Ideally, PKU monitoring should align with individual needs, occurring daily in sync with diet, age, health factors, and gestational period. Enhanced monitoring frequency is widely recognized as beneficial, and this project aims to improve PKU care by providing accessible and frequent monitoring for improved patient outcomes.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to develop a rapid phenylalanine monitor for phenylketonuria (PKU) patients. The project offers rapid analysis of blood phenylalanine levels to enhance patient outcomes and improve the current standard of care. Consisting of a test strip and a test device, the system accepts a blood drop from a finger prick. The test strip conditions the blood sample with specific analytes before the test device analyzes the sample. The project's core focus is optimizing product design and system algorithms, enabling cost-effective manufacturing and deployment for end-users.
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. -
FIRELINE SCIENCE LLC
SBIR Phase II: Offline Edge Learning Management System
Contact
5501 S COLLEGE AVE
Tempe, AZ 85283--1815
NSF Award
2233395 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$996,783
Start / end date
06/01/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Resesarch (SBIR) Phase II project will be in helping to close the homework gap in the United States. The homework gap has been a long simmering problem where 12 ? 17 million K-12 students do not have reliable home internet to complete digital homework. Students that could benefit the most from learning applications that require home access are disproportionately from lower-income, rural, and at-risk minority populations. While new broadband funding initiatives may make incremental improvements to the situation, millions of students in low-income and rural areas continue to be left behind. This project aims to use new advances in web technologies and intelligent agents to provide a software solution that will enable any student to participate in a complete digital homework workflow including interactive lessons, videos, and robust teacher feedback even when they have unreliable or no access to the internet. Unconnected adult learners will also benefit from the project as technical skills training including computer programming will be supported. This solution will assist in filling the key technical skill gaps in the American workforce.
This SBIR Phase II project will advance a new homework management system that will support digital learning with a consistent experience for learners that are online, offline, or in degraded network conditions and on any available devices. Through an innovative offline-first distributed architecture that solves complex problems around state divergence and conflict resolution, user identity, system integrations and offline content management, this system attempts to bring equitable access to learners who have historically had limited or no access to at-home digital homework solutions. The system will utilize intelligence at the edge to facilitate effective, research-based, pedagogical approaches to improve learning outcomes and minimize teacher overhead. Pilot programs and user feedback studies, along with custom-built learning model simulators will be used to evaluate and iteratively refine the system's efficacy. The goal of this project's research and development will be the release of a production-ready, scalable homework management system that makes positive progress toward bridging the homework gap.
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. -
GATE SCIENTIFIC, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Development of a Wireless pH Sensing Stir Bar
Contact
950 YOSEMITE DR
Milpitas, CA 95035--5452
NSF Award
2036372 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,656
Start / end date
06/15/2021 – 09/30/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop networked, wireless chemical and biological sensing for use in wet laboratory and manufacturing environments. The technology to be developed addresses a $16 billion chemical and bioprocessing equipment market with a large growth potential. The ability to cost-effectively monitor these parameters from the research phase to large-scale manufacturing will accelerate the development of critical products such as vaccines and cell therapies, as well as better ensure the quality of everyday consumer goods produced from advanced chemical and biochemical processes.
The proposed project includes technical and manufacturing advances that must be made to bring these sensors to market. This effort combines engineering development in networked, wireless communication and miniaturization with analytical chemistry development of key sensing technologies. The innovations include development of manufacturing processes for a novel pH stir bar, development of wireless dissolved oxygen sensing modalities, and methods for achieving wireless sensing in larger-scale, metallic manufacturing vessels. Technology will be developed that enables wireless sensing of key wet process parameters such as pH and dissolved oxygen for chemical and biochemical process monitoring in research and larger-scale manufacturing environments.
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. -
GLOBAL COOLING TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Innovative Two-Phase Cooling with Micro Closed Loop Pulsating Heat Pipes for High Power Density Electronics
Contact
13856 SOUTH 36TH WAY
Phoenix, AZ 85044--8211
NSF Award
2321862 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$978,431
Start / end date
04/01/2024 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is that it enables significantly enhanced cooling performance for consumer and embedded electronics of mobile devices in the worldwide race for more efficient products. Compared with the current state of the art, this project?s micro Closed-Loop Pulsating Heat Pipes (CLPHPs) will provide over 40% higher cooling capacity, increase battery life by more than 30%, and reduce electricity consumption by over 25%. It will be made of a recyclable material (aluminum) or ceramic with a new environmentally friendly working fluid inside. The primary source of revenue will be via product sales of CLPHP-based heat sinks to laptop OEMs and other OEMs, integrators, and end users. We anticipate entering the market in 2026/2027 for mainstream and gaming ?thin and light? laptops and electronics with discrete GPUs and CPUs/processors requiring advanced cooling. CLPHPs provide a direct replacement for existing vapor chamber, heat pipe, and heatsink solutions for these devices. The main deliverable is to develop an industry-leading heat spreader- that operates passively, creating its coolant flow from its self-pulsating mechanism, critical for thin mobile electronics for which fans or other auxiliary powered non-passive solutions are avoided.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to address the urgent cooling challenges presented by next-generation 5G/6G mobile devices and other advanced electronics (Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things) for which a solution has yet to be found. The objectives are to build on the fundamental and practical knowledge developed in the Phase I project to geometrically enhance the micro-channels to increase the internal surface area, the evaporation and condensation processes, and the flow rate to achieve even greater heat-spreading capability. This will be accomplished through fabricating and testing two novel CLPHP designs (generations 2 and 3) under various heating conditions and orientations representative of mobile device applications. The goal is to enter the market with this disruptive cooling technology that will enhance the performance of millions of mobile devices, save battery/grid energy, and unlock the barriers created by today?s lack of advanced cooling solutions. The novel CLPHP is an important ?enabler? of numerous new devices yet to be conceived and for improvement of existing advanced technologies, nearly all of which are electronically ?throttled? by the limiting performance of current cooling technologies. This project is well-positioned to provide the US/worldwide market with the needed cooling solutions.
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. -
GLOBE BIOMEDICAL LLC
SBIR Phase II: Feasibility of a Wearable Blindness Prevention System
Contact
25014 LAS BRISAS S
Murrieta, CA 92562--4029
NSF Award
1951039 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$714,786
Start / end date
04/01/2020 – 03/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase II project aims to further advance novel wearable technology for glaucoma patients and prepare the technology for broad adoption. Glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness, has an unknown cause and affects more than 70 million people worldwide. Currently, there is no cure for glaucoma, but early can often save one?s vision. Eye pressure is the most commonly used measure for predicting and monitoring glaucoma. The wearable technology developed under this SBIR project will monitor eye pressure throughout the day and allow clinicians to provide a higher quality of care for at-risk patients. The technology uses photographs to measure how the eye stretches under high pressure. This project aims to adapt the imaging technology into stylish eyeglass frames and develop custom software for converting photographs to eye pressure measurements, informing providers and improving compliance associated with at-home medication.
This project aims to advance a novel technology in which wearable eyeglass frames are used to track intraocular pressure (IOP) by imaging the level of pressure-induced mechanical strain associated with the tissue at the front of the eye - specifically, exposed sclera. IOP is, by far, the most commonly used metric for predicting glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness. In this project, a custom machine learning algorithm will identify characteristic patterns residing in small regions of the scleral images and, by tracking pressure-induced displacement of the regions, calculate IOP. The key objective of Phase II is to accurately measure IOP in real-world conditions with human in-vivo studies, incorporating necessary electronics in the frames. The technology will be further developed in order to improve correlation of the algorithm with conventional IOP captured during the image collection period.
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. -
GMJ TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Next-Generation Capillary Electrophoresis with Mass Spectrometry for Biopharmaceutical and Biomedical Applications
Contact
4820 148TH PL SE
Everett, WA 98208--8812
NSF Award
2025299 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,195,701
Start / end date
02/01/2021 – 01/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be the development of a new instrument for biological research, biomedical research, and biopharmaceutical drug development. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a powerful technology with great potential for bioanalysis. It was the workhorse tool for the completion of human genome project that contributed to the DNA sequencing revolution. The technology will offer benefits to biopharmaceutical drug development companies by increasing the efficiency of product characterization for quality improvement. This new system could lead to breakthroughs in drug development, early diagnosis, and treatments for deadly human diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. The technology may be of value not only in biopharmaceutical and biochemical research markets but also in food, clinical, and environmental analyses.
The project will develop a next-generation capillary electrophoresis with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS) for protein characterization. CE-ESI-MS allows efficient separation and characterization of several biochemical species, including proteins. The CE-ESI-MS technology will be developed for ease of use. It will use a novel fluidic nanoport for sample and buffer manipulation to allow analysis from 1 microliter or less volume for small samples. In addition, the instrument will utilize a novel electrospray ionization interface with integrated optical detection. Combining CE's ultrahigh efficiency with robust quantitative characteristics of optical detection and the molecular identification of mass spectrometry will be a powerful tool for bioanalysis. This combination may represent a significant advancement over the state-of-the-art and enhance the means of interrogating proteins and their biochemical functions in biological samples. With simple automated design and ease of use, the technology may significantly enhance the robustness and capabilities of CE-ESI-MS for fast, efficient, and deep bioanalysis.
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. -
GRAIN WEEVIL CORPORATION
SBIR Phase II: Improving farmer safety and grain storage efficiencies via an autonomous grain management and extraction robot
Contact
1845 CRAIG RD
Aurora, NE 68818--1014
NSF Award
2321441 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$994,390
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project includes the development and implementation of a robot for post-harvest grain management with the goal of reducing waste, increasing efficiency, and improving the overall sustainability of the agricultural sector. Post-harvest grain management is a crucial aspect of agriculture; However, it can also be a challenging and labor-intensive process for farmers. The incorporation of robots in this process has the potential to alleviate these difficulties and improve overall productivity. By reducing waste and increasing efficiency in grain storage and processing, farmers can ensure that a greater proportion of their crops are utilized, resulting in a more substantial yield. Additionally, the use of automation can enhance working conditions for farmers, allowing them to devote more time to other important tasks. The findings of this research have the potential to have a significant impact on national security, food security, and the rural economy.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses farmer/worker well-being with research and development on a grain bin management robot. This robot has the potential to transform the field of post-harvest grain storage through its ability to autonomously perform novel and innovative tasks within granular bulk storage environments. Additionally, the robot's ability to safely and effectively operate in harsh, hazardous environments through the implementation of robust safety measures and the use of specialized, hardened electronics further demonstrates the significance of this technology in advancing the field of agricultural robotics. As this technology develops, the autonomous robot will change the way grain is stored. Advances from this research expand the focus from safety to the ability to do the work that no human could. The robot will positively impact labor issues, grain quality improvements, and workflow efficiencies throughout the grain-based supply chain.
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. -
GRAVEL CAPITAL LLC
SBIR Phase II: FlashPCB Service Commercialization and AI Component Package Identification
Contact
2025 WASHINGTON AVE
Philadelphia, PA 19146--2632
NSF Award
2335464 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
05/01/2024 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to create an artificial intelligence-powered printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) service that allows new products to get to market faster and that allows engineers to develop more sophisticated designs by decreasing the time to iterate on PCBs designs. Prototyping PCBAs is a key element in the innovation process for all electronics from consumer goods to medical devices, but current PCBA prototyping services are limited by manual steps and supply chain shortages. The artificial intelligence innovation of this project will save the customers time through strategic automation, shortening innovation timelines, and bringing new products to market faster. Currently, other countries are still dominating the PCBA market share, serving many customers from the United States. There is an opportunity to provide high-quality, cost-competitive manufacturing in the United States to better serve the market and meet the rising demand for PCBAs. Additionally, investment in domestic manufacturing will strengthen electronic manufacturing capabilities, reduce dependence on foreign markets, and protect intellectual property.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will create a service that provides customers with a rapid PCBA prototyping service. The project employs computer vision and artificial intelligence techniques to ensure the manufacturability of customers? designs and find components to satisfy the customers? designs while ensuring the designs can be manufactured in a blistering three days. The project will automate many of the manual steps associated with quoting and manufacturing a PCBA. One of the most time-consuming steps of quoting a PCBA is determining a set of components that will satisfy a customer?s design and which can be sourced within the manufacturing time frame. Building on the component selection algorithm developed in the SBIR Phase I project, which reads the property text from the customer?s designs to find components that satisfy the customer?s specifications, will build a system for matching components to a footprint (the copper landing pad on the board onto which a component is soldered). This will allow for rapid quoting, component substitution, and manufacturability checks, all of which will make PCBA prototyping fast and easy for the customer.
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. -
GREEN SUN MEDICAL, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Development of a pad and sensor system for a dynamic scoliosis brace
Contact
938 W MOUNTAIN AVE
Fort Collins, CO 80521--2510
NSF Award
2102167 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$965,903
Start / end date
09/01/2021 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve clinical care for scoliosis patients. Scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine, affects 6-9 million individuals in the US, or 2-3% of the population, and has estimated healthcare costs of $3.5 billion by 2028. Current treatments for scoliosis include bracing and/or spinal surgery. Patients are often treated with a rigid thoracic scoliosis brace that does not typically provide curve correction. Compliance with wearing the brace can be challenging. The proposed technology is an intelligent, active brace that applies corrective forces to the spine via a dynamic, adjustable platform and reports compliance through its sensors. This personalized system may improve clinical outcomes at reduced cost.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project seeks to advance the development of an innovative scoliosis brace. The proposed system is designed to be comfortable to increase wear compliance by patients. The brace has a dynamic mechanism that can be adjusted to provide continuous pressure, and will have Bluetooth-connected sensors allowing parents and physicians to ensure treatment quality. The new technology will accommodate patient growth and curve correction while maintaining a precise fit, and may lessen the social stigma of wearing a brace. In this Phase II proposal, functionality and durability of the smart pad and sensor system in a clinical setting will be verified, feedback from end users (orthotists, spine specialists, patients and families) on the mobile application and physician dashboard will be collected, and the system economics and fabrication will be optimized.
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. -
GREENSIGHT AGRONOMICS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: High Resolution Environmental Sensing Using Nanodrones
Contact
12 CHANNEL ST
Boston, MA 02210--2333
NSF Award
2233583 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$940,743
Start / end date
06/01/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is enabling enhanced prediction of severe weather formation to a timing resolution of hours instead of days. Improved weather predictions have a significant impact on people?s lives, allowing for better planning, proactive evacuations, and reducing deaths, injuries and property damage, especially in vulnerable populations. With climatologists predicting dramatic increases in damaging and dangerous severe weather over the next decades, accurate prediction of severe weather is even more critical. This project will launch a robotics-as-a-service business around the technology which can rapidly reach sustainability, generating economic impacts while providing significant environmental, scientific, and societal benefits. As the technology matures and becomes more widespread, entirely novel analysis and predictive models will be developed around the data being produced, unlocking even higher value economic insights for insurance, energy, financial, and transportation industries.
The part of the atmosphere from the ground up to about 3,000 feet is called the atmospheric boundary layer. This area is difficult to monitor but has a huge impact on gas, heat, and energy exchange between the earth and the atmosphere. This project enables better monitoring and understanding of this area, unlocking scientific, logistical, and policy advancements that will drive new innovations in climate, environmental, and weather science with high impact on humanity. The proposed technology enables gathering high spatial and temporal resolution atmospheric data with a swarm of synchronized sampling aircrafts. The swarm system will use lightweight design approaches and proprietary optimization techniques for portability, swarm capability, flight endurance, and low cost. Using automation and robotics, including remote operational support, this project will enable data that can potentially be deployed globally to be gathered in a scalable and low-cost manner.
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. -
HABITAWARE, INC.
SBIR Phase II: New Wearable for Body Focused Repetitive Behavior Detection
Contact
6465 WAYZATA BOULEVARD, SUITE 720
Saint Louis Park, MN 55426--1733
NSF Award
2026173 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,006,258
Start / end date
09/15/2020 – 09/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will help people who suffer from body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). Over 4% of Americans suffer from skin picking, hair pulling, and nail biting, the majority of whom resort to covering up the problem with makeup, gloves, wigs, and even tattoos due to treatment cost barriers and lack of effective tools to facilitate behavior change. While behavior therapy, and in particular habit reversal training, has shown efficacy, this method is traditionally burdened by unreliable journaling, a lack of access to treatment, and difficulty for patients to perform in real-time because of a lack of awareness. While real-time awareness devices do exist, there is room for improvement in detection accuracy. This project will integrate a novel sensor system into a wearable device that can lead to state-of-the-art detection accuracy of BFRB-related behaviors. This wearable sensor solution is the first of its kind, using the novel sensor to extract meaningful biomechanical information.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will result in new behavior recognition algorithms, a new remote monitoring system, and new data generated from in-field experiments. The project will: 1) develop a new sensor calibration system and characterize signal artifacts that may influence detection accuracy; 2) develop new behavior detection algorithms using data captured in the lab; 3) conduct self-guided experiments in the field using the remote monitoring system proposed; and 4) refine recognition algorithms. Such sensitive measurements require ideal signal integrity, be sufficiently immune to signal artifacts, and tight electronics integration within wearable design constraints. This wearable system can profoundly impact the efficacy of habit reversal training during cognitive behavioral therapy, the leading method for reducing the negative effect of these behaviors.
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. -
HEAT INVERSE, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Passive Cooling Materials for Transparent Applications in Refrigerated Trucking and Solar
Contact
119 WESTHAVEN RD
Ithaca, NY 14850--3098
NSF Award
2153819 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
08/15/2022 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to produce and validate the company?s passive cooling thin films to meet specific market requirements such as for refrigerated trailer, inverter, and solar photovoltaic (PV) applications. The product platform may meet the needs of myriad applications and use cases through the development and validation of both transparent and highly reflective/opaque films. The proposed effort may advance the goal of improving cooling technologies by enabling customers in the refrigerated trucking, solar energy, home cooling, and other markets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions while reducing costs. Examining the annualized refrigerated trucking industry alone, which is valued at $1 billion globally, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent per year in the U.S.. In addition, application to solar inverters and PV cells may increase the efficiency of renewable power generation. These uses collectively serve to improve the sustainability of multiple industries, with a long-term impact of offsetting the use of fossil fuels and the negative environmental, societal, and health effects tied to them.
The intellectual merit of this project is based on exploitation of selective photonic emitters that allow certain wavelengths of light to be emitted above the atmosphere, allowing passive cooling of more than 12.5 degrees C (100 W/m2), with zero energy input and no waste heat generation. Given that the passive cooling is inherent in the microstructure of the film and there is no need for electrical continuity, the product may provide seamless cooling capabilities, even in the unlikely event of mechanical failure of the film. Optimization of the thin films for application-specific use requires the successful completion of three objectives, which are the focus of the Phase II project: 1) investigation of fabrication techniques driving improved film performance compatible with the needs of key market applications, 2) development of application-specific installation methods while maintaining high performance requirements, and 3) development of improved manufacturing processes for production scale-up. Successful accomplishment of these objectives will prime the technology for market entry in a variety of applications, whether new or retrofitted. From a technical perspective, the research and development activities may advance the knowledge of passive radiative cooling systems and how they may be applied to support sustainable innovations in temperature control.
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. -
HELIPONIX, LLC
SBIR Phase II: A Rotary Aeroponic Cultivation Chamber (RACC) for Household Use
Contact
800 S SAINT JAMES BLVD
Evansville, IN 47714--2437
NSF Award
2151495 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$970,993
Start / end date
08/01/2022 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovaiton Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide a sustainable method to grow healthy produce for individuals residential consumers, independent of location, climate, or season of the year. Rotary aeroponic growing systems have the potential to reduce food waste, potable water consumption, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions by decentralizing the production of highly perishable produce within a consumer's home. Growing fresh produce in the home may not require the use of pesticides or preservatives. Socio-disadvantaged individuals located in food deserts may benefit from an automated indoor gardening appliance by subscribing to low-cost organic seed pods that could be delivered and grown directly in their home, generate long-term returns on investment and lowering instances of obesity through healthier diets. Studying the effects of light interactions in a small rotary aeroponic appliance my encourage a new market for high margin seed pods that could be assembled in mass quantities by disabled individuals. Converting highly perishable goods into non-perishable, subscription seed pods may have the potential to reduce food prices and reduce instances of food insecurity throughout the world.
Rotary aeroponic cultivation is the method of growing plants on a rotating cylindrical tower that is affixed vertically within a controlled environmental chamber. The key innovation in this project is the coupling of rotary aeroponics with tunable lighting to enhance the growing efficiency of the plants. Phase II research will examine how the wavelengths and timing of the lighting can impact plant photomorphogenesis. The tower design is expected to provide a larger surface area for growing plants in comparison to traditional vertical farming methods, increasing the number of plants that can be grown in a smaller space with less power consumption. The goal of this project is to successfully grow a healthy polyculture assortment of leafy green vegetables in a food safe environment. The multi-spectral light will be used to learn how to maximize plant yields, minimize food safety risks, and enhance the taste profiles of different plant types to ensure the best user experience.
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. -
HEROWEAR, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Mechanized clothing to enhance productivity and low back health in the logistics industry
Contact
907 HALCYON AVE
Nashville, TN 37204--2616
NSF Award
2139480 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$998,660
Start / end date
09/01/2022 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Phase II project is to enhance the scientific and technological understanding of designing lift-assist exosuits (mechanized clothing), an assistive technology that has the potential to impact society by reducing the fatigue, back injury risk, and back pain of delivery drivers. For employers, the exosuit creates the potential for reduced employee turnover and medical costs. The proposed exosuit has potential commercial impact as the first and only lift-assist exosuit for delivery workers, a ubiquitous and growing job sector that cuts across nearly all commercial markets. This project could additionally impact the economic competitiveness of the United States by increasing the available workforce and reducing the cost of healthcare for Americans.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to address key design challenges associated with assistive technologies that provide lift-assistance for delivery drivers. Surmounting this technical hurdle relies on two key features: (1) the ability to turn assistance on/off when carrying an object, and (2) the ability to sit comfortably for long periods of time while driving. The research objectives of the Phase II project are to: 1) add a new mode-switching capability, 2) integrate a unique method of disengaging assistance that maximizes comfort during sitting, 3) create a novel leg sleeve to maximize comfort when the exosuit is not assisting, and 4) carry out a field study to validate exosuit performance in real-world conditions. This project will combine technical requirements and user stories with a series of rapid design iterations. Using this approach, multiple prototypes will be designed, built, and tested with delivery drivers to assess real-world performance and user acceptance. This project is projected to result in a commercially viable exosuit prototype that fits the daily needs of delivery drivers, as well as objective and subjective evidence of its efficacy in real-world scenarios.
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. -
HEYKIDDO, LLC
SBIR Phase II: A Parent Coaching App to Help Support Children's Mental, Social and Emotional Health
Contact
123 BECK ST
Philadelphia, PA 19147--3417
NSF Award
2302407 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$949,863
Start / end date
08/15/2023 – 01/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to empower parenting adults of children ages 5-12 years with the evidence-based tools they need to promote positive mental, social, and emotional health outcomes in their children. Approximately 5.7 million U.S. children between the ages 5-12 are diagnosed with a mental health condition, with an additional 20-60% suspected of being undiagnosed. Despite the importance of early intervention, only about 20% of these children receive treatment. Barriers to care, including access and affordability, become even more glaring in rural areas and in low income and communities of color. Innovative smartphone solutions can reach parenting adults from all backgrounds, as 85% of adults in the U.S. own a smartphone. This project offers an innovative, affordable, and accessible digital parenting solution, built by psychologists, educators, and developmental specialists, that seeks to close the child mental healthcare equity gap, in line with the NSF?s mission. Reduction solutions need to be prioritized to give children a chance at growing into healthy adults.
The goal of the project is to build a parent coaching app, for parenting adults of children ages 5-12 years, that can tailor the content it delivers based on the specific physical, mental, social, and emotional needs of each child and parent. The key technical innovation at the heart of the app is its adaptive algorithms, which allow it to tailor the content journey based on a myriad of inputs. This core technology includes algorithms that deliver developmentally appropriate content suited for each unique family. In addition, the technology allows the app to detect when a higher level of care is needed and provides parents with education on seeking support. Integrating algorithms that track variable input allow the content to change over time, becoming more relevant and effective for evolving needs. This phase of research will be longitudinal and will include a significant sample size of parenting adult users in an effort to examine the functionality and positive impacts of the app, as well as to prepare the app for commercial launch in terms of scalability and security.
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. -
HYPRLIFT, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Hyprlift Vertical Transportation System Prototype
Contact
2010 EL CAMINO REAL
Santa Clara, CA 95050--4051
NSF Award
2232924 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,991
Start / end date
07/15/2023 – 06/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercialization potential of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will facilitate the development of the next generation of vertical transportation within the ever-taller skyscrapers of future urban centers. Successful commercialization will enhance the economic competitiveness of the United States in an expanding $26 billion market for elevators with ?smart? technologies. The resulting products will allow building owners to meet their intra-building transportation needs of throughput and ride quality with fewer elevator shafts, freeing up more valuable lettable space within building cores. Aside from this and other value propositions delivered to the target customer segments, these products could reduce urban sprawl and the carbon footprints of buildings that utilize them, enhancing the quality of life for citizens of densely populated cities. Further, technologies developed as part of this project may be applied to other sustainable industries, such as electric vehicles and energy storage.
The intellectual merit includes the development and verification of all core subsystems required for a complete vertical transportation system built around a novel dynamic tractive drive technology. This research will be conducted in four primary phases. First, a revised tractive drive unit (TDU) will be created that repackages the initial proof-of-concept design into a more compact and efficient mechanism that also fully implements both an active suspension and parking brake. Next, a complete elevator cab prototype will be constructed that incorporates four of the new TDUs, a proprietary control system, and all standard off-the-shelf electromechanical systems required for a passenger elevator cab. Third, a lateral transfer station (LTS) prototype will be constructed, which will allow cabs to transfer between adjacent shafts (and thus ?circulate? within a building), a key feature of the eventual system. Each of these subsystems will be validated individually, and these experiments will culminate in the fourth phase of the project: repeated travel of the prototype cab to designated ?stops? with all normal elevator operations, as well as fully-automated LTS docking and transfer.
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. -
HYQ RESEARCH SOLUTIONS, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Incorporating High Dielectric Constant Materials into clinical imaging: A Novel Approach for Accelerating 1.5T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Contact
2151 HARVEY MITCHELL PKWY S STE 208
College Station, TX 77840--5241
NSF Award
2242209 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$998,104
Start / end date
06/01/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide the basis for advancing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hardware solutions for ultra-fast image acquisition. The proposed effort will target clinical MRI scanners where there is limited MRI access by a large patient population. Long scan times reduce the efficiency of radiology department processes and increase the overall cost to clinics and patients. A successful solution which decreases scan times by half will provide improved patient access and care, especially with regard to measuring metabolic activities, brain activity, and cognition.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop high resolution MRI as a powerful tool for understanding metabolic activity in humans and animals. High dielectric constant (HDC) materials provide a low impedance pathway between the patient and magnetic coil of the MRI. The goal of this project is to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the MRI by over 50%, thereby cutting the scan time by half. The HDC materials will have an immediate impact on animal and human behavior studies where neuroscientists are using MRI techniques to monitor brain activity and cognition. An integrated development approach includes electromagnetic simulation, ceramic processing, and phantom testing. A working prototype will be tested in clinical MRI scanners thus creating an innovative ecosystem comprised of original equipment manufacturers, hospitals, and researchers with clinical experience.
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. -
Heliobiosys, Inc.
STTR Phase II: Scaling the Purification of Mycosporine-like Amino Acids to Replace Chemical Ultraviolet (UV) Filters and Protect Human and Environmental Health.
Contact
16363 SKYLINE BLVD
Redwood City, CA 94062--4438
NSF Award
2222582 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$937,595
Start / end date
04/15/2023 – 03/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project will be to bring a new class of full spectrum Ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) protective materials to market. Current chemical sunscreen ingredients raise health concerns for consumers. Additionally, some ingredients are banned for causing potential damage to coral reef ecosystems. Consumers increasingly want products that are safe for them and for the planet, and that are aesthetically pleasing. This project will explore ways to meet the growing demand for better sunscreen ingredients that are produced sustainably. This team will investigate methods to cost-effectively extract naturally-occurring materials from photosynthetic bacteria that can replace current chemical and mineral sunscreen active ingredients. These will also replace a significant portion of the UV filter ingredients. Sunscreens and other related products that might use these naturally occurring, safe, and effective ingredients will help people reduce UV damage to their skin and help reduce skin cancer (including deadly melanoma) and ameliorate skin aging. The project supports the US economy by creating jobs in the algae biotechnology field and in the cosmetic industry including testing, manufacturing, distribution, and sales.
The technical innovation at the core of this proposal is to improve the yield and reduce the cost of extracting mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) from a complex mixture of compounds contained within cyanobacterial cells (or other MAA producing organisms). Small volumes of MAAs are currently obtained using expensive and hazardous solvents and expensive equipment. The innovation is focused on the use of synthetic nucleotides (aptamers) to selectively bind to the MAAs and purify them from a cell lysate. Mycosporine-like amino acids arose on early Earth to protect microbes from harmful UV radiation. Their prevalence and longevity substantiate their value in protecting cells from UV radiation and other forms of oxidative stress. Their presence in the Earth?s oceans for millennia speaks to their safety in marine ecosystems and suggests their safety for use on human skin; Safety will be verified using standard pre-clinical tests. Technical hurdles include the isolation and identification of the specific MAAs produced, identifying aptamers that are highly specific for the MAAs produced, determining MAA yield from several purification processes and assessing process scalability. These data will be compared to other isolation techniques (filtration and chromatography) to assess comparative yields and economic performance.
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. -
Hyphae Design Lab
SBIR Phase II: Ecosystem Design Tool
Contact
942 CLAY ST STE ACCT2
Oakland, CA 94607--3906
NSF Award
2218499 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,592
Start / end date
02/01/2023 – 01/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to enable communities impacted by air pollution and extreme heat to design and implement solutions to these problems in a fast and cost-effective way. Air pollution increases the risk of cancer, stroke, heart-disease, and respiratory infections, and may play a role in Alzheimer?s and diabetes, resulting in human suffering and trillions of dollars of health care costs globally each year. Extreme heat is a growing source of additional health-care concerns and costs. These costs are shouldered by insurance companies, governments, businesses, and citizens. Air pollution can be reduced by carefully placed trees. These trees also reduce extreme heat by shading and evaporation of water. There is potential for improving human health via targeted engineering of tree placements. This project will develop analysis and design tools to help with such tree plantings to generate the maximum possible health and financial benefits, at the lowest cost and with the shortest timelines. Local businesses can use this tool to make sure that they get paid fairly for reducing health care cost burdens of health insurance companies, governments, and pollution producers, while making communities and the environment more resilient.
While existing literature indicates that trees may provide an effective air pollution and heat-island mitigation strategy. Stakeholders seeking to implement such strategies need tools to ensure that the plantings are as effective as possible. Existing planning tools are not of sufficient resolution or site specific, and often do not employ evidence-based design strategies. This project will perform high resolution vegetation analysis on a wide variety of neighborhoods. This data will be used to train a set of algorithms to infer high resolution vegetation properties from widely available, low-cost data streams. These inferred vegetation metrics will be integrated with a geospatial ecosystem design automation pipeline to create a software tool. The software tool will provide environmental justice communities, ecosystem designers, health insurance companies, governments, and local businesses with the ability to implement cost-effective ecosystem interventions with quantifiable air quality and heat island benefits. These benefits can be used to calculate financial health benefits. Because the benefits quantification will be based on ongoing validation and monitoring projects, the tool can be used to leverage private financing for improving public health and improving the environment.
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. -
ICTERO MEDICAL, INC.
SBIR Phase II: High Surface Area (HSA) Intraluminal Cryoablation for the Treatment of High-Risk Patients with Gallstone Disease
Contact
2450 HOLCOMBE BLVD
Houston, TX 77021--2041
NSF Award
2214634 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$966,649
Start / end date
12/15/2022 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be the development of the first minimally invasive cryoablation solution to treat high-risk patients with gallbladder disease. The current gold standard for treating gallbladder disease is surgical removal of the gallbladder. While this procedure works well for healthy patients, the use of general anesthesia has been shown to increase complications in elderly patients with underlying chronic medical conditions, leading to a $675 million cost to the US healthcare system each year. Furthermore, patients too sick for surgery have no definitive treatment options, underscoring the need for a safer alternative. Phase I efforts demonstrated the ability to safely deliver cryoablation energy via a minimally invasive catheter system to chronically defunctionalize porcine gallbladders without removal. Phase II efforts will focus on product development of the cryoablation system and optimization of clinical delivery parameters. The goal of the technology is to allow clinicians to provide their patients with the benefits of surgery, without the risk.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project proposes to continue the development of a minimally invasive cryoablation system capable of safely and effectively targeting the gallbladder. Initial testing of the cryoablation system has demonstrated the ability to uniformly generate lethal cryoablation temperatures (<-20?) across the gallbladder lumen, leading to durable gallbladder scarring and defunctionalization in porcine animals up to 60 days post-procedure. Key technical objectives of this project are to develop the industrial design of the introducer, cryoablation catheter, and control system for improved clinical usability and manufacturability, to further test and characterize clinical delivery parameters to inform treatment planning, to improve sensor reliability and control system response time to optimize safety profile, and to validate the integrated system in vivo to demonstrate system performance with optimized dosing parameters. The system will be evaluated in an advanced benchtop model gallbladder under a thermal load, ex vivo gallbladder tissues, and an in vivo chronic animal model to optimize and validate the cryoablation catheter and integrated control system. The anticipated result of this project is a clinically viable gallbladder cryoablation system with established clinical delivery parameters and dosing guidelines.
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. -
IMMERGO LLC
SBIR Phase II: An immersive virtual reality platform for remote physical therapy and monitoring
Contact
250 NATURAL BRIDGES DR
Santa Cruz, CA 95060--5710
NSF Award
2304278 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
05/01/2024 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II
project concerns greater affordability, accessibility, and accuracy of physical therapy for patients and
therapists. The product to be commercialized will contribute to developing innovation around immersive
telehealth experiences, exploring the future of work for physical rehabilitation in the metaverse,
establishing standards in embodied telehealth, and grounding novel scientific research methods within VR
for healthcare from a California-based startup with the goal of increasing access to care. Establishing a
remote immersive virtual platform will provide a means for in-patient success metrics and full-body virtual
guidance. Patient throughput potentially could be doubled through remote visits in virtual environments
and automated physical health documentation. The platform will be designed with accessibility in mind
with patients from "medical deserts," where patient care is significantly limited by hospital capacity,
physical distance, doctors per population, and cost. Remote physical rehabilitation tools and predictive
physical therapy analytics will benefit patients without adequate insurance coverage. This technology
could lower hospital visits, enable clinics to remain open during future pandemic periods, decrease costs
for patients and clinics alike, and begin detecting physical health needs earlier to help manage the pace
of recovery.
The proposed project aims to expand a novel physical rehabilitation telehealth solution through the
continued research of an instrumented and gamified immersive virtual reality platform for physical therapy
and healthcare monitoring. This technology addresses the shortcomings of widely used telehealth platforms (often videoconferencing) where therapists find it difficult to perform common evaluations
such as movement abilities and balance coordination tests. The solution will expand upon an embodied
telehealth platform with 3D virtual avatars and predictive AI tools to assess user biomechanics in real-time
extending to full-body assessment while providing normative assessment metrics, creating a goal
standard for remote physical therapy care. The development method will continue to utilize user-centered
design with a panel of therapists to ensure accessibility and usability of the prototype systems by their
relevant stakeholders. Such research will incorporate predictive biomechanical analysis to increase the
reliability and repeatability of physical therapy measures and exercise programs for remote monitoring
at the clinic or the patient?s home. Iterative prototyping with user experience will be conducted to
establish in-patient success metrics and full-body virtual assessment. This innovation will enable greater
affordability, usability, and effectiveness of physical therapy for patients and therapists.
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. -
IMPACT PROTEOMICS, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Universal Proteome Sample Preparation Kit Development
Contact
1406 BROWNING RD
Pittsburgh, PA 15206--1738
NSF Award
2036199 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,684
Start / end date
04/15/2021 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop a universal protein sample preparation kit that extracts proteins from any biological sample, removes contaminants, and prepares them for downstream analytical methods with higher yields and deeper coverage than currently available technology. Proteins are the molecular machines of the cell that do all the work required to keep humans healthy, and incorporation of protein analysis is becoming increasingly important for developing a clear understanding of integrated biological systems, realizing the promise of precision medicine, and rapid drug discovery. Sample preparation is the first step in any protein-based project workflow and without a high-yield, fast, and reproducible way to prepare samples, downstream analyses are difficult to interpret and highly variable, leading to long project times and wasted resources. The proposed innovation improves sample yields, reproducibility, and speed, accelerating research seeking to discover new therapies and diagnostics and improving cost-effectiveness. It will also purify other important biomolecules from the same sample, such as DNA, RNA, and metabolites, allowing researchers to obtain more information from each sample, prepare multiple samples in the time it takes to prepare one, and improve reproducibility by using the same starting material.
The proposed project will utilize reversible protein tagging chemistry to create a one-tube workflow for the capture, wash, and elution of protein samples for analysis. Because this novel reversible protein tagging chemistry is not dependent on a catalyst, does not produce byproducts, and is completely biorthogonal, it has the potential to work universally with all types of buffer systems, including harsh denaturants and detergents commonly used for cell lysis and protein solubilization. This proposed work will optimize the utilization of this sample preparation technology in the most used buffer systems, model organisms, and will show superior yields in the preparation of diagnostic sample types such as blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. Additionally, because our reversible protein tag does not cross react with other biomolecules, we will show that we can also use this technology to purify other important biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, and metabolites. The technology developed in this project will revolutionize how researchers prepare samples for analysis, providing them with modular tools that can purify any biomolecules they need from the same starting sample, reducing time, improving yields, and decreasing batch to batch variability by comparing within the same starting sample.
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. -
IMPRESSIO INC
SBIR Phase II: Mimicking Metatarsophalangeal Joints Using Tailored, Ultra-Dissipative, Liquid-Crystalline Elastomers to Treat Hallux Rigidus
Contact
7270 GILPIN WAY
Denver, CO 80229--6564
NSF Award
2242770 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project stems from its potential to treat arthritis in joints. This research will be the first investigation into the use of liquid-crystal elastomers (LCEs) for joint repair to treat hallux rigidus. Hallux rigidus (HR) is a joint disorder at the base of the big toe affecting approximately 2.5% of people over 50 years old and roughly 2-3 million people in the US. It is the second most common condition for the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. If successful, this LCE-based MTP joint implant would advance the standard of care in treating joint degeneration and open the way for novel uses of LCEs in the body. The unique nature of LCEs will permit devices to mimic the natural tissues in the body and provide anatomically correct support. In addition to LCE's ability to mimic the MTP joint, other potential advantages may lead to the advancement of patient-specific devices such as treatments for arthritis in other joints in the foot, hand, knee (e.g., total knee replacement), and spine (e.g., total disc replacement). Other soft tissue applications include osteochondral defects (OCD) and the repair of any load-bearing orthopedic tissue such as meniscus.
The proposed project focuses on developing, verifying and validating, and commercializing an LCE-based cartilage replacement device for the MTP joint to treat hallux rigidus. LCEs have superior energy dissipation properties relative to traditional elastomers such as silicone or hydrogels. This proposal seeks to demonstrate how LCEs can be used to treat degenerated joints by combining the fields of liquid-crystal elastomers, rheology, and bioengineering. LCEs are known for their unique behavior which is similar to biological tissues. This project will be accomplished through several main research objectives to support and accelerate the research and development effort: completion of the device pilot production, verification and validation, development of surgical kits and procedures for the device, and transfer of the technology into high volume manufacturing for the commercial device launch.
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. -
INFINID LEARNING LLC
SBIR Phase II: Helping Students Acquire 21st Century Skills Through Immersive Group STEM Simulations
Contact
2230 N UNIVERSITY PKWY STE 6A
Provo, UT 84604--1584
NSF Award
1853212 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$969,999
Start / end date
04/15/2019 – 01/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will contribute to the introduction into the educational market of a product uniquely designed to help educators prepare today's students for the challenges of tomorrow's workforce. The ability to think critically and creatively, to communicate effectively, and to solve problems in a collaborative, technology rich environment previously defined 21st Century Skills. New research indicates that in addition to the need for literacy, numeracy, and these advanced cognitive skills, students must also be equipped with social and emotional skills. These social-emotional skills range from self-awareness to empathy for others and from self-management to leadership.
The demand for higher order skills makes it more important than ever for school administrators and teachers to find the answer for students who are disinterested and difficult to motivate, especially in the areas of science and math. Students complain that they are bored and do not see the purpose for what they are being taught; they desire meaningful application for what they learn and the ability to direct their own learning. Designed to address these needs, the proposed program offers students a distinctly different learning experience. The immersive platform gives students the ability to exercise autonomy and a new opportunity to interact and work together. Important life skills come to the forefront as students begin to understand how one's ability to negotiate interactions with others in socially, ethically, and culturally appropriate ways is key to achieving one's goals.
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. -
INFUSENSE LLC
SBIR Phase II: Point-of-Care Electrochemical Platform for the Rapid Detection of Drug Toxicity
Contact
3614C W END AVE
Nashville, TN 37205--2403
NSF Award
2309437 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,852
Start / end date
06/15/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is that poisoning by drugs of abuse affects almost 3 million people annually and is the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. There were 100,306 opioid overdose deaths in the US in 2021, the majority of which were due to fentanyl poisoning. Screening patients for toxic drug levels currently requires specimen processing in hospital laboratories, taking hours to obtain results. Immediate, accurate detection of fentanyl poisoning at the point of contact, in the ambulance or emergency room, will create a new paradigm for the rapid diagnosis and improved care of poisoned patients and save lives. The SBIR Phase II project outcome will be an FDA-ready, hand-held sensor device capable of accurately measuring fentanyl and other drug levels from a drop of blood or saliva within minutes. The platform device uses disposable sensor strips and is low cost and scalable, permitting broad commercial adoption. Future potential applications for this point of care testing technology include its use by physicians for office-based screening for therapeutic drug monitoring to confirm compliance and optimize medication use and efficacy.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will test an innovative, prototype biosensor device that provides the user with real time, accurate detection and quantification of toxic drug levels in the blood using inexpensive, disposable test strips similar to a diabetes glucometer. The research to be performed in the Phase II project will utilize electroanalytical methods to optimize the performance of the sensor to improve its selectivity and lowest limit of detection for fentanyl and other drugs commonly associated with poisoning. Additional methods, sensor coatings, and testing conditions will be used to detect total-drug levels in the blood and demonstrate that the biosensor can distinguish between classes of medications and potential clinical interferents as well as show equivalent results to current clinical laboratory methods. The biosensor will detect drugs of overdose and other medications below therapeutic levels, without specimen processing. Pilot large animal studies will seek to validate the correlation of drug levels in the blood with saliva to establish a proof of concept for rapid sublingual testing for drug toxicity.
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. -
INITIUM AI INC.
SBIR Phase II: AI for Enhanced Processing of Digital Conversations
Contact
245 HUNTERS TRL
Ann Arbor, MI 48103--9525
NSF Award
2304322 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$969,389
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project lies in its potential to positively impact the sales process by enabling easier, faster, and better access to previous sales conversations and improving sales management oversight. These improvements, in turn, will lead to increased sales efficiency and customer acquisition and retention, and will enable companies to achieve a greater profit margin, while maximizing customer satisfaction. The insights gained in this project may also facilitate communication in other markets including interviews, counseling, etc. The project will diversify the technical workforce by engaging women and underrepresented minorities in research and development activities and will help increase tech-related employment and talent retention opportunities.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to significantly increase the productivity of sales representatives and their managers by providing them with advanced technology to streamline their sales processes. The platform developed in this project will significantly reduce the time it takes a sales agent to process or recall their sales conversations, decrease the sales training time through more effective management oversight, and facilitate the transition between sales agents. The platform will use a subscription-based Sofware as a Service (SaaS) business model that provides fast and centralized development and maintenance, while also allowing for a broad outreach. Specifically, this project will develop novel methods and tools to process and analyze sales conversations by: (1) producing summary notes; (2) extracting action items; (3) allowing for smart access to conversation content; and (4) measuring engagement metrics. The project will leverage the recent advances in
natural language processing and a large database of proprietary sales conversations that will allow the platform to learn the intricacies of effective sales communication.
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. -
INNATRIX, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Development of eco-friendly peptide bioprotectant for devastating late blight control
Contact
250 BELL TOWER DR
Chapel Hill, NC 27599--0001
NSF Award
2233590 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$997,056
Start / end date
08/01/2023 – 07/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to control several critical pathogens and pests on multiple crops, in order to help feed the growing world population more sustainably. The global crop pest and disease control landscape is facing big challenges: many diseases are not well controlled and important chemical pesticides are restricted or banned due to their toxicity. There is a critical need for new types of disease control products that will be effective and will not harm the environment or human health. This proposal will lead to the development of a platform that can quickly generate new products to target poorly controlled pathogens, mitigating the development of resistant pathogens. This solution will increase farmers? productivity and reduce their financial losses, while ensuring a more secure food supply.
The proposed project will identify ecologically-safe peptides that will protect crops from diseases. The peptides will be designed to bind to, and interfere with, the function of proteins that the disease organisms produce, and which are essential to the disease process. The peptides will be designed to bind only to those proteins, so they will not have off-target effects. The ability to rapidly design and test such peptides will make it possible to target multiple proteins from a pathogen, reducing the risk that the pathogen will develop resistance. It will also be possible to target a wide range of diseases with similar life cycles, providing farmers with broad protection. The project will choose the optimum target proteins, design the peptides, and optimize the peptides to maximize binding to the targets. The peptides will be tested for their ability to prevent infection in the lab, and then will be produced at a larger scale and tested under the field conditions. The peptides will also be tested for safety as required for regulatory approval.
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. -
INNOGIZED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Advanced in-home technologies for infant thermoneutrality
Contact
11240 W WALNUT RIDGE RD
Chesterland, OH 44026--1243
NSF Award
2051808 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$981,746
Start / end date
07/15/2021 – 09/30/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Phase II project will be to empower and educate caregivers to make scientifically guided decisions that enable safer and optimally nurturing sleep environments for infants. Every year more than 130 million babies are born and over 4 million of those are born in the U.S. Due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), 300 babies every month may not live to see their first birthday. SIDS remains the leading cause of death for babies aged one month to one year. Infant mortality rates in the U.S. are higher than in the 20 wealthiest nations. Innogized Technologies has developed a transformative Internet of Things technology (IoT) that combines hardware and analytics to enable caregivers to make better sleep-time decisions, avoiding overheating, a known stressor for SIDS. The technology guides caregivers to deliver optimal conditions for safe, regenerative and developmental growth for their infants anywhere and anytime, while at the same time relieving anxiety. This technology is poised to immediately capture a sizable portion of the rapidly growing $1 billion US baby monitoring solutions market.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will support the development of a novel consumer product that works with caregivers to proactively mitigate the risk of under/overheating events in newborns. Sleep-time clothing choices are thermodynamically matched with environmental conditions to create baby-specific safe sleep environments. The temperatures are maintained by leveraging the inherent connectivity of the IoT platform. The technology integrates thermal resistance measurements, thermal models and maps, advanced algorithms, and predictive monitoring. The research objectives of the project tackle the most important remaining technical challenges driving towards successful commercialization and adoption of a product that is essentially an intelligent system, capable of understanding context and tracking and managing complex interactions while anticipating requirements. The technical product of this research will advance caregiver knowledge and increase understanding of the applied thermodynamics leading to the advantageous state of thermoneutrality as well as increase infant wellbeing.
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. -
INSOMA BIO INC
SBIR Phase II: An Injectable Protein Matrix to Enhance the Stability of Autologous Fat Grafts
Contact
701 W MAIN ST
Durham, NC 27701--5010
NSF Award
2304430 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$979,197
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) Phase II Project will improve clinical outcomes for the thousands of patients globally who undergo craniofacial repair surgery each year. Facial disfigurement, whether congenital or acquired, can have profound physical and psychosocial implications including altered body image, reduced quality of life, and poor societal integration. Fat grafting is one of the most rapidly growing procedures in facial reconstructive surgery due to its lack of reliance on foreign or synthetic materials, safe harvest, and minimal surgical risk. While fat grafting has potential to make groundbreaking strides in facial reconstruction, the technique is held back by unreliable volume and shape loss. Craniofacial repairs are particularly challenging for surgeons given the requirement for exquisite control of graft shape and volume. The product supported by this proposal has the capacity to dramatically improve the shape, volume, and survivability of grafted fat. This technology has the potential to not only provide a novel and innovative option for clinicians facing challenging craniofacial cases, but success in this beachhead market will also support the rapidly growing utility of fat grafting in other procedures such as breast reconstruction, amputation site bulking, and hand/foot pad repair.
The proposed project is focused on the development and commercialization of a recombinant, protein-based biopolymer engineered from human elastin to enhance the use of fat grafting in craniofacial reconstruction. This product is one of the first materials to make use of a new paradigm in understanding protein engineering: that highly disordered proteins with defined 3D structure play key roles in the mechanical and biological activity of the body. Using iterative design and molecular engineering of specific protein ordered and disordered domains, the team has generated a new class of biomaterials that are uniquely suited to meet the key criteria for a fat grafting support matrix including: (1) a temperature-dependent phase transition from a liquid to a moldable solid at body temperature, (2) a porous matrix that allows cellular infiltration and supports long-term viability of the tissue in vivo as well as the vascularization required for tissue viability, and (3) enhanced protein stability that allows simple use at the point-of-care with minimal modification to current clinical practice. This Phase II project will focus on core needs for scale-up, toxicity studies, biocompatibility, and large animal efficacy evaluations in preparation for regulatory submission, clinical evaluation, and commercial approval.
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. -
INTACT THERAPEUTICS
SBIR Phase II: A thermogel-based drug delivery platform for the upper gastrointestinal bleeding treatment
Contact
2627 HANOVER ST
Palo Alto, CA 94304--1118
NSF Award
2307164 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,783
Start / end date
05/01/2024 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to transform the upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) treatment market. UGIB represents 75% of all GI bleeding cases worldwide and it is one of the leading causes of emergency hospital admission for gastrointestinal complications in the US. Currently, there are no products on the market that can be utilized to quickly stop UGIB prior to endoscopic treatment. Intact Therapeutics? (IT) proprietary thermogel can rapidly stop UGIB due to its faster gelation time, mucoadhesive properties, and ability to deliver clot-promoting drugs topically at the site of bleeding, all without the need for endoscopy. Topical administration of the medications results in lower required doses, improved efficacy, and fewer side effects. Stabilizing the patient without endoscopy reduces the risk of morbidity and mortality, hospitalization time, the need for blood transfusions, and healthcare system costs. The current lack of a pre-endoscopic treatment for the stabilization of UGIB patients will ensure the broad adoption of IT?s thermogel product. Additionally, the range of therapeutics that could be delivered via thermogels is wide: including but not limited to small molecules, peptides, antibodies, and cells.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to develop a thermogel-based drug delivery platform that combines mechanical and clotting-promoting actions to provide a rapid initial blockade in the upper GI tract and stabilize patients before endoscopy. The prehospital management of UGIB is pivotal to safeguard the conditions of patients prior to an effective endoscopic treatment. IT?s proprietary thermogel?s action is based on two synergistic effects: (1) In-situ gelation (liquid at ambient temperature and becomes a gel when heated to body temperature) provides a mechanical barrier against the blood flow. (2) The slow release of loaded drugs enables complete hemostasis of the haemorrhage site. In this project, the R&D efforts will be dedicated to the further development of the lead formulation identified in the Phase I project and to establish its long-term stability and comprehensive release profile, demonstration of the efficacy of the lead formulation via in-vivo study in a large animal model, and investigation of the pharmacokinetics to establish product safety. The successful completion of Phase II activities will bring the development of IT?s thermogel-based product to the clinical trial-ready stage.
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. -
INTERSPHERE, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Sub-Decadal Weather and Climate Forecast System to Mitigate Risk for Energy and Natural Resource Applications
Contact
320 E VINE DR
Fort Collins, CO 80524--2332
NSF Award
2233387 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
05/01/2023 – 04/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is in potentially reducing the detrimental impacts of weather and climate on the United States energy and insurance markets. To help the American economy prepare further in advance for impactful weather and climate events, this project will develop a forecast system that can translate climate forecasts into likelihoods of impactful weather events. This information will be used to inform the energy and insurance markets of financial risk, particularly within the renewable energy sector where weather and climate control the amount of energy produced. Renewable energy is produced locally within the United States, which means this project will improve the nation?s energy security by informing when and where renewable energy will be most available. Conservative estimates of the technology?s potential include a $2.5 million per year benefit to the renewable energy industry, with a similar multi-million dollar impact to the more general parametric insurance market.
This project will enhance a climate forecast system developed during the company's NSF SBIR Phase I award that issues climate forecasts up to a decade into the future. The enhancements include increased forecast accuracy through automated machine learning model parameter tuning, forecast post-processing, and the translation of the climate forecasts into realistic weather patterns. The technology uses machine learning to identify patterns in the land, atmosphere, and ocean that help determine how the climate system will evolve on timescales of one month to one decade. These climate forecasts will then be translated into realistic possibilities of future weather patterns on daily timescales. These daily weather patterns can then be used to inform renewable energy power production forecasts and extreme weather event risk for numerous industries, including the energy sector and the general insurance industry. A key technical benefit to the proposed forecast system is its high computational scalability, which enables the rapid creation of climate forecasts that are typically produced using supercomputers.
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. -
IQInetics Technologies Inc.
SBIR Phase II: An innovative calibration software to suppress torque ripple and improve performance of electric motors.
Contact
3401 GRAYS FERRY AVE
Philadelphia, PA 19146--2701
NSF Award
2233023 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$989,878
Start / end date
04/15/2023 – 03/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will improve the electric motor market and provide the competitive advantage to the US in mobile robotic applications. Electromagnetic flaws in brushless direct current (DC) motors and sensorless controllers have severely limited the performance of mobile robots and stymied the potential growth of the industry. High performance servo motors and motor controllers do exist, but they are too heavy, large, and expensive to be incorporated into many robotic applications, particularly mobile robots. By combining a unique hardware design with a software solution to eliminate intrinsic hardware problems, this project will result in an ultra-compact, high performance, and low-cost electric servomotor. The drone industry is expected to be the first to benefit from the proposed solution, as many commercial and defense drone companies are in need of industrial-grade propulsion components. A superior propulsion solution will accelerate the mass adoption of drones and other mobile robots.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to create the next generation of drone propulsion technology: an innovative drone motor and controller. Currently, drone companies are forced to use hobby-grade, sensorless motors and controllers, which suffer from poor performance and reliability issues. The Phase II project is rooted in the results obtained during Phase I activities, which led to the development of a calibration suite and a novel motor design. Phase I laid the foundation for creating an ultra-compact, high-performance motor and controller solution that is ideal for drone propulsion. The novel hardware design minimizes mass and production costs and, when combined with the calibration suite and angle compensation algorithm, the solution offers a substantial enhancement in propulsion efficiency, controllability, and reliability. The team will test its product with industrial drone manufacturers to verify its ability to increase vehicle flight time, enhance maneuverability, and minimize critical vehicle failures.
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. -
Immersed Games, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: A Group Video Game Challenge for Integrated Applied Science Learning
Contact
1160 MAIN ST STE 2
Buffalo, NY 14209--2331
NSF Award
1853068 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,444,730
Start / end date
04/01/2019 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
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This phase II award received additional funding to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis.Abstract
This SBIR Phase II Project will produce a cooperative applied video game challenge where students work together within an active, simulated environment to collect and analyze data, construct explanations, then test and iterate solutions to a problem. Only 22% of the United States? graduating high school seniors are proficient in science. This is important due to the estimated 2.4 million unfilled jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) in the United States, to provide higher-paying STEM jobs to citizens, and promote a scientifically literate citizenry. Recent research supports new approaches for how to improve this scientific literacy, and states across the country are adopting new science standards to support this effort. The outcome of this project will support development of students' scientific literacy with a novel approach which utilizes cooperative, interdisciplinary, problem-based learning within a video game. Commercialization of this product will transform the process of inquiry-based learning by putting the tools in the hands of student scientists as they test their own solutions. The project supports the NSF's mission by empowering students to develop strong science and engineering skills, as well as supporting development of 21st century skills such as collaboration and problem solving that are desired by employers.
The technology developed by this Phase II project will produce a group problem-solving experience for up to five students to analyze a problem and implement an engineering solution within a live simulated environment, providing educators with a powerful curricula tool to engage their students in the real problem-solving cycles a scientist would engage in, within a feasible setting using the video game. The research goals include creating a flexible content authoring tool that designers and educators can use to generate their own unique scenarios and creating an easy-to-use educator dashboard to accompany it. The content authoring and customization options empower educators to reflect local context, student interest, and student background knowledge, strategies which are essential for educators of diverse populations currently underrepresented within STEM. The technology and its dashboard will also serve as a powerful formative assessment tool, enabling group assessment that is able to parse group and individual participation, and is designed to promote balanced group problem solving. The result of this research will create a uniquely flexible tool that will enable educators to engage learners in deeper, contextual learning, encourage transfer of information, cooperative learning, development of science and engineering skills such as data literacy, and be utilized for assessment of these skills.
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. -
Impactivo LLC
SBIR Phase II: Linking eLearning to patient outcomes
Contact
1606 AVE PONCE DE LEON SUITE 703
San Juan, PR 00909--1827
NSF Award
1926846 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$750,000
Start / end date
05/01/2020 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase II project focuses on improving the management of chronic disease by enabling team-based primary care is key to achieving clinical results and taking advantage of new ?value based" payment reforms. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, six out of ten adults have a chronic disease and 90% of the national annual healthcare expenditures are spend on people with these conditions. Our technology proposes to apply precision-education instructional theory to enhance primary care team competencies and promote situational awareness, enhanced communication, defined role clarity, improved coordination and leadership support to improve patient outcomes which is directly aligned to the National Science Foundation?s mission of promoting science to advance the nation?s health. This project is being designed for commercial use in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) which serve one in twelve people in the United States. There are 1,373 FQHCs in the US serving 27 million patients annually in medically underserved areas. Public and private payment models are rapidly moving toward incentives/bonuses for team-based care and demonstrated outcome improvements. Improvements in the cost and outcomes of care for this patients with chronic disease will have enormous social and economic benefit for the Nation.
This SBIR Phase II project uses machine learning to integrate individual-level clinical and social characteristics into suggested treatment paths and to apply precision training techniques that improve the skills of individual members of the care team. Our objectives focus on validating the feasibility of machine learning to provide health professionals with recommended workflows and continued education based on trends and gaps in care identified from patient data. The method includes a computational engine to guide reinforcement learning. Machine learning has made possible the development of statistical models to establish effect sizes of clinical interventions, enabling personalized instruction and support to health team members based on patient outcomes.
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. -
KILELE HEALTH LLC
SBIR Phase II: In-vivo validation of a volume-manufacturable and factory-calibrated wearable NT-proBNP monitoring system for heart failure treatment
Contact
201 E DIXON AVE
Oakwood, OH 45419--3545
NSF Award
2335105 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,758
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will directly address the growing national economic and individual burden of cardiovascular disease as it becomes a reality for more than half of all Americans entering their sixties. Heart-failure is a cardiovascular disease that is particularly challenging given that many patients end up readmitted to the hospital just months after initial hospitalization. Greatly improved outcomes for patients are already possible, keeping patients from returning to the hospital, but only if the patient treatment can be rapidly optimized for the medications prescribed for heart failure. This rapid optimization requires multiple trips back to the doctor for blood tests to guide the treatment plan, adjusting patient medication levels accordingly. Cardiologists have therefore been asking for new technologies to aid their ability to care for heart-failure patients, with an increasing call for remote monitoring technology.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will create the first-ever wearable, heart-failure monitor for a peptide molecule released by the heart when the heart is struggling, therefore providing a direct and continuous measurement of how well heart-failure treatment is progressing. Specifically, aptamers, which are oligonucleotides, will be used to capture heart-failure peptide molecules on a tiny electrical wire sensor embedded painlessly a few millimeters beneath the skin surface. As these aptamers capture the peptides, they provide a continuous measurement of the peptide concentrations in the form of an electrical signal. The project will create a working prototype that is like the proven success of wearable continuous glucose monitors, leveraging decades of investment in glucose monitors and significant doctor and patient trust in glucose monitors. Under the Phase II project, the wearable heart-failure monitor prototype will be validated for more than one week of operation in an animal model, a key proof point that will enable further commercial investment in developing the wearable heart-failure monitor for human use.
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. -
KISMET TECHNOLOGIES LLC
STTR Phase II: Nanomaterial-based Residual Active Disinfectant for Decreasing Surface Acquired Infections
Contact
2331 BANCHORY RD
Winter Park, FL 32792--4703
NSF Award
2208717 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$995,798
Start / end date
07/15/2023 – 06/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is the development of a nanotechnology-based coating to combat the rise in Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs). HAIs spread in hospitals through healthcare workers? hands and exposed surfaces. The coating technology developed through this project will disinfect surfaces contaminated with viruses and bacteria. The antimicrobial coating provides protection on these surfaces between cleanings. In the United States, 1 in 25 patients get a preventable HAI from hospital visits. HAIs cost hospitals an estimated $40 billion annually to treat. Commercialization of this technology will lead to fewer preventable illnesses and deaths, while decreasing the financial burden on the healthcare system for each HAI case. Other markets that will benefit from this work include businesses impacted by norovirus (stomach flu) such as cruise ships, restaurants, schools, nursing homes, chip manufacturing facilities, and food processing plants.
This project develops a novel, nanoparticle-enabled coating to combat the rise in HAIs. A novel nanoparticle with a high output of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and potent antimicrobial behavior has been developed. Because the antimicrobial mechanism is a secondary surface reaction, the technology can effectively deactivate viruses and bacteria without being consumed. Phase I demonstrations were achieved using bench top batches of nanoparticles. Phase II research and development creates a manufacturing process appropriate for the synthesis of the novel nanoparticles, creating a shelf stable formulated product, while ensuring the advances in nanoparticle production and formulation do not degrade the nanoparticle's antimicrobial efficacy. The synthesis allows for a decrease in the nanoparticle cost at scale. Shelf stability of the formulated product is important to the overall logistics and supply chain of the product. Improvements to both the scaled synthesis and formulation chemistry will be evaluated for impacts to the disinfection efficacy of the final product.
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. -
Kalion, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Low-Cost, High-Purity Biobased Glucaric Acid
Contact
92 ELM ST
Milton, MA 02186--3111
NSF Award
1951200 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$946,155
Start / end date
07/01/2020 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is the low-cost, high-purity biobased production of glucaric acid, a compound with a broad range of applications. This production of glucaric acid will enable a broad change from petroleum-based sources for everyday materials, such as nylon in clothes or PET in two-liter bottles, to a bio-based product generated from renewable resources. Similarly, this technology will allow an evolution beyond the traditional phosphates used in water treatment systems to a safer, cost-effective alternative.
The proposed project will develop a strain, fermentation process, and scalable downstream separation workflow to produce low-cost, high-purity glucaric acid from glucose as a feedstock. Microbial fermentation represents an attractive option for the production of fuels and valuable chemicals from renewable resources, such as cellulosic sugars. Microbes are well suited for the conversion of carbohydrate feedstocks; several examples of their metabolic engineering have been demonstrated to direct these feedstocks to non-natural chemicals and materials of industrial value, often as drop-in replacements for petroleum products. On the other hand, products derived from sugar oxidation pose a new, less explored challenge because of the need to direct glucose into the product pathway rather than the competing path to catabolize the sugar for biomass and energy production. Initial methods, such as deletion of glycolysis and other competing pathways, result in poor glucose uptake because of the cell's complex regulatory circuits. This project proposes to develop strains of E. coli that can efficiently take up glucose while also directing it to the glucaric acid pathway.
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. -
Kapalya Inc
SBIR Phase II: Advanced Ransomware Countermeasure
Contact
1935 ADDISON ST
Berkeley, CA 94704--1354
NSF Award
2304216 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$994,413
Start / end date
02/01/2024 – 01/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop the first universally aware software for ransomware protection with a proactive approach to stop incoming file-based and file-less attacks. The number of ransomware attacks launched globally has grown substantially over the years. To exploit previously undiscovered weaknesses and conduct more effective attacks, cybercriminals take advantage of the rising number of workers accessing business networks from home through a virtual private network (VPN) while working remotely. Current ransomware countermeasure solutions are not comprehensive and generally fail in tackling sustained and persistent attacks. Moreover, the current solutions track threats only at the operating system level and can be disabled. This solution features universal awareness based on a combination of characteristics related to user, ransomware, non-specific environment indicators, and non-ransomware metrics. The comprehensive ransomware detection, remediation, eradication, and data recovery solution enable unmatched protection from cyberattacks and allow timely detection and shutdown of cyberattacks thus, significantly reducing the amount of compromised data. This enhanced protection will have security benefits for a wide range of critical infrastructures, ranging from energy and finances to the protection of medical data.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to develop an advanced ransomware countermeasure (ARC) platform which will represent the most advanced and effective protection against ransomware attacks. The technology will enforce four synergistic actions: (1) precondition observation and characterization, (2) incoming interactions validation, (3) internal contents observation and characterization, and (4) outgoing interactions validation. In this project, the research and development efforts will be dedicated towards the (1) the development of the framework of communication between the inoculator and watch-dog and its deployment for effective countermeasure, (2) design and development of user-friendly interface providing simple user experience, (3) seamless integration of the ARC platform with existing Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools, (4) implementation of artificial intelligence/machine learning models in the ARC platform for the effective defense against zero-day ransomware exploits, and 5) validation of the ARC platform against known ransomware to ensure the proper function of all the modules. The successful completion of the SBIR Phase II activities will deliver a fully functional, commercially viable product with general availability that can seamlessly run/work along with existing SIEM tools and successfully defend against known ransomware attacks and zero-day exploits.
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. -
Kepley Biosystems Incorporated
SBIR Phase II: A Rapid, Sensitive Pathogen Typing and Antibiotic Sensitivity Test for Bloodstream Infections (COVID-19)
Contact
2901 E GATE CITY BLVD
Greensboro, NC 27401--4904
NSF Award
2212920 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,999
Start / end date
12/01/2022 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to develop an improved era of infectious disease management, allowing rapid intervention for antibiotic therapy to stem the 30% mortality rate and associated cost impact of sepsis. With some 49 million cases worldwide and a 25-30% mortality rate, sepsis claims 11 million lives annually. Sepsis cases have been increasing 8.7% per year. To address the full spectrum of infectious diseases, innovations must deliver simple and affordable testing capabilities similar to routine hospital admission blood analyses. The proposed antifungal and antibacterial susceptibility test for the detection and treatment of bloodstream infections could benefit patients by improving patient management and hospital logistics. Sepsis is the most expensive healthcare challenge, with an estimated financial impact of more than $62 billion per year. This bloodstream infection screening assay could impact the entire continuum of care ? from initial hospital interactions through patient care and discharge ? by identifying infections early, optimizing treatment, and increasing survival. Direct customer survey-based estimates and independent information sources project a U.S. commercial opportunity of 226 million annual assays (36 million hospital admissions, 40 million intensive care patients, 130 million emergency walk-ins, and 20 million presurgical evaluations).
The proposed project could result in the development of a user-friendly and affordable analytical tool for early detection of bloodstream infections that differentiates bacterial and fungal pathogens associated with sepsis and determine their antibiotic sensitivity in hours. Sepsis is a major public health and economic concern that results in one human death every 2.8 seconds. If bloodstream infections go undetected or untreated, patients can quickly escalate into sepsis or septic shock with mortality chances increasing by 8% per hour without appropriate antibiotic administration. Rapid and accurate detection of a bloodstream infections prior to the onset of sepsis is critical to limit the extent of tissue and organ damage, mortality, and associated hospital costs. The proposed innovation includes the use of an FDA-approved reagent called Limulus Amebocyte Lysate for clinical bloodstream infections and antifungal antibacterial susceptibility testing to guide therapeutic interventions, and routine surveillance of high-risk patient populations. The technical approach for this Phase II encompasses proficiency studies that would validate high-throughput detection of pathogens, as well as their antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance profiles in clinical blood specimens. Additionally, assay miniaturization and automation would be performed and are considered critical for future in vitro diagnostic partnership adoption.
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. -
Kytopen Corp
SBIR Phase II: An Automated Platform for Rapid Discovery in Cell Biology
Contact
501 MASSACHUSETTS AVE FL 3
Cambridge, MA 02139--4018
NSF Award
1853194 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$798,461
Start / end date
03/01/2019 – 09/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop a fast, efficient, and scalable cell engineering technology that is easily automated through integration with liquid handling robots. Currently, there is a bottleneck in the process of cell engineering, especially in the engineering of cells for discovery of new therapeutics. The field of delivery of genetic or other material to cells has not kept pace with advancements in genetic modification and high-throughput screening technologies. The proposed platform will offer an alternative to the time-consuming and labor-intensive methods of transfection including lentiviral transduction and cuvette-based electroporation, which are difficult to automate. Applications of cell engineering technology range from fundamental research in cell physiology to the discovery of new targets for cellular therapies. The platform will allow scientists and clinicians to more rapidly and reliably engineer immune and other cells for discovery of new therapeutic targets and therapeutics.
The intellectual merit of this SBIR Phase II project will be to develop a scalable, automated, non-viral cell engineering platform with the potential to operate up to 10,000 times faster than conventional electroporation using high-throughput liquid handling. Using the core cell engineering technology developed in Phase I, the goal is to develop an automated protocol for gene transfection on a liquid handling robot compatible with 96 or 384 well plate technology. The first objective is to demonstrate the manufacturability of cell engineering devices for high-throughput cell engineering. Preliminary work in this area has shown that these devices can be injection molded, thus reducing cost while increasing the potential for production at scale. In the Phase II project, injection molded prototypes of the cell engineering devices will be developed to prove manufacturability and determine the cost to manufacture at scale (millions of parts per year). Second, there are several supplemental systems that must be integrated with a liquid handling apparatus to enable the proposed high-throughput cell engineering. Supplemental systems include a power source and power distribution manifold that interacts with each sample of the 96 or 384 well array. In this project, these systems will be integrated with the cell engineering devices and automated liquid handling robot. Third, the integrated system will be used to generate a large library of primary human T cell variants as proof-of-concept to demonstrate the potential for high-throughput cell engineering for therapeutic target discovery.
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. -
LABBY INC.
SBIR Phase II: Artificial intelligence powered optical spectrometer technology for farm-level milk testing
Contact
17 HENSHAW ST STE BA
Brighton, MA 02135--2905
NSF Award
2233881 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$885,991
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project develops a cow's milk testing system using mobile spectroscopy and machine learning to provide rapid and automatic milk testing. The team aims to address the annual $32 billion global loss from bovine mastitis, an udder disease, due to the lack of farm-level early detection technology. The project helps farmers detect mastitis early, allowing them to increase farm operation efficiency, lessen the use of antibiotics, improve animal health, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The expanding herd size of dairy farms, shortage of labor, and rising dairy consumption across the globe are driving growth in the global livestock monitoring market which is expected to reach $19 billion by 2030. Globally, the total addressable market size is estimated at $12 billion. The technology under development in this Phase II project will enable precision dairy production by bringing cutting-edge technology to the farm and creating opportunities to attract and retain a new generation of dairy workers. The project?s mission is to support the dairy industry in delivering the best quality milk in an efficient and sustainable way.
The intellectual merit of this project involves on-farm, real-time, and reliable testing of milk components such as somatic cell counts, fat, and protein, using mobile optical spectrometer technology that is controlled by physics-informed machine learning. An improved industrial design of the inline milk testing unit will be developed that is tailored for robotic dairy farms. Additionally, an embedded sampler prototype will be tested in conventional dairy farms to fully automate milk sampling and testing with the goal of developing a universal device that works for most parlor configurations. The operating wavelength range of the devices will be broadened using near-infrared and shortwave-infrared chips, which will not only increase the accuracy of fat and protein measurements but will also expand the testing to components such as lactose and milk urea nitrogen. From the data perspective, time-series measurements of somatic cell counts will be combined with historical herd-level and individual cow-level data such as days-in-milking, lactation, and yield, to build predictive models for mastitis and milk yield. Finally, optical signals such as fluorescence will be used to ascertain the presence of harmful pathogens in milk, to aid in the diagnosis of infections and prevent contaminated milk from entering the supply chain.
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. -
LAMBDA FUNCTION, INC.
SBIR Phase II: An artificial intelligence system for autonomous numerical control programming for advanced manufacturing
Contact
1960 DECANTER CIR
Brentwood, CA 94513--2438
NSF Award
2321728 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,942
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project includes an increase in efficiency and productivity in manufacturing supply chains, which can lead to economic growth, job creation, improved product quality, and reduced waste. The project can also enhance the U.S. industrial base, which is critical to national security by mitigating manufacturing supply chain risks. This technology can provide new learning opportunities for students, facilitate increased partnership between academia and industry, and advance scientific knowledge on precision manufacturing, leading to the development of new artificial intelligence algorithms and techniques with applications beyond manufacturing. The solution will be a step towards addressing the challenge of reshoring manufacturing given the technical skills gap crisis in the U.S. by helping increase the productivity of computer numerical control machinists and sparking greater interest in this field among new workforce entrants. The manufacturing landscape is shifting to more automation, and this solution could help train the next generation of artificial intelligence-augmented machinists. This solution has broad applicability across commerce, government, and academia, in a range of end market applications such as aerospace, defense, and MedTech.
This SBIR Phase II project will result in a fully functional ?beta? prototype of an artificial intelligence-assisted, autonomous, numerical control programming software that can be tested within an operational environment and be near-ready for commercial launch. The end product will be an artificial intelligence-powered software embedded in the computer numerical control programmers? existing workflow environment. The software will provide machining strategy, cutting tool and machining parameters, and tool path recommendations across milling, drilling, and turning operations. By offering these recommendations to the end user (i.e., the numerical control programmer), the product has the potential to: 1) shorten the learning curve for new talent, 2) reduce the degree of variability across skill levels, 3) reduce the time / iterations needed to generate computer numerical control programs, and to 4) increase the probability of generating optimal (i.e., lowest overall machining cost) programs. The product has the potential to significantly increase productivity of the existing and new workforce, while also reducing the non-recurring and recurring costs for precision machining.
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. -
LEVATE LLC
SBIR Phase II: A portable, powered lift to instantly increase independence of all manual wheelchair users
Contact
13431 N BROADWAY AVE SUITE 120
Oklahoma City, OK 73114--2202
NSF Award
2040483 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,935
Start / end date
03/01/2021 – 09/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II is to improve the mobility of wheelchair users. There are more than 2.5 M wheelchair users in the US. This project will develop an electronic aftermarket add-on accessory to increase manual wheelchair users? height up to 18 inches or more in 5 seconds. The new wheelchair lift (WL) will increase their Quality of Life and their ability to independently perform activities of daily living (feeding, bathing, dressing) and instrumental activities of daily living (transportation, shopping, cooking, doing laundry, and housework). The solution will replace expensive home retrofitting ($20 K) and will reduce the need for help in outside settings, such as reaching for items on shelves, empowering the users. The WL will bridge the gap between the disabled and the able-bodied population, providing a means to increase wheelchair users? participation in the labor force (currently only 20%) and enabling more employment options. Similarly, the WL will offer employers an effective way to support workers with disabilities and reduce costs to adapt the work environment to provide reasonable accommodations.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project seeks to generate a final functional prototype of the wheelchair lift (WL) ready for usability tests with end-users. The Phase II project extends prior work on a prototype satisfying the major design specifications of weight, lift maximum load, and time of ascension, de-risking the most significant technological challenges associated with the project. The proposed activities will enable systems engineering of hardware and electronics development and the next generation prototype for testing and regulatory clearance. The prototype will be produced under Quality Management Systems and an industrial manufacturing process will be established.
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. -
LIFENGINE ANIMAL HEALTH LABORATORIES INCORPORATED
SBIR Phase II: Clinical scale and testing of the first virus-free precision gene edited cell therapy for veterinary oncology
Contact
221 1ST AVE SW STE 202-22
Rochester, MN 55902--4504
NSF Award
2243587 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$973,924
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of a commercially-ready cell engineering platform that will enable a curative therapy for cancer in the veterinary market. An estimated 250,000 dogs get B cell lymphoma every year. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy offers hope for a treatment for this disease. The project platform for engineering CAR-T cell therapy at scale enables the generation of a potential new therapeutic product that is affordable on the veterinary market. The potential societal and commercial impacts of the project have the potential to translate successful therapies from dogs into human cancer care. This solution also offers a new model for the testing, development, and translation of novel CAR-T cell therapies for the human pharmaceutical industry, potentially resulting in benefits to humans as well as dogs.
This project addresses a major bottleneck in the transition from research phase experimentation to clinical and commercial phase manufacturing. During the research phase, cell engineering platforms that process only 5,000,000 CAR-T cells per gene editing experiment or per manufacturing pilot study are sufficient. However, to expand to clinical scale manufacturing and to reach full market scale treatment of 50,000 dogs per year, the ability to make 50-500 doses per manufacturing run is required. Scaled electroporation systems can process up to 500,000,000 cells in a single experiment, a 100x increase from the research phase system. While the scale-up in cell programming reagents is expected to be 1:100, optimization is likely to be required to reach the same or better cell programming efficiencies, while the downstream outgrowth of this scale-up of cells also needs to be optimized in small scale bioreactors. The proposed engineering platform enables engineering of up to 500 doses of CAR-T cell therapy for under $500/dose at full scale.
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. -
LILU, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Sensor-based bra to measure breast milk output and monitor changes in breast volume before and after breastfeeding or breast pumping
Contact
447 W 18TH ST
New York, NY 10011--3855
NSF Award
2210952 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,997
Start / end date
01/01/2023 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project impacts mothers and babies during the breastfeeding period. Although breastfeeding benefits for the mother and the baby are recognized worldwide, many mothers are unable to attain their breastfeeding targets due to common discontinuance problems. The proposed solution may increase breastfeeding rates by supporting mothers who are breastfeeding or breast pumping, providing them with resources to sustain breastfeeding. Access to valuable information on the volume of breastmilk expressed could enable mothers to carefully monitor their milk production. At the same time, it may allow the prediction of clogged milk ducts, avoiding serious complications such as breast engorgement or lactational mastitis that can be avoided with early intervention. This intervention could prevent not only early discontinuance in breastfeeding but also promote increased health for mothers by reducing the risks of disease. The monitor may also impact babies? health since breastfeeding is recommended to achieve optimal growth and development. Further, the proposed monitor may provide the scientific community with data to enable research into different aspects of mothers? health, for example, determining the reasons for the formation of mastitis.
This project may lead to a new paradigm in lactational health for the baby and the mother. There is an important need to meet breastfeeding objectives by reducing discontinuances and reducing common conditions such as lactational mastitis. The proposed solution aims to increase breastfeeding rates by providing mothers with a comfortable and effective method for measuring the milk volume expressed and for determining if milk ducts are clogged. Research objectives include: (1) sourcing and testing fabrics for the bra from multiple vendors; (2) designing and developing of the embedded system and the bra, so that will be able to accommodate a wide range of breast shapes and sizes; (3) designing and developing mobile applications and algorithms, which will include data analytics and prediction; and (4) optimizing the bra and mobile applications. The project could result in a smart, all-day wearable, comfortable garment designed for breastfeeding mothers that is paired with a mobile app to show analysis and results adapted to each mother.
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. -
LISA FITZPATRICK & ASSOCIATES MD PC
SBIR Phase II: HealthText: Providing digital healthcare navigation for underserved communities in the US
Contact
475 K ST NW UNIT 1112
Washington, DC 20001--5272
NSF Award
2329425 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,904
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to further develop HealthText, an artificial intelligence (AI) driven digital health information and navigation platform tailored to support the Medicaid population. The project's broader impact lies in its potential to address health disparities in under-resourced communities by providing trusted and relatable health literacy content through a user-friendly Short Message/Messaging Service (SMS). Under-resourced and minority communities often experience poor health outcomes and disengagement from care due to low health and science literacy and distrust. Technology-based engagement strategies have not adequately reached these underserved populations, making HealthText a valuable solution to bridge this gap. The core focus of this project is to deliver targeted and culturally appropriate health information campaigns directly to Medicaid beneficiaries. Through relatable content and intuitive SMS messaging, the platform aims to foster trust, increase healthcare engagement, and reduce avoidable emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and preventable, health-related deaths. The commercial opportunity associated with improving healthcare engagement in underserved and minority communities is significant, given the annual US Medicaid market size of over $720 billion. By addressing health literacy and navigation support issues, this technology can help achieve substantial cost savings that could exceed $100 million annually, while improving health outcomes.
This project has demonstrated successful engagement outcomes among Medicaid populations, suggesting the potential for widespread commercialization to Medicaid insurance companies. The project involves refining the delivery of tailored health information using AI-based communications tools like chatbots and generative AI. Existing AI resources lack consideration for communication nuances prevalent in underserved populations with lower educational achievements. To address this, the AI components will be specifically designed for underserved and minority communities, thereby minimizing concerns about bias in existing health-related AI solutions. The solution include: 1) gap analysis with high priority quality measures; 2) utilization of custom content and delivery platform to send targeted messaging via text, video, and on-demand AI chat to patients; and 3)
evaluation of improved clinical outcomes.
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. -
LUMENASTRA
SBIR Phase II: A Wearable Non-Invasive Deep Tissue Thermometer
Contact
12416 N 63RD ST
Longmont, CO 80503--9134
NSF Award
2233629 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
03/15/2023 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project begins with a wearable, non-invasive device providing vital brain and internal organ temperature measurements in a clinical setting that can dramatically reduce mortality and the risk of permanent brain damage for tens of thousands of patients experiencing cardiac and aortic repair surgery. This impact extends to protecting the brain from additional permanent brain injury and lifelong disability for the 4.8 million people hospitalized annually in the US after stroke, cardiac arrest or traumatic brain injury and 1 million infants born with impaired blood-oxygen flow needing constant brain temperature management in their first hours of life. Finally, this technology offers a more consistent and meaningful internal body temperature measurement for millions of consumers through next generation handheld and wearable thermometers monitoring general wellness and providing advanced notice of changes in health conditions. True internal body temperature will be a powerful complement to the inevitable next generation wearable sensors that integrate many health indicators into a comprehensive and actionable snapshot of personal health.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project fulfills the more than 30-year expectation that true internal body temperatures providing a meaningful metric of wellness. Such technologies measure extremely small electromagnetic thermal noise radiated from within the body. Through the intersection of disparate microwave technologies and biological science, this novel wearable sensor became possible. Research challenges include the development of a design methodology for an ultra-low noise receiver utilizing a near-field wearable probe, the discovery of efficient interference mitigation techniques, and the development of an algorithm for accurate and fast temperature estimation, all within a low-power wearable package. This project will develop the needed sensitivity, spatial resolution, and mitigation of the significant microwave noise from GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular and other common electronic sources. After leveraging off-the-shelf components in Phase I, the company is moving to miniaturized and specialized chips to meet the application need.
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. -
LUMINA INSTRUMENTS INC.
SBIR Phase II: Innovative Glass Inspection for Advanced Semiconductor Packaging
Contact
2109 OTOOLE AVE
San Jose, CA 95131--1338
NSF Award
2335175 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,999
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to enhance the semiconductor industry. The development of the proposed technology will advance the creation of and reduce the cost of high-quality electronic products such as smartphones, laptops, televisions, AR/VR devices, 5G components, and data storage devices that will be commercially available to individual consumers. This research project will have a substantial societal benefit on the revitalization of the US semiconductor industry by creating more American jobs, boosting national security and reducing the vulnerability of semiconductor devices to tampering and counterfeiting and giving the US a competitive edge in the global market.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will create technology that will advance the creation of high-quality electronic products that will be commercially available to individual consumers. The increasing use of glass panels for semiconductor packaging presents an opportunity to develop technology which will perform full surface inspection of these panels for defects. No nano-particle inspection technology exists for ?300 mm glass substrates for particles ?300 nm in diameter, such as those used in advanced semiconductor packaging. The successful development of this highly sensitive process control technology will address these glass inspection pain points, with substantial improvements in yield for semiconductor packaging companies.
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. -
LUMO IMAGING LLC
STTR Phase II: Dermatologist-level detection of suspicious pigmented skin lesions from high-resolution full-body images
Contact
10801 PLEASANT HILL DR
Potomac, MD 20854--1512
NSF Award
2335086 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$996,367
Start / end date
03/01/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project includes early detection of skin cancers, resulting in better outcomes and a reduction in mortality and healthcare expenditures. Each year in the United States, nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer, with an annual cost estimated at $8.1 billion. Annual productivity losses are estimated to cost an additional $4.5 billion. There is a considerable health disparity in the diagnosis of skin cancer within the U.S.; The average wait time to see a dermatologist is currently 32.3 days but it varies greatly by location. Early detection reduces disfigurement by reducing the size and extent of surgical removal and reducing the side effects that late-stage patients experience from systemic therapies. Furthermore, the project increases the economic competitiveness of the U.S.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is to productize a novel, pigmented, lesion analysis system for wide field-of-view images. The product will be built on a previously developed total body photography system and proof of concept lesion classification software as a medical device that was developed in Phase I. The dermatoscope-like resolution provides a solid foundation for a system that can automatically (without the involvement of a dermatologist) detect and classify various skin conditions in a clinical setting and/or a radiology center (similar to how mammograms are done). Skin cancers, including both melanomas and non-melanomas, are the most common types of cancer in the United States. Early-stage identification of suspicious pigmented lesions in primary care settings can lead to improved melanoma prognosis and a possible 20-fold reductions in treatment cost. This technology provides the healthcare system with a highly sensitive, specific, and economical means of providing annual skin cancer screening to all at risk individuals.
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. -
Lapovations, LLC
SBIR Phase II: AbGrab Laparoscopic Lifting Device
Contact
700 W RESEARCH CENTER BLVD STE 1420
Fayetteville, AR 72703--9203
NSF Award
2025984 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,429
Start / end date
09/15/2020 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is a reduction in the negative effects of laparoscopies, procedures to enter the abdomen through a small incision. Over 15 million laparoscopies are performed worldwide each year, particularly gynecologists, who represent roughly half the surgeons performing these procedures in the U.S. The proposed procedure does not require surgeons to alter their surgical techniques and requires minimal training. It uses equipment already in the hospital. The benefits will include better surgical outcomes, decreased patient post-op pain, and increased surgeon and patient satisfaction. Furthermore, it can ultimately be used in other surgical interventions, such as pannus retention, wound management, and liposuction.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses the need for a less invasive and more reliable method for lifting the abdominal wall during laparoscopic surgery. Current lifting techniques include manually grasping the abdominal wall and using invasive perforating towel clips. With manual grasp it can be difficult for the surgeon to maintain grip and proper elevation, especially with lean or obese patients. Alternatively, using perforating towel clips is invasive because the towel clips perforate the abdominal wall tissue to provide a handle by which to lift and elevate. The perforations can be a significant source of post-op discomfort and bruising for the patient. This project focuses on developing a medical device that uses suction to attach to and lift the abdominal wall more reliably than manual grasp and less invasively than perforating towel clips.
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. -
MADISON SCIENTIFIC, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Smart Shunt to Treat Hydrocephalus
Contact
17 SAINT LAWRENCE CIR
Madison, WI 53717--1827
NSF Award
2322905 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,959
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of an advanced electromechanical cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt system for the treatment and monitoring of hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is caused by an accumulation of CSF occurs within the brain, often causing an increased pressure inside the skull. Most shunts used to remove this pressure fail within a few years of placement, often with significant diagnostic uncertainty, which leads to both poorer patient outcomes and higher, often multi-billion dollar healthcare costs. The development of a smart shunt that more appropriately drains CSF and monitors function may reduce shunt failure rates and diagnostic uncertainty, thus reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project advances the development of a smart shunt for CSF drainage. Electronic-based control may improve shortcomings in shunt drainage as the currently used valves are vulnerable to gravity, altitude, activity level, and abdominal pressure fluctuations. The proposed multi-system technology is designed to (1) measure intercranial pressure (ICP) to determine when shunts require drainage, and (2) accurately and intelligently perceives the difference between transient pressure spikes vs. sustained, elevated ICP and respond appropriately (e.g., remain closed vs. drain CSF, respectively). The new technology will further allow patient and physician interaction to obtain on-demand ICP readings, monitor CSF dynamics, and non-invasively adjust valve settings. In this Phase II project, final development testing will be conducted, system performance and safety will be verified, and physician and patient usability will be analyzed.
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. -
MAIJKER CORP.
SBIR Phase II: A Manufacturing Monitoring System Using Sound Spectrograms and Artificial Intelligence
Contact
1041 ONYX ST
West Lafayette, IN 47906--7232
NSF Award
2335395 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project lies in its sound-based AI sensing technology. This innovation is poised to significantly elevate the quality and productivity of our nation's manufacturing sector. Central to this mission is its ability to "listen" to the subtle languages of machinery, translating every hum and rattle into actionable insights. This ensures early detection of potential issues, minimizes downtime, and drives optimal performance. Collaborative tests with large manufacturing enterprises are set to showcase its potential in not only averting costly disruptions but also championing a culture of accurate diagnostics and continuous improvement. The societal implications stretch beyond factories. This technology could be embedded in vehicles, bestowing even age-old models with a modern-day protective insight, or in homes, warding off unexpected appliance mishaps. By unlocking the 'speech' of machines, this SBIR project propels us towards a future where our relationship with machinery becomes more intuitive and proactive. Ultimately, this project is a stride towards a seamless conversation between machines and humans, ensuring enhanced safety, efficiency, and an enriched quality of life for all Americans.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to push the boundaries of machine condition monitoring by harnessing the underexplored potential of internal machine sounds. Merging Industrial IoT (IIoT) with advanced AI, the project crafts a system primed to provide real-time health and status updates for industrial machinery. The innovation's intellectual merit is in its pioneering method of capturing and analyzing internal machine sounds, paralleling techniques used in AI-based speech recognition systems. The project?s mission is to develop a "machine speech" recognition system that decodes the subtle intricacies of machine sounds for humans. This initiative will enhance our understanding of machine operations and introduce cutting-edge predictive maintenance systems, drawing from a largely untapped data source: internal sounds of machines. Mirroring the precision of a medical doctor using a stethoscope to assess human health and fueled by robust neural network models behind human speech recognition, this project represents the fusion of AI and manufacturing. Empowering workers to "tune in" to machine sounds assures a profound understanding of equipment processes and performance nuances. Diverging from traditional solutions that lean on vibration or current monitoring, this sound-centric approach promises a comprehensive view of machine health, marking a pivotal evolution in manufacturing.
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. -
MANUS ROBOTICS INC.
SBIR Phase II: A Novel Human Machine Interface for Assistive Robots
Contact
24 HARTWELL AVE
Lexington, MA 02421--3132
NSF Award
2223169 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
01/15/2023 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to benefit more than 200 million people around the globe who are currently living with limb loss or impairment. With the rapid growth of an aging population and longer life expectancies, assistive technologies that can improve the independence and self-sufficiency of people, enabling them stay in their homes longer, are urgently needed. The proposed wearable sensor will be a step towards making robots designed to assist in activities of daily living more effective, affordable, and easy to use. In addition to empowering people to achieve higher levels of functionality and quality of life, this sensor may also further the fundamental understanding of physiological changes as manifested in hemodynamic patterns, which could be used to better monitor patient status and allow clinicians, as well as assistive device manufacturers, to develop more personalized and mindful solutions.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to develop a compact and low-cost optical sensor for detecting gesture commands from disabled users and to translate the gestures to assistive robots. The human-machine interfaces currently adopted by most assistive robots are expensive and inherently noisy, requiring extensive processing and user training. A more practical, intuitive, and reliable solution is needed to better accommodate the diverse and often evolving conditions of end users. This research will focus on enhancing the reliability, usability, and compatibility of the sensor as an embeddable component for wearable assistive robots. Sensor modules that can be daisy-chained together in various arrangements will be designed to optimally monitor different muscle activities on the arm. Advanced signal processing and machine learning techniques will be used to expand the existing gesture detection algorithm and achieve more robust performance during daily device usage, addressing practical issues such as detecting multiple commands simultaneously and enabling long-term algorithm learning.
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. -
MAP-COLLECTIVE, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Development of a Distributed Ledger System to Track Environmental Sustainability
Contact
3030 K ST NW 102
Washington, DC 20007--5156
NSF Award
2223081 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$925,833
Start / end date
06/01/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project centers around its potential contribution to the coordination of climate change mitigation performance of governments, industry, and individuals towards a carbon negative future. The automated system for carbon tracking and visualization that this project is evolving could allow it to network many organizations that are trying to pursue carbon reduction activities on a verifiable map, coordinating otherwise disparate efforts. Regional, national, and global coordination are important as the world attempts to solve the global climate change problem. The proposed platform not only envisions aggregate multisector information on the global level, it allows for collaboration among organizations by sharing carbon goals and decarbonization investments through carbon easements or credits. The solution also contextualizes carbon footprints on the entity or region-level within the planetary carbon usage and planetary carbon boundaries. This visualization tool used for coordination is expected to help accelerate public-private partnerships in the sustainability space, and help organizations collaborate around resource management, and support economic activities and job creation through connectivity.
The technical innovation in this research is the visual coordination of all the simultaneous, multi-level, decarbonization efforts onto one map. Regional coordination remains one of the biggest obstacles to widespread climate action. Even when a county-level climate action plan is pursued, cities within the counties may not implement goals evenly, as there are often inequities in resource distribution. Similarly, there is often a lack of coordination within industries; Companies may have trouble mapping scope data, let alone collaborating with other industries. The project is likely to make collaborations more accessible for companies and governments by visualizing potential partners? goals and trajectories publicly. Companies that provide verified footprints may have advantages of more thorough data, more accurate data, and recommendations offered to them. In this research, the team intends to pursue the development of a carbon negative budget for users, map out past and future carbon usage, automate emissions data uploads, build out maps for internal facilities or assets of a user, and build out a decarbonization model tool for users to explore solution scenarios enabling tokenized on-platform carbon trading.
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. -
MAPLESS AI, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Autonomous active safety systems for verifiably safe operation of ground vehicles
Contact
104 LAURELWOOD DR
Pittsburgh, PA 15237--4033
NSF Award
2240322 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
06/15/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will result from addressing the gap between the ride hail and vehicle rental markets via the creation of a new, more accessible ?car hailing? mode of transportation. Based on technical advancements in vehicle safety and fleet logistics, car hailing technology offers the potential for direct and desirable social impacts, including: more equitable transportation that can improve quality of life and decrease cost of living; less personal vehicle ownership and less pollution as a result of more efficient vehicle fleet utilization; centralized, managed parking, which could free land for pedestrians, housing, and businesses precisely where it is needed most; and significant job creation due to the need for remote human vehicle operators. These societal and environmental benefits also directly translate into increased economic competitiveness of the United States: more equitable and available transportation for workers enables businesses to compete more successfully in the global markets, and improved quality of life and wage opportunities leads to more productive workers.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will help enable scalable commercial deployment of vehicle teleoperation technology and services by further developing and improving previous advances in robotics control, perception, and safety engineering. There are two primary objectives for the Phase II research. The first is to develop new techniques and methodologies in safety engineering that will enable the systematic testing and safety assurances necessary for large-scale public road deployments of vehicle teleoperation technology. The second is to revise and improve the novel control and perception technologies developed during the Phase I project to satisfy new requirements derived from the company?s safety engineering advances. The results of the Phase II research will include robotics control and perception capabilities that significantly advance the state of the art, as well as a new set of safety engineering practices and methodologies that could serve as a foundation for the emerging industry of vehicle teleoperation and autonomous vehicle safety.
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. -
MENTE, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Mentelist: Predictive Management of Surgical Instruments
Contact
12 CHANNEL ST STE 502
Boston, MA 02210--2326
NSF Award
2300005 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,981
Start / end date
08/15/2023 – 07/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is focused on helping hospitals use data to increase efficiency in operating room resource management. The outcome of this work is a product that could deliver predictive management of surgical instruments; It has the potential to possibly deliver significant direct-to-margin savings to Operating Rooms (OR) at a time when hospitals are struggling to remain financially solvent. This effort may enable hospitals to achieve a 50% reduction in instruments, a 25% reduction in OR setup time, and a 33% reduction in tray weight. It could also reduce instrument-related delays and frustration in the ORs, making surgery safer and more efficient. The technology will establish the commercial viability of a new data stream, enabling applications in predictive OR scheduling, outcomes analysis, and surgical team education.
This project advances the field of healthcare analytics by capturing and applying a data stream that describes how surgery is performed. Every surgical instrument is specialized for a very specific task. This means each time an instrument is used by a surgeon, there is information about their goals, the state of the patient, and the phase of surgery. Under the proposed project, this information is captured by tracking instrument usage. This technology may facilitate a number of predictive tools that can be used to improve the efficiency of the OR and even inform surgical techniques. At a certain level, this application could enable quantification of how the best surgeons in the world deliver care, revealing insights that may not be widely known.
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. -
MILLIMETER WAVE SYSTEMS, LLC
STTR Phase II: Versatile Low-Noise Traveling-Wave Parametric Amplifier for Quantum Information Processing
Contact
9 RESEARCH DR STE 8
Amherst, MA 01002--2775
NSF Award
2025848 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$965,773
Start / end date
01/01/2021 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to advance quantum technologies. Currently, the construction of larger quantum computers, measured by the number of quantum bits or qubits, is hampered by the many wired connections that must connect between the cryogenically-cooled circuits and room-temperature electronics. This project will advance a method to simultaneously boost the weak signals from many quantum bits (qubits) at the same time, and therefore reduce hardware complexity and size. This product will help increase the density of hardware, enabling more powerful quantum computers that will drive new breakthroughs in science, drug development, materials, machine learning capabilities for disease diagnostics, weather predictions, and algorithms for the efficient direction of resources.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will advance the development of amplifiers for quantum computers. Quantum computers require quantum noise-limited amplifiers for efficient operation, but such devices are not commercially available due to the difficulty in fabrication and lack of universal solutions. This project will develop specialized amplifiers that can be fabricated in commercial foundries for deployment at scale. The technology uses an innovative arrangement of superconducting elements to form a novel amplifier. This process will be tolerant to manufacturing variations to enable production at scale.
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. -
MINERALOGIC LLC
SBIR Phase II: Predictive Tools for Characterizing Carbon Sequestration in Mined Materials
Contact
3371 W TISCHER RD
Duluth, MN 55803--9786
NSF Award
2212919 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$998,806
Start / end date
02/15/2023 – 01/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to fully realize the potential for weathering of mine waste to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. By helping mining companies in this effort, this project will positively impact human health and welfare while potentially producing a competitive advantage to the domestic mining industry. The project implementation been designed to maximize positive broader impacts including developing a future workforce and improving public scientific literacy through deliberate public communications on geochemical weathering, carbon emissions, and climate change.
This project advances the characterization of carbon mineralization potential of mined materials by incorporation of a novel framework for conceptualizing silicate mineral weathering and a custom test apparatus for direct measurement of carbon mineralization rates. A working prototype geochemical model was developed in SBIR Phase I to simulate enhanced rock weathering of representative mine waste. The prototype predictive model reflects the unique chemical and surface characteristics of mine waste through incorporation of novel kinetic modules and opportunistic parameterization methods. While this product represents an advance over existing geochemical reactive transport codes, it is most effective as a screening tool. In order to advance from screening for carbon mineralization potential to optimization of carbon mineralization strategies, this Phase II project will develop an innovative test apparatus and related methodologies for carbon mineralization characterization. The design of this test method flows from preliminary application of the Phase I predictive model and the results feed back into refined parameters that are needed to meet industry requirements for design basis precision. The test apparatus and model will be deployed to demonstrate the utility of this new service to the mining industry and other stakeholders.
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. -
MOLTEN SALT SOLUTIONS, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Enhanced Lithium Isotope Separation
Contact
3900 PASEO DEL SOL STE D33
Santa Fe, NM 87507--4072
NSF Award
2233542 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
05/01/2023 – 04/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is a new domestic commercial source of enriched lithium isotopes. The U.S. nuclear power industry requires enriched lithium-7 hydroxide to prevent corrosion in its present fleet of pressurized water reactors. Currently, this strategic material is supplied outside the U.S. and recent supply disruptions jeopardize 20% of the U.S. electrical generation capability. Longer term, the development of safer, lower-impact, new technologies for nuclear power generation is critical to meet the U.S. and global goals of reducing carbon emissions. One of the most promising technologies, molten salt reactors, will require commercial production of large quantities of enriched lithium-7. Even longer term, many of the fusion energy technologies in development will require enriched lithium-6. The planned production of lithium isotopes will enable the development and commercialization of safer, lower-impact nuclear energy.
This Small Business Innovative Research Phase II project proposes the implementation of a liquid/liquid extraction method for lithium enrichment in a pilot-scale production system. To date, this type of extraction has not been employed for commercial lithium isotope enrichment. The Phase II work will result in the design of the first commercial-scale production process. The innovative approach to lithium isotope enrichment will also have applicability in the purification of other stable isotopes.
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. -
MONSTR SENSE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Rapid-scanning Ultrafast Imaging Microscope for Material Inspection
Contact
3830 PACKARD ST
Ann Arbor, MI 48108--2053
NSF Award
2208201 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
01/01/2023 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will address the widespread industry challenge of improving yield in compound semiconductor device production. Compound semiconductors with a wide bandgap are needed for high power devices in electric vehicles (EVs), high frequency components in 5G electronics, and energy-efficient displays. The compound semiconductor market, valued at $36+ billion in 2022, has increased recently with growing consumer demand for EVs. The annual growth rate of silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors, the most prominent devices, is estimated at over 20%. Despite the wide-scale production of these components in an industry that expects near perfection in manufacturing, the current yield of power electronic components is less than 50%. Poor yield results largely from an inability to adequately inspect substrates and epitaxial wafers used for power electronics. Instead, the industry currently relies on inspection tools with poor defect selectivity or destructive methods that can only provide statistical information about the defects in a wafer batch. To increase wafer yield, the team will develop a new type of optical inspection tool for selectively measuring defects in every wafer. If successful, this novel inspection technology will enable the industry to help drive down costs and increase performance of energy-efficient power electronics.
The intellectual merit of this project is the novel way in which technology developed for use in fundamental science is being applied to rapid semiconductor inspection. The proposed method, called ultrafast imaging, uses the nonlinear optical response of a semiconductor induced by an ultrafast laser to isolate defects that measurably impact the electronic structure of the semiconductor. Though the semiconductor industry has typically focused on measuring morphology to find defects, measurement of compound semiconductors requires a tool that is sensitive to the electronic structure. This project will validate ultrafast imaging through benchmark testing against industry standards and develop an easy-to-use device for getting this technology into the hands of manufacturers. Partner manufacturing and inspection companies will provide inspection data and corresponding wafers, allowing correlation of ultrafast imaging defect measurements with data provided by other industry tools. Additionally, the team will develop and demonstrate an easy-to-use commercial product for user facilities and industrial research and development facilities, another essential step in the development of a high-throughput inspection tool. This benchtop product will not only improve current semiconductor technologies but will also be useful for scientists to characterize the next generation of semiconductors.
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. -
MSTATT LLC
SBIR Phase II: Brillouin Microscopy for Early Detection of Dental Caries
Contact
11201 CEDAR AVE STE 725
Cleveland, OH 44106--2606
NSF Award
2212766 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$997,400
Start / end date
01/15/2023 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to facilitate effective use of tooth remineralization treatments by introducing a new tool that is both highly sensitive to demineralization and robust to confounding factors. If patients are compliant with the generally recommended dental visit schedule of twice a year, it is conceivable that the patient may never need to have a primary filling again. This change in practice has significant patient, dentist and broader economic benefits. The remineralization treatment may increase the number of patients who visit their dentist on a regular basis as they can avoid dreaded fillings. The savings from reducing the time spent on primary filings will provide dentists with the opportunity to take on new patients and procedures, while reducing more mundane drilling activities.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will build on the technology developed for early dental caries detection and will develop the technology for clinical use and evaluation by dentists. This technology will enable dentists and hygienists to diagnose caries earlier than previously possible, enabling early treatment, and significantly reducing the amount of drilling in dentistry. This Phase II project will develop a probe designed for use in dental offices, a miniaturized and a ruggedized Brillouin spectrometer. The project will also conduct lab and user testing, develop software, and develop a scientific version of the spectrometer. At the end of this Phase II effort, a validated prototype that will be ready for a clinical trial is expected.
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. -
MUON VISION INC.
SBIR Phase II: Heap leaching and slope saturation monitoring with muon detectors
Contact
404 BROADWAY
Cambridge, MA 02139--1631
NSF Award
2150925 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$978,286
Start / end date
08/15/2022 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project focuses on the development of a technology for advanced geophysical density measurements and the monitoring of fluid fronts in soils based on the passive detection of naturally occurring cosmic rays. The primary application area for this project is the mining sector, where the technology may be able to drive efficiency improvements (up to 10%) in the recovery of copper and other key metals. These efficiencies could potentially result in a value opportunity of close to $1 billion per year in the US alone. The technology can also be applied to monitoring the stability of dams and levees, a widely-recognized ongoing concern, where it can provide safety and environmental benefits to the industry and society at large.
The intellectual merit of this project is primarily related to both the continued development of field-ready instrumentation and of original data inversion methodologies. This includes: i) validation of the prototype sensor developed in Phase I under control conditions; ii) development and testing of fit-for-purpose conveyance and other hardware required for remote operation; iii) development of an original, three-dimensional data reconstruction algorithm driven by customer needs; and iv) development of commercially ready answer products and user interfaces. These innovations will serve to demonstrate the feasibility, technology readiness, and value of the proposed solution to the mining industry.
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. -
MUUKLABS INC.
SBIR Phase II: Artificial Intelligence Powered Software Testing
Contact
400 W NORTH ST
Raleigh, NC 27603--1568
NSF Award
2223011 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$971,804
Start / end date
05/01/2023 – 04/30/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project reduce the cost and speed of software quality assurance (SQA) end-to-end testing by enabling artificial intelligence (AI) to automate tests without the need for coding or highly experienced coders. As innovative high-growth Software as a Service (SaaS) companies go to market faster with more confidence and fewer software defects, industries will benefit economically by saving time and money.
This SBIR Phase II project will build an AI solution which, although used by less experienced software engineers, will allow software companies to identify software defects with minimal user interactions. The real-time and guided process gathers information directly from the web browsers, handling traditional and unresolved problems with test automation such as software test design, automation, coverage, and maintenance. The AI solution will make SQA highly efficient by performing two major tasks: simulating real-time users' exploration of web applications and identifying unexpected behaviors. The architecture enables AI agents to self-learn and interact with the application, improving on each observation. The AI learning cycle implements thorough communication within the system as it communicates requests to apply specific actions based on its own knowledge analyzing the resulting effect. Phase I research proved that the architecture can be upgraded to a commercial version, providing value to customers looking to improve software quality in their products and go to market faster. The anticipated technical results in Phase II will enhance the categorization of unexpected software behaviors, optimize the data analysis time, and reduce the learning cycle.
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. -
Mark Miles Consulting Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Thermo-optic Rooftop Modulation Using Thermal Panes for Building Energy Decarbonization
Contact
1200 LAKESHORE AVE APT 25A
Oakland, CA 94606--1619
NSF Award
2126991 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$781,738
Start / end date
09/01/2022 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project may enable the generation of as much as 65% of a building?s energy needs from renewable heating and cooling, reducing consumption by 13 Quads and saving consumers potentially billions of dollars. Buildings account for 28% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions worldwide and at least 2/3 of these structures will still exist in the year 2040. Achieving significant energy coset reductions will require a retrofit solution that is competitive with natural gas and grid-powered heating and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Such a retrofit must also be easily deployed in a wide variety of building types and architectures. The technology under development is a roof-mounted, panelized array that provides solar heat during the day and radiatively cools at night. The technology may be able to supply building energy resources throughout the year, a disruptive capability for a rooftop clean energy solution. The low cost and renewable nature of this resource may also insure that building owners and residents have access to carbon-free energy that is less expensive, less volatile, and more resilient in the face of interruptions to energy supplied from conventional gas and grid sources.
This SBIR Phase II project seeks to validate a panelized rooftop technology to renewably generate heating and cooling resources for buildings. Dominant solutions combust fuel for heat and use grid electricity to power vapor compression for cooling. The proposed solution describes an array of thermal panes that convert a roof into an active environmental interface that continually optimizes the extraction and rejection of heat via absorptive, radiative, and convective processes. The technology continually operates in response to building energy needs. By modulating pane thermo-optic properties the solution enables fluid flow to alter the internal optical and heat transfer configuration. Evaluation of the technology will begin with manufacturing prototypes that incorporate novel thermal bonding techniques for integrating foamed polyiso-, fluoro-, and poly-olefin polymers. A solar simulator will assess efficiency and output temperatures, an iterative process to explore the role of internal fluid flows, visble and infrared radiation paths, and thermal loss mechanisms. An array will be subsequently deployed on a rooftop and coupled to the building energy system. Data will be collected to assess the impact on energy consumption and overall heating/cooling while developing control algorithms for pane modulation.
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. -
Max-IR Labs, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Real-Time Nitrogen Sensor for Wastewater Treatment Optimization
Contact
17217 WATERVIEW PARKWAY STE 1.202
Plano, TX 75075--8571
NSF Award
1951152 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$800,000
Start / end date
06/01/2020 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase II project will be to supply nitrogen sensors for wastewater treatment process control and automation, potentially saving $600 M per year in electric energy for the U.S. municipal wastewater treatment industry. Municipal wastewater treatment processes are based on energy-intensive aeration. Currently, the primary monitoring method is sending ?grab-samples? to a lab, with delays in receiving results. By enabling real-time process control of the energy-consuming denitrification process, electric energy usage can be reduced by 20% or more. The economic impact to each municipal wastewater treatment plant is an average energy savings of $200 k per year, with less than 6 months payback, and lower operating costs while reducing/preventing out-of-control effluent events. Competing technologies for real-time nitrogen sensors are limited by poor performance, high maintenance needs, high cost, and reliability problems. The proposed new sensor offers a reliable, cost-effective, low-maintenance alternative with potential applications in direct potable reuse (DPR), and managing environmental water quality in agricultural fertilizer runoff, industrial discharge and feed-lot monitoring. The proposed system will help assure the nation?s clean water supply. In addition, as a platform technology for use in related fields, future applications include industrial sensors for real-time manufacturing process control, homeland security sensing for chemical and biological defense, and biomedical use for point-of-care diagnostics.
This STTR Phase II project proposes to develop an infrared-detection sensor for real-time monitoring of nitrogen as nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia in municipal wastewater. The technology addresses strong IR attenuation in water with the first industrial-scale sensor application based on a fiber-optic evanescent wave technique, guiding mid-IR radiation from a tunable quantum-cascade laser through an IR waveguide rather than through the wastewater itself. The incorporation of an ion-exchange material as an encapsulating medium reduces interference and acts as protection against fouling. Novel control algorithms for auto-calibration enable long-term autonomous operation and ensure a reliable signal-to-noise ratio, for 24x7 real-time control of the energy-intensive aeration process. The proposed nitrogen sensor will have a wide range of sensitivity, from 0.1 ppm to 250 ppm, and can be used for other important chemical species with fingerprints in the mid-IR spectral range, such as phosphorus and organic contaminants, making it a robust tool for water quality assessment.
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. -
Metalmark Innovations, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Nanostructured 3D Catalytic Coatings for High-Efficiency Pollution Control and Air Purification
Contact
127 WESTERN AVE
Allston, MA 02134--1008
NSF Award
2026128 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,198,136
Start / end date
08/01/2020 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is addressing the growing societal need for indoor air purification, as indoor air quality (IAQ) directly affects human health, productivity, cognitive function, and quality-of-life. Awareness of the long-term consequences of poor IAQ has recently witnessed an increase due to research results, improvements in monitoring and sensing technology, public awareness campaigns by organizations such as the American Lung Association, World Health Organization, and Environmental Protection Agency, and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. Finding sustainable, economical, and effective solutions to the problem of poor IAQ will greatly benefit public health and wellbeing and will help curtail the spread of pathogens, minimizing the need for social distancing. This project will develop a new system air purification, addressing viruses, harmful chemicals, odors, and ultrafine particulates.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to scale up the production methodology and coating process of novel catalytic materials. The materials are 3D nanostructured porous powders that are designed at multiple length scales to achieve enhanced catalytic activity, stability, and longevity, while reducing costs and utilizing raw materials in an environmentally responsible manner. The system uses a synthetic approach based on self-organization of nanoscale building blocks and wet chemistry tools in order to assemble finely structured coatings for integration in air-purification units. This project focuses on expanding it to production scale, wherein achieving control over the composition, structure, porosity, and placement of nanoparticles on a production scale is challenging. The materials platform development will include adaptation to high-throughput instrumentation and scale-up of the material production and coating process to pilot production. In the process, this project will develop tools and guidelines for manufacturing hierarchically-structured functional materials more generally.
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. -
Microgrid Labs Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Intelligent Planning and Control Software for EV Charging Infrastructure
Contact
903 GROGANS MILL DR
Cary, NC 27519--7175
NSF Award
1951197 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$949,881
Start / end date
05/01/2020 – 01/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project is to develop a modeling, simulation and optimization software for fleet electrification projects. Electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to comprise 70% of all new buses and 15% of all commercial trucks by 2030. Electric vehicles are more expensive than diesel buses and need additional investments in charging infrastructure; furthermore, electrification is complex as several factors influence its design, cost and performance. The transition from diesel to electric buses could impose significant loads on the local electrical network, entailing significant upgrades to the electrical infrastructure at the facility and the utility grid. The proposed software will offer the electric vehicle industry a platform to analyze the battery, charging infrastructure, and energy infrastructure.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses the problem of planning and operating electric vehicle fleets, especially medium and heavy-duty fleets. The technology uses stochastic optimization and discrete event simulation to optimize fleet sizes to minimize costs and meet operational requirements. The proposed work will create a model of the joint transportation and energy processes (i.e., the driving and charging processes). The proposed software will enable real-time optimization of system operations.
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. -
Muzology, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Mnemonic Optimization of Music and Songs
Contact
1109 17TH AVE S
Nashville, TN 37212--2203
NSF Award
1927160 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,029,809
Start / end date
10/01/2019 – 09/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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This phase II award received additional funding to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis.Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project further investigates music-based techniques that can result in effective and efficient learning and instruction. Music as a bedrock of culture can transcend entertainment and enhance learning. Music directly activates neural systems that support memory, attention, motivation, and emotion. Accordingly, music is a powerful medium that not only heightens learner engagement but also facilitates retention of information. While music has long been recognized for its mnemonic properties and is widely used as a memory aid in the context of early childhood learning (e.g., the ABC song), music-based educational products for the broader K-12 market are less pervasive. This project focuses on the optimization of musical structures to support effective and engaging mathematics instruction. The goal of this project is to offer music as a credible pedagogical tool. Specifically, this project offers music as a learning medium that can be used beyond rote memorization and instead teach mathematical skills, processes, and procedures in an engaging manner that makes math accessible to all learners. Mathematical fluency is a critical skill in a society that continues to become more technological; it also creates broader career opportunities for students and undergirds the U.S.'s national competitiveness.
The proposed research features two innovations: 1) optimization of learning-based musical forms based on distinct mathematical information types; and 2) creation of a non-linear, dynamic platform to deliver the content. Using computational musicology techniques as well as experimental studies, the first innovation involves creation of mathematically accurate music videos based on unique creative and structural parameters that are determined by the type of mathematical information being taught. The second innovation focuses on delivery of the music-based content and involves significant technical and creative investigation to produce a dynamic, non-linear mechanism for presenting the material in a manner that still feels continuous and compelling to the student. Together, both innovations underlie a synergistic learning solution designed for premium learner engagement and to support self-paced, adaptive learning. This project will result in high quality, digital math instruction that is accessible to all learners through use of effective, engaging, and relevant instructional methods. The desired outcomes are eliminating proficiency gaps in math education and achieving equity in students' educational success.
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. -
NALA SYSTEMS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Chemically Resistant Membranes for Water Purification
Contact
2 DAVIS DR
Chapel Hill, NC 27516--4654
NSF Award
2038543 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,437
Start / end date
05/01/2021 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
This SBIR Phase II project will develop breakthrough polymeric membranes to purify water by reverse osmosis. It will address the recognized global need for clean drinking water driven by increasing population and urbanization that affect billions of people living in water-stressed lands. The impurities in water from different geographical locations and different types of water (e.g., seawater, industrial wastewater, tap water reuse) differ, and separation membranes that can selectively remove different combinations of impurities will be critical to addressing this world challenge. The technology provides a means to greatly eliminate costly cleaning operations and minimize plant downtime in this ~$5 billion market. Industrial and Enhanced energy and operating efficiency will be achieved through reduced required pretreatment and enhanced fouling resistance, leading to extended use cycles and improved water flux over the lifetime of the membranes.
This SBIR Phase II project will produce thin film composite reverse osmosis (RO) membranes comprised of precisely sulfonated polysulfone polymers in the ~100-nm thick range on a porous support. These novel membranes will provide a long sought after revolution in water purification membranes with their high resistance to chlorine for disinfection and ability to prevent biofouling. For the first time, they will also efficiently remove monovalent salts that contaminate seawater and brackish water from their mixed salt compositions. Sulfonated polysulfones have been considered previously for RO membranes due to their inherent chemical resistance, but they failed due to low salt rejection at high ionic strengths and their inferiority in salt rejections in mixed salt feedwater. Municipal water requirements are high and their process water is often contaminated with toxic products (boron and arsenic moieties, hydrocarbons, perfluorinated surfactants, biofilms), making reuse difficult to impossible technically and economically. This project advances material synthesis and material processing through precisely sulfonated polymers. Phase II will take advantage of these advances to optimize the membrane coating process, scale it to pilot quantities, and measure resistance to a range of impurities found in tap water reuse, industrial water purification, as well as in purification of brackish surface and groundwater and highly saline seawater.
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. -
NANOXORT LLC
SBIR Phase II: Novel size-changing, gadolinium-free contrast agent for magnetic resonance angiography
Contact
540 DEVALL DR STE 101-1A
Auburn, AL 36832--5888
NSF Award
2322379 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,676
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will provide a tool for vascular imaging, an area of medicine with a large clinical need. The developed blood pool contrast agent (BPCA) has the potential to disrupt the current magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) contrast agent market because of its improved safety profile and enhanced imaging of the vascular system compared to current gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). The proposed technology has the potential to improve the diagnosis and safety of contrast-enhanced MRA. This creates a win-win-win scenario for everyone involved. For patients with vascular disease, this solution provides a safer alternative with a more accurate diagnosis that will allow doctors to prescribe safer, more effective treatments. For the patient?s family, it reduces financial and social burdens by enabling preventive treatment due to earlier disease detection. For radiologists, the clearer MRA images may lead to more accurate diagnoses. The product will be marketed to radiologists and medical institutions that perform MRA to diagnose vascular thrombosis, renal stenosis, and pediatric MRA.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to optimize an iron-based BPCA for use in MRA for the detection of vascular diseases. Contrast-enhanced MRA is a staple diagnostic procedure for imaging blood vessels. The market is currently dominated by gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) due to their excellent contrast enhancing effects; however, due to their potential toxicity, GBCAs are designed to be rapidly cleared, leaving only a short window for MRA image acquisition and resulting in suboptimal image quality of blood vessels. To address the need for a safer contrast agent able to provide enhanced vascular imaging, the Phase II project will optimize an iron-based contrast agent that will enable an extended imaging window for improved MRA resolution, but which is removed by kidney filtration. The research objectives include: (1) optimizing the minimum viable product to enable dose reduction and enhance the safety profile; (2) evaluating diagnostic imaging efficacy and toxicology; and (3) demonstrating a scale-up manufacturing process for the synthesis of the final formulation. This solution addresses the major points required to de-risk commercialization and bring the technology closer to the market.
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. -
NATRX, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Resilience for Waterfront Infrastructure
Contact
6220 ANGUS DR
Raleigh, NC 27617--4752
NSF Award
2322073 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$995,338
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to drive restoration and preservation of coastal wetlands by unlocking their ecosystem value. Many coastal communities are underserved and do not have resources to adapt to increasing risks from erosion, storms, and sea level rise. Enhanced coastal resilience and restoration promotes biodiversity, which bolsters coastal communities through improved fisheries, tourism, and water quality, as well as other "blue economy" benefits. This project will enable coastal communities to access funds from monetizing project co-benefits and promote nature-based solutions with economic and environmental benefits. This project advances NSF?s mission by developing analytical tools that can directly benefit national welfare. The project can create significant impact by enabling more environmentally sustainable adaptation techniques, expanding financing alternatives for coastal wetlands restoration, and promoting equitable actions. This solution creates ecological and socio-economic benefits by addressing the need for more sustainable communities given coastal migration trends and rising sea levels and increased storm intensities.
This approach utilizes high-resolution satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to accurately and systematically measure the carbon stock in coastal wetlands. The project will include an integrated suite of technologies for new datasets, a modeling framework to identify coastal shorelines at risk of erosion, high fidelity maps of blue carbon stock, and the characterization of biodiversity in relation to the environment. This project is expected to make significant contributions to the protection of coastal wetlands and the development of novel methods to analyze blue carbon stocks. The project will build on the existing software platform developed during Phase I and extend its application to determine the different blue carbon pools in marshes and mangrove ecosystems. By accurately measuring erosive conditions and carbon stock at a high spatial resolution in coastal wetlands, this solution has the potential to enable markets to meet sustainability goals while preserving the numerous benefits that wetlands provide to the environment and communities. The project would also decrease the uncertainty in the measurement of blue carbon at a high spatial resolution, a critical factor for creating trustworthy and reliable carbon credits, which can be used to finance the restoration and preservation of coastal wetlands.
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. -
NEOCARE INNOVATIONS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: An Integrated Biomedical Platform and Custom Algorithm to Optimize Feeding Protocols for Preterm Infants
Contact
827 10TH ST APT 2
Santa Monica, CA 90403--1616
NSF Award
2335207 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$943,819
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses the economic burdens of healthcare for preterm infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) across the US by lowering expenses through cost effective technology. On average 400,000 preterm infants are born in the US each year and 49% experience difficulty feeding after discharge. Preterm infants who cannot successfully feed are at increased risk of hospital readmission resulting in significant financial and emotional burdens for their families. In the US the average length of stay for an infant born less than 32 weeks gestation is 13.2 days. The current practice is for babies to remain longer in the NICU at an average cost of $7,000 per day and a national cost of more than $26 billion a year. An estimated 2-day reduction in length of stay with this biomedical device will lower the financial cost of overall neonatal healthcare expenditure by $8.9 billion annually and will reduce the need for future medical interventions because infants are discharged with a stronger early-stage health baseline. Once this product is commonly used in US hospitals, it can be distributed globally to meet demand and benefit infants worldwide.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project can save hospitals thousands of dollars while delivering better care and positive patient outcomes. For infants admitted to the NICU, successful oral feeding is a prerequisite for discharge home, but preterm infants often struggle with oral feeding skills largely due to problems coordinating swallowing with breathing. Achieving safe and efficient oral feeding in preterm infants is challenging because of these neurodevelopmental immaturities. Feeding progress is therefore limited by difficulties in maintaining cardiorespiratory stability. This biomedical platform and clinical algorithm interface use big data based on breathing patterns to quantify the synchronization of breathing and swallowing. A precise method of measuring infant breathing patterns during feeding gives clinicians a diagnostic tool to better inform decisions related to feeding advancement. This device provides objective metrics of feeding success and discharge readiness and may result in decreased readmissions for failure to thrive, substantially reducing healthcare utilizations and post-discharge expenditures. Creating technology that helps infants feed better so they can go home sooner promotes improved parent-infant interactions and optimizes infant development.
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. -
NEURODYNE, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Analog front end (AFE) platform for lightweight, long-term, cortical monitoring
Contact
7000 CORSICA DR
Germantown, TN 38138--1528
NSF Award
2317290 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$963,459
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project provides next generation ambulatory seizure data acquisition. The advent of mobile health advances during the COVID-19 health crisis have enabled new innovations to be considered. This effort provides a framework for the next line of remote neurological data acquisition capabilities for the implementation of military helmet designs that detect battlefield traumatic brain injuries, football helmet designs that detect sports-related brain injuries, caps for first responder teams that detect trauma, at-home monitoring headsets for remote migraine assessment, etc. A complete analogue front end (AFE) will be developed in order to provide digitized electroencephalograph (EEG) signals to the downstream stages. The project will have a major impact in several areas, namely, wearable bio-devices, data fusion, and neurological data extraction and visualization of complex biological systems. This device can be utilized for first responders at the scene of neurological trauma such as emergency medical technicians, battle front medical areas, and sports related events.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will provide a robust mobile device that can be worn in an at-home setting for remote neurological monitoring. The solution will remove noisy artifacts from the electroencephalograph signal in order to perform neurological diagnoses and provide neurological reporting to the neurologist as an aid to quantify the patient?s seizure instances. The analogue front end (AFE) provides the foundation for a portable electroencephalograph (EEG) device for neurological data acquisition for the clinical, academic, and research communities. The ambulatory seizure monitoring device will enable an end-to-end system for robust, lightweight, data transmission to a cloud service, which will generate reports for the physician to analyze a patient neurological data for treatment. This system will extend the current rise of health devices into the complex environment of neurological states, as well as the eventual development of neuro-analytics.
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. -
NEUROTECHR3 INC.
SBIR Phase II: A machine learning-driven telerehabilitation solution designed to promote the personalized recovery of hand and arm functions post stroke
Contact
23 CHERRY TREE LANE
Warren, NJ 07059--2600
NSF Award
2226174 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$997,735
Start / end date
06/15/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to potentially improve the quality of life for individuals suffering arm and hand impairments from stroke, through a medical device for telerehabilitation. Each year, ~800,000 people have a stroke in the United States, and about 65% of them suffer long-term upper extremity impairments. Due to many barriers such as cost, transportation, and time, many individuals do not obtain enough therapy for recovery. The telerehabilitation approach may reduce some of these barriers, allowing therapists and their patients to have meaningful remote sessions. For therapists, this may improve fiscal outcomes by automating the flow of reviewing patient progress, adjusting their rehabilitation treatments, and billing for services.
This project will advance the development of a personalized telerehabilitation system, specifically for hand and arm motor recovery, for individuals suffering from a stroke. New exergames designed for rehabilitation of the fingers, hand, and arm will be developed and added to the current library of games. Machine learning will be added to the system to create a versatile, engaging, and customizable solution. This novel approach to rehabilitation will personalize treatments that may be more effective by addressing individual user needs with predictive analytics. Machine learning will drive the recommendation system to synchronize the rehabilitation plan with the patient recovery trajectory. This synchronization will help the therapist provide personalized therapeutic exercises and possibly increase their patients? recovery outcomes. The games and machine learning algorithms will be evaluated with clinicians and individuals with stroke. The final step will be to test the feasibility of the system in a comprehensive stroke center. These capabilities of personalized virtual rehabilitation, remote clinician supervision, and progress tracking may offer a cost-effective way to improve patient outcomes.
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. -
NEWHAPTICS CORP.
SBIR Phase II: Microfluidic Technology for Full-Page Digital Braille and Tactile Graphics Display
Contact
2890 CARPENTER RD STE 1700
Ann Arbor, MI 48108--1100
NSF Award
2153384 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$985,343
Start / end date
09/15/2022 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to reduce the burden of accessing information for the 1.5 million blind people in the United States by making a full page of refreshable braille text and tactile graphics available in a device resembling a tablet computer. This assistive technology will provide increased access to braille in digital form and enable blind students to read, with their fingers, digitized spatial content including mathematical equations, graphs, and figures, creating parity with their sighted counterparts interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. In particular, the product with supporting software will remove barriers to collaboration in classroom learning environments and document preparation in the workplace. The proposed product will improve braille literacy, increase opportunities to enter careers in STEM, and ultimately lead to the employment success and independence of blind Americans.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project continues efforts to adopt microfluidic technology in order to create a highly manufacturable full-page braille and tactile graphics display that uses pneumatic signals to actuate pins at braille spacing. The anticipated technical innovations shift certain drive functions from electromechanical hardware to the more cost effective and easily manufactured multilayered microfluidic substrate. Since the ultimate objective for this phase of research is to create an integrated system for delivering interactive braille and tactile graphics, the team will focus on designing the interactive experience by which blind users access, on demand, the textual and non-textual information that they desire. The anticipated outcome of this project is a seamless array of actuated pins in a tablet sized device capable of presenting a half page of braille characters and tactile graphic images.
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. -
NEXILICO, INC.
SBIR Phase II: An omics-based computational drug design and discovery platform for next generation microbiome therapeutics
Contact
98 AMBERFIELD LN
Danville, CA 94506--1332
NSF Award
2228069 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
06/01/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project focuses on the human gut microbiome, the complex and dynamic community of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract. The gut microbiome influences a variety of human diseases, such as Type 2 Diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. Collectively, these diseases afflict more than 120 million people and cost more than $580 billion in patient treatments in the US annually. The current standard care of treatments for many of these diseases have variable efficacy and serious side effects. There is increasing interest in modulating the gut microbiome using microbiome therapeutics, i.e., therapeutics comprising living bacteria, as a new generation of drugs for difficult-to-treat diseases. However, the industry currently lacks a reliable approach to systematically and cost-effectively developing effective microbiome therapeutics. Specifically, the largest barrier to microbiome therapeutic development is the lack of predictive preclinical models to translate early-stage research into drug discovery and development.
The proposed project seeks to address the barrier to the use of microbiome therapeutics by developing a first-of-its-kind computational platform, as the first comprehensive, computational, drug design and discovery platform. Currently, the development of microbiome therapeutics is based on a series of experimental and statistical steps that identify the potential microbial strains for target therapeutic candidates in an empirical and iterative process. As a result, this approach requires extensive iterative in vitro and in vivo experiments, which substantially increase the length and cost of the development programs. These challenges have resulted in an inefficient and unpredictable microbiome therapeutic development process, limiting the number of efficacious microbiome therapeutics that could save millions of lives worldwide. This project addresses these challenges by reliably and cost-effectively identifying therapeutic candidates for a wide range of indications. This platform could replace the current iterative and unpredictable development process in the drug discovery stage. The utility of the platform will be demonstrated by developing new therapeutic candidates for Type 2 Diabetes and validating the efficacy of these candidates in preclinical studies.
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. -
NOBLE GAS SYSTEMS LLC
SBIR Phase II: Conformable Hydrogen Storage for Aviation
Contact
40000 GRAND RIVER AVE STE 105
Novi, MI 48375--2133
NSF Award
2223187 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$969,214
Start / end date
01/15/2023 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to enable the reduction of greenhouse gases by the aviation industry by advancing the development of a lightweight conformable tank capable of storing hydrogen at a gravimetric efficiency of over 10% hydrogen by mass. The development of a conformable tank with a > 10% storage efficiency, which exceeds the potential of existing technology, would have an immediate impact on the potential for hydrogen to replace existing transportation fuels. While the aviation application introduces unique challenges for hydrogen storage, the results of this project will benefit a wider variety of transportation fuel markets, where demand for lightweight, safe, and economically viable storage solutions is increasing. The storage of high-pressure gaseous hydrogen is a significant obstacle for zero emissions fuels, and meeting the standards for minimum burst pressure, cyclic operation, extreme temperature operation, and hydrogen permeation with a conformable tank will open the door to a wide variety of near-term applications, enabling the reduction of transportation-related emissions and reducing the burden of sending carbon fiber tanks to landfills at the end of their lives.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will address the challenges related to the commercialization of a lightweight hydrogen tank for aviation fuel. The decarbonization of the aviation industry requires zero-emissions powertrain technologies. However, current battery technologies lack the storage efficiency to support long-range flights, and existing hydrogen storage tanks are too heavy and cumbersome to be practical. The research objectives of this project are to increase the gravimetric efficiency of conformable tanks, close the gaps in the remaining barriers to component certification compliance, and produce prototype tanks suitable for bench testing and evaluation for flight testing. The research will involve the optimization of the pressure vessel reinforcement structure, the production of conformable tank samples, the testing of samples for the existing hydrogen tank regulations, and the collaboration with airplane manufacturers and regulators to identify and address additional performance requirements. Once completed, the project will result in full-scale (2.5 kg and above), standards-compliant, production scalable tanks for continued component and flight-worthiness evaluations.
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. -
NOON ENERGY INC.
SBIR Phase II: Rechargeable Carbon-Oxygen Battery for Ultra-Low-Cost Renewable Energy Storage
Contact
470 RAMONA ST
Palo Alto, CA 94301--1707
NSF Award
2222588 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
11/15/2023 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this SBIR Phase II project is a new ultra low-cost carbon-oxygen battery that provides high energy density long-duration storage with unique fundamental properties needed to enable 100% renewable energy. This closed-loop stationary energy storage system will turn intermittent solar/wind power into on-demand power at lower cost than fossil fuel generation. Additionally, its high energy density (3x lighter and smaller than Lithium-ion batteries at system level) will enable longer range electric ships, trucks, etc. ? a secondary target market ? and a much more compact size for stationary storage than other batteries at the same energy capacity. The project will provide insight into the scale-up potential and design parameters of key battery components. Achieving 100% sustainable energy will have a wide range of societal impacts including minimizing environmental impact and improving human health.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project for the carbon-oxygen battery will thus focus on key technology development of the core components by modeling, building, and testing. This will involve assembling an array of small-scale prototype reactors to screen configurations and iterate on the design, followed by scale up to a larger megawatt-hour (MWh) scale reactors to integrate into a demo system. The objectives of the Phase II project will focus on optimizing the reactor to achieve the key target metrics, including objectives to: 1) create and validate a multi-physics model of the optimized reactor, 2) design the optimized reactor, operating conditions, and materials, and 3) build and test several optimized reactors and show that the best design has the potential to fulfill the target metrics.
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. -
NORCON TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Chalcogenide Polymer Infrared Optics
Contact
7623 E CAMINO DEL BRIOSO
Tucson, AZ 85750--7087
NSF Award
2129415 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$984,268
Start / end date
11/15/2021 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact and commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve the optics and lenses used in near infrared 3D imaging. Glass lenses, which have excellent transmittance and thermal properties, are used in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and rangefinders for distances beyond a few tens of meters. Polymer lenses, which are moldable and lower cost, are typically used in consumer-mobile 3D cameras and emerging automotive LiDAR systems. The refractive indices of these lenses limit the numerical aperture and require longer-than-desired lens barrels. The proposed polymeric chalcogenide lenses combine infrared transmittance, index, and thermal properties with the cost and moldability of optical polymers. The innovation enables the molding of freeform polymer lenses with increased numerical aperture and reduced barrel lengths. These properties make possible more compact, lighter, and lower cost 3D imagers. With these advantages, rangefinders can be more easily carried and scan faster and smartphone cameras can have wider viewing angles. Additionally, LiDAR systems can image more accurately around a vehicle and improve both driver and pedestrian safety.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project seeks to advance sulfur polymer chemistry and materials processing for the development of a new class of near infrared (NIR) optical components. Innovative chemical synthesis and infrared fingerprint engineering has led to the development of a new class of optical polymers with the potential for imaging applications in the NIR. As a result of extensive optical and mechanical characterization, including the determination of the optical constants over the full infrared spectrum, measurement of mechanical properties such as the coefficient of thermal expansion, measurement of thermo-optic coefficients, and determination of stress-optic coefficients, the materials will now be developed and integrated for product applications with innovative optical designs based on material's unique property set. Freeform optical design concepts will be used which, to date, have not often been used in infrared imaging. Such designs may lead to more compact, lighter, and higher performance optical systems for infrared imaging applications, further leveraging the advantages of the material's transmission spectrum, incorporating absorption, bulk scattering and surface scattering, and surface scattering contributions.
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. -
NOVEL FARMS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Microbe-based scaffold for the generation of structured cell-based meat
Contact
2988 SAN PABLO AVE
Berkeley, CA 94702--2471
NSF Award
2303802 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,967
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to combat the profound negative impacts of the animal farming industry through the development of new technologies to advance cultivated meat production. Approximately 30% of the Earth?s surface, 70% of all arable land, and 29% of the global freshwater supply is dedicated to animal farming. Livestock is responsible for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is one of the largest threats to earth?s biodiversity. A significant fraction (70%) of all antibiotics used in the United States are used on farm animals and this is a primary cause of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, leaving the United States with an economic burden of $55 billion and a healthcare system overwhelmed with 2,000,000 infections, 250,000 hospitalizations, and at least 23,000 deaths per year. An emerging industry poised to combat the negative impacts of animal farming is the cultivated meat industry, which is estimated to decrease energy use by 7-45%, greenhouse gases by 78-96%, land use by 99%, water use by 82-96%, and could eliminate the need for antibiotics use in meat production. The project aims to further develop a novel technology that will allow for the economically feasible production of cultivated meat.
The proposed project aims to solve one of the major barriers impeding the economic feasibility of cultivated meat ? cell culture media cost. Cultivated meat must be priced competitively with conventional meat if it is to be a viable alternative to meat produced via industrial farming. Thus, as with animal feed, cell culture media must be as inexpensive as grass or government-subsidized corn to allow for the production of cultivated meat at a comparable profit margin. The goal of this project focuses on reducing media costs by eliminating expensive media components through further development of proprietary scaffolding technology and reducing the overall volume of media required to generate cultivated meat through the adaptation of ultra-efficient, high-density bioreactors. To do this, the scaffolding technology generated during the Phase I effort will be further developed to incorporate growth factors, the most expensive elements of cell culture media, thereby reducing the overall cost of media. Then, the scaffolds will be adapted for use in high-density, perfusion-based bioreactors that use a fraction of the media as conventional stirred-tank bioreactors, thereby reducing the overall consumption of media. Together, these two strategies will lower the overall cost of cultivated meat production.
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. -
NUTRAMAIZE LLC
STTR Phase II: Developing High Carotenoid Orange Corn for Large-scale Commercial Adoption
Contact
1281 WIN HENTSCHEL BLVD, UNIT 046
West Lafayette, IN 47906--0000
NSF Award
1926952 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,012,916
Start / end date
08/01/2019 – 01/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) project will be the development and commercialization of a novel variety of corn that is high in carotenoids and orange in color, and with yields that are competitive with today's commercial hybrids. In the diets of Americans, two important antioxidant carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, are in low abundance. This deficiency has been associated with higher risk for degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, and potentially, dementia. The ultimate goal of the proposed research is to provide a way for Americans to consume more lutein and zeaxanthin, which will be achieved by increasing significantly the levels of these antioxidants in the U.S.'s most widely grown staple crop: Corn. Since corn is used in a wide variety of popular processed food formats, improving the carotenoid content of corn provides an opportunity to significantly increase the amount of health benefiting antioxidants that Americans consume, without changing consumers eating habits. However, in order for this strategy to be economically feasible, corn varieties that are high in carotenoids must be developed that also are high in grain yield.
This STTR Phase II project proposes to use genetic markers to select for favorable alleles of genes associated with carotenoid biosynthesis and stability in corn bred for commercial production. There is considerable genetic variation in genes associated with carotenoid biosynthesis and stability, however, the most favorable alleles are typically not found in varieties that are commercially relevant to US corn production. Thus, the use of genetic markers developed previously will enable favorable alleles to be moved from lower yielding germplasm that is not well adapted to the US Corn Belt into elite inbreds suitable for the production of yield-competitive commercial F1 hybrids for the US market. The primary goal of this Phase II research is to use the user-friendly genetic markers associated with favorable alleles for 18 key genes associated with carotenoid biosynthesis and stability developed in Phase I to rapidly develop fixed inbreds for use in the production of yield-competitive high carotenoid F1 hybrids suitable for large-scale commercial applications.
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. -
Nanopath Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Integrated Point-of-Care System for Rapid Pathogen Identification and Characterization
Contact
10 PINEWOOD VLG
West Lebanon, NH 03784--3120
NSF Award
2321834 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$997,781
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is improved access to state-of-the-art molecular diagnostic technologies in areas of significant unmet clinical need, such as women?s health. During the NSF I-Corps Program, the team identified urinary tract infections (UTIs) as pressing problem due to the currently lengthy clinical workflows, significant unmet clinical need, and large disease incidence. UTIs are one the most common causes of a healthcare visit for women in the United States and represent one of largest sources of antibiotic prescriptions in the country. Untreated UTIs can lead to severe complications for the patient, including systemic bacterial infections such as bacteremia. Despite the severity and prevalence of UTIs, diagnostic methodologies remain extremely time-consuming and rely on antiquated, culture-based methodologies for pathogen detection. This time-intensive diagnostic workflow typically leaves women in pain for up to three days before they are prescribed the appropriate antibiotic therapy. As a result of shortcomings in current healthcare workflows, women who have limited access to care are subject to longer result wait times, and often never receive the appropriate treatment.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project utilizes a novel nanosensor embedded into an integrated diagnostic consumable for rapid detection of target nucleic acid sequences directly from patient samples. The consumable is coupled to a proprietary bench-top readout instrument for test analysis and result reporting at the point-of-care. The technology eliminates the need for bacterial culture and nucleic acid amplification through an ultrasensitive optical detection modality, providing species-level information and genotypic antibiotic resistance data within minutes. Applications of the proposed platform translate beyond UTIs to other clinical scenarios that currently employ lengthy culture-based or amplification-based diagnostic workflows, such as sexually transmitted infections and respiratory infections. Successful product commercialization will require meeting clinically actionable timescales and assay performance benchmarks. Of importance is the development of a simple, integrated workflow for healthcare workers to enable single-step operation at the point-of-care. The Phase II technical objectives focus on the development and pilot-scale fabrication of the nanosensor, the optimization of sensitivity and robustness of data analysis methodologies to inform down-selection of reader optical hardware, and system integration and user testing.
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. -
New Iridium
SBIR Phase II: Utilizing Carbon Dioxide (CO2) as a Feedstock to Produce Commodity Chemicals
Contact
2870 E COLLEGE AVENUE UNIT 106
Boulder, CO 80303--1961
NSF Award
2151548 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
05/01/2023 – 04/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project is abating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the production of terephthalic acid, a large-scale commodity chemical. Development of this technology will provide a pathway for direct utilization of CO2 in everyday products. For example, implemented at scale, the proposed process has potential to sequester about 20 million metric tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to the emissions from 4.3 million cars. This project also has significant commercial potential. By delivering a lower-carbon product at lower cost than the current technology, the proposed innovation has the potential to become the de facto standard for manufacturing this commodity chemical. Annual licensing and ancillary revenue from a single plant is estimated at $30 million, and at 70-80% market share, typical for the dominant process, annual revenue could grow to over $1.5 billion. The success of this project will also provide a scientific and entrepreneurial blueprint to spur similar efforts thus advancing the state of the art of CO2 utilization technologies.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to develop a light-driven chemical technology that enables the use of CO2 as a raw material in large scale chemical production of terephthalic acid. This project abates CO2 emissions by converting CO2, captured from point sources such as industrial flue stacks or direct air capture, to useful chemical and consumer products. Carbon dioxide is a stable compound and is typically unreactive and therefore incompatible with traditional heat-driven processes. The proposed project will help mature the technology of CO2 activation by photocatalysis, which has been shown to be effective in inducing CO2 reactivity. The first step is to demonstrate the feasibility of using CO2 to produce the target chemical at bench scale. Next, the reaction performance will be optimized using high-throughput experimentation techniques. Finally, the process will be scaled up in a photo flow photoreactor. In this part of the project, engineering scale up issues will be addressed as a precursor to realizing a production plant.
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. -
Niche Biomedical, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: An Ingestible, Intraluminal, Bioelectronic Capsule (IBC) for Closed-Loop Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders
Contact
10940 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 2030
Los Angeles, CA 90064--3783
NSF Award
2052272 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,999
Start / end date
09/01/2021 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project focuses on a new gastrointestinal therapeutic device supporting multi-modal gastrointestinal measurements and treatment of post-surgical complications. Over 300,000 patients in the US undergo abdominal resection surgery each year. These patients often experience serious complications, such as post-operative ileus, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and anastomotic leakage, that significantly impact quality of life. The success of this project would not only benefit patients undergoing abdominal surgery and their families, but also would significantly reduce health care expenditures by decreasing the length of hospitalization as well as associated medical resources. Furthermore, this interdisciplinary research brings together academic collaborators from different fields of expertise. The project provides a unique experience and training for engineers and scientists in the fields of neural interface design and medical device experiments, bridging the gap between the engineering and medical communities, as well as promoting and cultivating future neural engineers to focus on developing emerging/unmet diagnostic and therapeutic devices for improving human health.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project develops and demonstrates a wireless, miniaturized, intraluminal bioelectronic capsule capable of performing on-demand neuromodulation and multi-modality sensing on the gastrointestinal tract, supporting closed-loop neuromodulation. The device will be tested and characterized on benchtop and also through porcine models to demonstrate its potential for treating and monitoring post-surgical complications. The lengthy process of diagnosing and treating post-surgical complications significantly increases healthcare costs. Costs from hospitalization time alone exceed $2,000 per day for post-operative ileus alone. Additional costs due to prolonged hospitalization time exceed $1.5 billion annually. Rapid detection and treatment of these complications could reduce hospitalization time, accelerate recovery, enable closed-loop therapies, and increase quality of life for patients. The success of this project has the potential to bring disruptive impact and revolution to the current pharmaceutical-based post-surgical management and treatment. In addition, the technology developed during this project may be useful to treat other chronic diseases and injuries that are incurable pharmaceutically. The technique may be used as research tools for investigating the biological mechanisms and new therapeutics for different diseases.
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. -
OAM PHOTONICS LLC
SBIR Phase II: Focal Plane Array for Active Coherent Imaging
Contact
6100 CORTADERIA ST NE
Albuquerque, NM 87111--8009
NSF Award
2241921 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
06/01/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is in developing technology that will enable the use of a 3-dimensional (3D) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system in smaller and more economical drones for mapping, surveying, and navigation. The 3D LiDAR has important applications in environment management, forestry, land and corridor mapping, construction, land surveying, precision agriculture, powerline and infrastructure inspection, and countless other areas. The technology will bring significant economic impacts to the industries by reducing the ownership costs of a high-performance LiDAR system and the drone that can carry this system. The reduction of the entry-cost for LiDAR applications with drones will in turn benefit small businesses to perform smaller-scale projects in mapping and surveying. Other than drone-based applications, the innovation is poised to significantly reduce the costs and provide seamless integration of 3D LiDAR sensing in self-driving vehicles and other industrial applications including robotics, smart city infrastructure, surveillance, and security, as well as consumer applications like 3D sensing for augmented reality. The numerous applications enabled by the proposed project not will only help increase the economic competitiveness of the U.S. but also improve quality of life, security and safety.
The proposed project aims at developing a high-performance, compact, and light-weight 3D LiDAR sensor to meet the increasing needs of drone-based, high-precision LiDAR applications. Current commercial high-performance drone-LiDAR systems are notorious for their high cost, bulkiness, heavy weight, and high power-consumption. Current drone-LiDAR systems are also prone to mechanical damage. These issues inevitably shorten the drone flight time, inhibit the installations of high-performance LiDAR systems on the more common consumer-grade small drones, and increase the operation costs. The proposed LiDAR sensor will mitigate all of these issues by leveraging a high-performance coherent LiDAR detection approach with silicon photonics technology in an innovative design. The coherent LiDAR detection method allows more sensitive measurements than the method used in most existing LiDAR systems. The technology achieves a longer detection range and larger number of returns given the same laser power. Based on highly scalable Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible silicon photonics technology, the LiDAR sensor is able to achieve high spatial resolution in a compact size. The entire system will have a form-factor similar to a palm-sized compact camera commonly used for photogrammetry in small drones. The solution requires no mechanical mechanisms for beam scanning nor high-precision alignment of optical components, making the system inherently durable, compact, lightweight, and power efficient.
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. -
OBJECTIVE ED, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Computer-based co-reading for students with reading disabilities
Contact
15355 TAKE OFF PL
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33414--8306
NSF Award
2321439 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
01/01/2024 – 06/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II will produce a system that students will use at home or at school to improve their oral reading. The product will help thousands of public-school districts that are facing a severe shortage of teachers who provide Special Education services to almost 14 million students with dyslexia or other reading disabilities. The project could make teachers more effective in several ways: (1) students will practice independently, and receive appropriate feedback from the computer, customized by the teacher for the individual needs of the student, (2) teachers will be freed up to concentrate on teaching new concepts or to provide individualized attention to resolve specific problems, and (3) teachers will have digital data to track student progress, a mandated requirement of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) act.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will produce a system that students will use at home or at school to improve their oral reading. This system will use a cloud-based infrastructure and end-user application to perform computer-based co-reading with the student that will (1) validate the student?s reading accuracy and offer remediations when the student makes a mistake, (2) allow the student?s specialized teacher to customize the reading experience and the remediations, and to monitor the student?s progress, (3) use engaging book content, (5) capture audio of the student?s oral reading, and (6) provide to the teacher with the captured audio, the corresponding text of that audio using Natural Language Processing, and the student?s mistakes. This system will be evaluated in public schools with sufficient numbers of students to apply to the Institute of Education Sciences for What Works Clearinghouse certification.
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. -
OBSIDIAN SENSORS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: High Resolution Terahertz Video Camera for Medical Imaging
Contact
5754 PACIFIC CENTER DR STE 201
San Diego, CA 92121--4206
NSF Award
2126136 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$987,258
Start / end date
04/01/2022 – 06/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop and launch a new, commercially viable terahertz (THz) imaging technology initially targeted at medical imaging applications. The prototype instrument uses THz reflective imaging phenomenology, a technique that has been shown to efficiently discriminate between healthy and diseased tissues. With a resolution of more than 300x300 pixels, operation at between 10-30 frames per second, and a compact form factor, the system is appropriate for medical environments such as cancer surgeries, including glioblastoma resection. The THz camera will be a new addition to the medical imaging market that has matured with x-ray, MRI, visible and infrared technologies to reach $45 billion. This new instrument is enabled by a large format sensor array that uses a low-cost manufacturing process already implemented in a high-volume foundry. In addition to the medical application, similar imaging systems can be used in security screening applications ($2 billion market/year) such as passenger screening at airports. More broadly, the underlying sensor technology can be adapted for use across the extremely wide THz spectrum, which has implications for many industries.
The intellectual merit of this project is primarily its integration of both high resolution and high-speed aspects of THz imaging, as these capabilities have not yet been demonstrated in a commercially viable form. Previous demonstrations have either involved slow scanning systems that preclude real time applications or cameras that target much higher bands of the THz spectrum. The latter restriction stems from an inability to manufacture arrays of large pixels to image at the longer THz wavelengths. Going beyond one of a kind laboratory proof of concept experiments, the THz camera seeks to provide resolution and frame update rates that are relevant to actual applications. The commercial manufacturing viability of the sensing element may ensure that applications beyond the initial medical market will be practical. The camera will feature not only the high-resolution THz imaging near the 250-350 GHz spectrum but also incorporate high-resolution visible and near-infrared cameras that can complement the THz video, with trials being planned for hospital usage. In addition to clinical usage scenarios, the imaging system can be adapted for use in airport security and other screening applications, as portability and ease of use will guide the demonstration system design.
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. -
OFF PLANET RESEARCH L.L.C.
SBIR Phase II: Portable Production Process for Icy Regoliths by Vapor Deposition
Contact
1130 W MARINE VIEW DR STE A-2
Everett, WA 98201--1500
NSF Award
2231348 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$996,708
Start / end date
07/15/2023 – 06/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will enable research and development on simulated moon surface materials that resemble the icy regolith on the Moon and other worlds by a large number of organizations that currently do not have access to such materials. Making realistic icy regolith simulants is beyond the reach of most organizations because they are produced by replicating the natural formation processes, that is they are produced under conditions that approximate the environment within the ultra-cold, permanently-shadowed areas in the polar regions of the Moon. Utilizing the resource potential of icy regoliths is a key to an enduring human presence in space. Accurate simulants of these materials are necessary to develop the technologies for studying, prospecting, and utilizing this resource. Greater access to these simulants will increase academia/industry partnerships and allow more rapid technology development through higher fidelity testing.
This SBIR Phase II project provide a location-dependent, custom production method to produce icy regolith simulants in large enough quantities in locations where they are needed by students, researchers, and engineers. Currently, the difficulty and cost of making realistic icy regolith simulants is preventing the higher fidelity testing required to reduce the risk and facilitate the development of in situ extraction technologies for critical resources. These simulants must be produced by re-creating the natural formation processes on the Moon and other worlds as closely as possible under very controlled conditions. Icy simulants must be custom-made and can include hazardous gases so they are expensive and can only be produced slowly in small batches. Cryogenic shipment after production is expensive, difficult, and limited to small amounts. This project will produce new equipment and methods of production that are portable. The solution will also make more realistic and complete icy regolith simulants in quantities large enough for effective research and development to take place. The equipment will be designed to be adaptable and have the capacity to make various physical forms of icy simulants with differing ingredients.
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. -
OFF-WORLD, INC.
SBIR Phase II: High Power Microwave Robot for Industrial Extra-Terrestrial Resource Extraction
Contact
1983 LOCUST ST
Pasadena, CA 91107--3238
NSF Award
2304615 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,117
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve space exploration over the next two decades. New space missions are being planned and executed at an increasing rate by countries and companies around the world. A novel space ecosystem is developing, especially with respect to the Moon. Over 30 lunar missions are planned for the next 10 years. The focus of this technology is to develop an antenna capable of projecting microwave beams into lunar rock with pinpoint accuracy. This innovation will have the commercial impact of enhancing digging and tunneling on the lunar surface creating landing pads, living quarters, and producing water and fuel with over 40% greater efficiency than other methods. Furthermore, this technology holds promise for improving mining on Earth too. As society transitions from a fossil fuel to an electric infrastructure, the demand for critical battery minerals is projected to increase 6 times by 2040. The innovation can streamline the processing of minerals by 50%, helping to meet this increasing demand that conventional approaches cannot meet. In summary, this project is about transforming lunar exploration and Earth mining, and enabling space exploration and the transition from fossil fuels.
This SBIR Phase II project develops and validates the critical hardware subcomponents of the microwave antenna system, which are characterized by a compact array of high-power elements operating in phase. The distinctiveness of the design is its ability to increase the intensity of the microwave beam at a significant distance in front of the antenna. The beam weakens rock by directly injecting heat deep into it, which will simplify mineral extraction by making rock processing faster and more energy efficient. The antenna hardware itself is exposed to significantly lower electromagnetic stresses, allowing it to operate in extreme environments. Key Phase II project tasks are verifying the manufacturability of the antenna array; confirming its capabilities using testing on beam-forming, low-power reflection; and testing the capability to focus and steer a beam with high precision. Detailed electromagnetic measurements will fully characterize the antenna and confirm its high power and low power performance in the areas of the near-field radiation pattern, cross and co-polarization, reflected power, beam forming capability, antenna efficiency, and its ability to generate a high electric field density within a desired and steerable focal point.
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. -
OMNICYTE, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Design and production of a next generation vaccine to prevent COVID
Contact
3 INDIAN COVE RD
Guilford, CT 06437--3323
NSF Award
2313338 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$997,689
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine that addresses the weaknesses of the current vaccines. While the current COVID-19 vaccines have saved countless lives and have allowed our society to get back to normal, they have their weaknesses. The boosters are sometimes not effective, and when they are, they have short-lived efficacy and they can have mild to severe side effects. These weaknesses not only put individuals at risk of getting sick with COVID or the side effects, but those weaknesses also compromise confidence in the vaccine, which affects compliance. The proposed project promises to produce a next-generation vaccine that has better efficacy and significantly reduced side effects, as well as increased duration of effectiveness. This could pave the way for an effective annual administration schedule of the vaccine booster that addresses new strains, much like the seasonal influenza vaccine.
The proposed project intends to produce a next-generation vaccine that can renew confidence in vaccinating to prevent COVID-19. The project's objectives are to show that the vaccine candidate can not only create an immune response that can stop the spread of the virus but also kill the virus. Additionally, it is hoped that the project will show that the vaccine is safer than the current vaccines and that it promotes an immune response that lasts significantly longer than current vaccines. This will be accomplished by testing the vaccine in a Hamster model that simulates the human respiratory system well. Not only will efficacy be tested, but the longevity of the immune response will also be tested. As an additional objective of the study, the route of administration will be examined. The vaccine's effectiveness will be compared by administering it either through injection, nasal administration, or a microneedle patch.
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. -
ONECYTE BIOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
SBIR Phase II: A high throughput microfluidic platform to accelerate biomanufacturing transitions in biologics development
Contact
199 DEXTER AVENUE
Watertown, MA 02474-
NSF Award
2309447 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$988,939
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is accelerating the manufacturing of and access to newly developed therapeutics and vaccines. To address global health problems, effective and safe new biologics such as therapeutics and vaccines will need to be manufactured at unprecedented large scales and short times. Accelerating access to new biologics for potentially billions of individuals will be critical for healthcare and the global economy. The solutions will be manifold, and realizing productive and robust manufacturing for these candidate preventative and therapeutic medicines in a short period of time remains a key challenge to transition discoveries from the lab to the clinic. The innovations proposed in this project could significantly accelerate drug development and biologics manufacturing by shortening the biologics development times up to six months. Vaccine and drug developers would succeed faster and fail faster, enabling accelerated transitions of discoveries for new therapeutics to the clinic and beyond by addressing critical steps in manufacturing. Improving transitions should also let developers test a higher number of compounds, thereby increasing the performance and potentially reducing the side effects of these drugs.
This project aids in the manufacturing of novel therapeutics and vaccines. Manufacturing of biologics starts with a high-performing clonal cell-line, derived (by definition) from a single cell. Developing such a cell line today takes up to six months due to the iterative screening and testing needed to assure quality and performance. This essential step in any biologic manufacturing transition is critical time lost in the fight against disease. This project enables drug developers to select a high-performing cell clone in one day, compared to many months by using a proprietary, single-cell, proteomics platform at an unprecedented throughput rather than having to go through lengthy, iterative selection, clonal expansion and analytics. The scope of the research is focused on addressing the remaining critical technical hurdles before deploying the technology for commercial use. Specifically, a systematic and statistical approach will be used to implement necessary alternative materials and processes. The goal of the project will be implementing the developed processes with biotechnology industry partners to accelerate vaccine and therapeutic development and manufacturing.
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. -
OPTICAL WATERS LLC
SBIR Phase II: Scaling and Optimizing Manufacturing Methods for Germicidal Optical Fibers (GOFs) to Prevent Disease-Causing Biofilms in Tight Channels
Contact
32 TRILLIUM WAY
Amherst, MA 01002--3437
NSF Award
2321377 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$983,776
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to advance the development of germicidal optical fibers (GOFs). GOFs are the first fiber technology that can effectively distribute ultraviolet (UV)-C radiation in pipes, tubes, and channels by side-emitting UV-C radiation along their entire length, like a glowstick. Placing these fibers in conduits found in hospitals, homes, and businesses can reduce infections, deaths, and operational issues caused by bacteria build-up. By expanding the use of the GOFs, the team hopes to can reduce reliance on toxic chemicals for disinfection and decrease harmful disinfection by-products. This research will increase the knowledge on the ability to manufacture specialty optical fibers as well as increase general knowledge on UV disinfection technologies.
This SBIR Phase II project aims to address the logarithmic decay of light that occurs in all existing optical fibers. This limits the working length of GOFs. Technical improvements to the GOFs are needed to increase the uniformity of the light profile. Current draw tower manufacturing methods and equipment are not able to optimize the light profile. Therefore, the specific objectives of this project are to: i) modify the manufacturing equipment in a draw tower and ii) alter the optical configuration to increase the total light availability in the fiber. These objectives will increase the uniformity of light scattering along the length of the fiber and increase the length of GOFs that can be used in disinfection applications.
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. -
OSTIIO LLC
SBIR Phase II: Miniaturization of a Magnetic Craniofacial Distraction System
Contact
3401 GRAYS FERRY AVE
Philadelphia, PA 19146--2701
NSF Award
2234306 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
11/15/2023 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the first fully implantable, subcutaneous system for treating 200,000 infants born with congenital conditions causing impaired growth of the skull or mandible. These abnormalities affect basic functions including breathing, hearing, speech, visual function, neurologic development, and mastication. Distraction Osteogenesis (DO) is a widely recognized clinical treatment for craniofacial abnormalities that applies controlled mechanical forces to correct skeletal deficiencies and defects by leveraging the natural ability of the body to regenerate bone. Current semi-externalized mechanical design systems restore functional discrepancies but result in issues with patient comfort and adverse events that rely on caregivers to follow precise treatment protocols that hinder widespread adoption. This project aims to develop the first fully subcutaneous, automated DO system for the craniomaxillofacial (CMF) skeleton. Applications include surgical correction of obstructive sleep apnea and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder in the adult population, representing potential markets exceeding $10 billion.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will produce a novel, fully implantable craniofacial distraction system comprised of an implantable, magnetically driven mechanism and an external controller driver. The system aims to significantly improve upon existing distraction osteogenesis surgical designs by removing an external component that protrudes through the patient?s skin using a novel implantable magnetic driver design. The novel design enables manual mechanical device adjustment capable of providing the necessary distraction forces in a safe and reliable manner, while eliminating the principal path of complications and treatment noncompliance. The proposed benefits would reduce the risks of infection, device dislodgement, analgesic use, patient stigma, required manual operation, and treatment noncompliance. This project aims to reduce the key critical remaining engineering design risks including system usability issues prior to clinical use and manufacturability. Upon completion of the project, the prototypes will undergo in vivo testing in preclinical models prior to human use.
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. -
OWIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
SBIR Phase II: MicroLINKs: connecting the physical and digital worlds
Contact
350 DUFFIELD HALL
Ithaca, NY 14853--2700
NSF Award
2208619 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,885
Start / end date
01/01/2023 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Research Innovation (SBIR) Phase II project is to reduce the economic, human, and environmental cost caused by the current disconnect between an object and its digital history. At the human level, consider hospital use cases: medical errors are estimated to kill upwards of 90,000 people annually. Many of these deaths can be traced to a disconnect in the flow of information: the wrong medication goes to a patient, a surgical instrument is not properly sanitized, etc. These errors could be prevented with a tag that is used to verify the identity and status of an object at point of delivery. The proposed technology has application potential across multiple industries: in the enterprise space, companies are investing billions in serialization and augmented reality (AR) to do everything from monitoring supply chains to speeding up manufacturing to improving the cost and reliability of maintenance.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to address an unmet need to provide a technology that connects the physical and digital worlds while offering the needed characteristics for specific markets. The proposed tags provide a novel solution as a ubiquitous, unobtrusive, and cost-effective link that seamlessly and securely ties a physical object to its digital content/history, and a unified data storage/access framework. The technology milestones are to increase read distance (from 4 cm to 16 cm) to address the need to accommodate applications requiring longer read distances; to increase volume tag manufacturing at a rapid but controlled pace and to continue to develop next generation readers based on a prototype reader with co-axial optics, where the read length can be adjusted with no changes to the optics or detector. Based on need, the reader can be varied for specific market segments, while relying on the same core optical and electronic sensing technology.
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. -
OXBYEL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
SBIR Phase II: A Cost-Effective Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Electrolyzer for Groundwater Remediation
Contact
2518 W MEDINA AVE
Mesa, AZ 85202--6908
NSF Award
2335319 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,978
Start / end date
04/01/2024 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide a safe, cost-effective water treatment system that eliminates per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from groundwater to protect human health and the environment while reducing the cost and complexity of remediation. PFAS are one of the world?s most intractable pollutants and have contaminated groundwater and drinking water sources across the US and the world. The toxicity, mobility, and bioaccumulation of PFAS present a need for remediation as they cause an array of adverse impacts on human health. In the US, impending drinking water regulations and listing of PFAS as hazardous substances under Superfund are setting the enforcement foundation for aggressive cleanup of PFAS-contaminated sites. Current PFAS treatment options are non-destructive, expensive, and simply transfer the PFAS to a solid or concentrated waste stream. This project focuses on the development of a low cost, chemical-free water treatment system that directly mineralizes PFAS to safe end-products with no secondary PFAS waste generation. It addresses customers? need to achieve environmental compliance, reduce remediation cost, accelerate site closeout, and prevent future environmental pollution and liability.
This project is technically focused on the electrolytic destruction of PFAS. The core technology consists of a novel radial-field flow unit cell architecture with an array of these unit cells stacked into an Electrolyzer. Contaminants are destroyed as the groundwater passes through the Electrolyzer anode compartments. Key innovations of this treatment system include the scalability of the unit cells to very large area electrodes resulting in large-scale Electrolyzer stacks that handle continuous water flow, and most importantly the development of a low-cost, anode electrocatalyst that provides high voltage, single-step mineralization of PFAS, including the long chains and hard to treat short-chains, to safe end-products. The objectives of this project are: (1) Scale up the anode electrocatalyst coating process for large area 3D electrodes and make full-scale, low cost anodes; (2) Design and build an Electrolyzer Stack composed of an array of repeating, scaled-up unit cells; (3) Construct a groundwater treatment skid with the Electrolyzer Stack and perform on-site groundwater PFAS remediation treatability testing; (4) Verify the PFAS destruction efficiency and low cost of the Electrolyzer Stack water treatment system.
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. -
Octet Scientific, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Enabling Better Grid-Scale Energy Storage with Organic Additives
Contact
1768 E 25TH ST STE 316
Cleveland, OH 44114--4418
NSF Award
2136220 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
08/01/2022 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to provide a more economical, scalable, and sustainable type of battery for storing the energy needed to support America?s growing renewable power grid. As more wind and solar power generation is being installed, there is a growing need for economical forms of energy storage to supply power during windless and sunless times. Older technologies like lithium ion and lead acid batteries are not ideal for this purpose due to problems with supply, safety, longevity, and sustainability. This project seeks to produce new chemical components to enable grid-scale batteries based on recyclable zinc metal, which offers a safer and more sustainable alternative grid-scale battery option. Furthermore, since zinc and its other battery components are sourced in the US, this project may help facilitate domestic battery manufacturing and reduce dependence on foreign battery supplies.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to produce chemical additives that make zinc-bromine batteries last longer, hold more energy, and run more efficiently so that they can provide sustainable low-cost energy storage for renewable power. Presently, the major problems with these types of batteries are related to unwanted electrochemical side reactions that happen during battery charging. This project will eliminate these side reactions with stable, scalable, organic electrolyte additives designed to prevent problems at the zinc surface. During this phase of the project, these electrolyte addititives will be modified and optimized for performance and scalability. They will be evaluated via testing in actual cells and full-size batteries by the battery manufacturers. By the end of the project, new class of enabling electrolyte may be available in large quantities to help establish safe, sustainable, domestically made zinc-bromine batteries.
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. -
Onda Vision Technologies, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Cover-2: Hydration monitoring in athletes
Contact
310 S HARRINGTON ST
Raleigh, NC 27603--1818
NSF Award
2234491 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$972,411
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project focuses on athlete safety and performance. Heat stroke, known as the silent killer, represents one of the top three causes of fatalities among high school and collegiate athletes. The goal of this project is to develop a wearable system for non-invasive, real-time hydration monitoring of athletes to prevent severe dehydration. A key discriminator of the innovation employs a novel wearable sensor capable of capturing bioimpedance measurements tailored to the unique physiological characteristics of each athlete for personalized safety. Coupled with deep learning methods and cloud-based analytics, the wearable system could send early alert messages to the athletic staff before an athlete approaches adverse or life-threatening conditions. The commercial potential will provide the sports science community with novel insights to customize player activities, manage rest periods, and adjust athlete hydration behaviors. Potential outcomes derived from the project will minimize unnecessary athlete fatalities, reduce medical costs, and minimize the risk of long-term health conditions.
This project addresses the market need for the non-invasive, real-time, field-based hydration assessment of athletes. Acute water loss (dehydration) during sports participation induced by long-term exposure to hot and humid conditions leads to adverse health conditions. Dehydration impacts an athlete?s health in four critical areas: cardiovascular stress, cognitive impairment, thermoregulation failure, and heat stroke. Limitations of current field-based methods include the use of manual (e.g., weight charts) or invasive assessments (e.g., urine tests). The company's fully integrated wearable sensor performs bioimpedance spectroscopy for non-invasive, real-time hydration monitoring. Continuous measurements generate a bioimpedance profile unique to each athlete that captures the fluctuations from the extracellular water and intracellular water compartments. This innovation will give athletic trainers insight into their athletes? safety, health, and performance. Phase II objectives include: 1) building the cloud-based platform, 2) advancing the functionality and sensitivity of the wearable sensor, and 3) deploying the proprietary deep learning algorithms to the cloud for large-scale monitoring. In addition, the team will perform beta testing with potential customers.
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. -
Optimeos Life Sciences, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Formulation of a mRNA-Based Therapy for CTLN1 by Inverse Flash NanoPrecipitation
Contact
174 NASSAU ST STE 334
Princeton, NJ 08542--7005
NSF Award
2233286 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
07/15/2023 – 06/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to enhance American and global healthcare through new technologies enabling clinical translation of gene therapies. One of the major unmet needs within biotechnology is a delivery technology that enables gene therapies to reach the desired organ within the body without raising an immune response. Recent advances have unlocked many potential treatments for genetic diseases, but their use in the clinic is hampered by a lack of delivery technologies. This project will validate a new non-viral platform for this purpose and apply it to commercial use in a rare disease indication. The project provides a gene replacement therapy for Urea Cycle Disorder patients, who are currently treated using a combination of drugs and diet that shows limited effectiveness. Their regimens require up to 40 pills per day in combination with incredibly strict dietary control to avoid consuming too much protein. Even still, elevated blood ammonia results in neurological damage and high neonatal mortality. Caregivers face significant burdens of care to monitor diet, supplements, and medications. A gene replacement therapy that provides true disease correction would be transformational for patients and caregivers.
The proposed project will result in the development of a gene replacement therapy that can be safely and repeatedly dosed to patients suffering from the class of rare diseases known as Urea Cycle Disorders. These patients lack an enzyme of the urea cycle that cannot be delivered exogenously. An alternative therapeutic approach is to deliver instructions, in the form of nucleic acids such as mRNA, for cells in the body to make the missing enzyme. The commercially proven methods of doing this ? lipid nanoparticles and viral vectors ? fail in this indication due to toxicity, immunogenicity, and dosing challenges. The platform developed in this project provides a means to overcome these limitations using a non-viral, polymer-lipid hybrid formulation. The scope of the project includes both pharmacology and toxicology studies in rodent models of the Urea Cycle Disorder Citrullinemia Type I, that will produce a pre-clinical data package supporting further development. Successful project execution will include formulation optimization and pre-clinical demonstration of disease correction (reduced blood ammonia levels) with a strong safety profile.
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. -
OtoNexus Medical Technologies, Inc
SBIR Phase II: Air-coupled MEMS-based Ultrasound Transducer for Assessment of Tympanic Membrane Motion
Contact
1100 BELLEVUE WAY NE SUITE 8A-754
Seattle, WA 98107--0000
NSF Award
1853244 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$718,106
Start / end date
03/15/2019 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
This SBIR Phase II project will enable the development of the first known commercial medical ultrasound device utilizing air-coupled Capacitive Micromachine Ultrasound Transducer (CMUT) technology to diagnose otitis media. Otitis media is the number one indication for which antibiotics are prescribed for children, and the number one cause for surgery in childhood, costing $15+B annually in the US and resulting in 30M annual doctor visits in the US alone. Clinical studies show a diagnostic error rate averaging 50%. Today's tools are unable to accurately determine the presence, and much less the type, of effusion in the middle ear. This leads to significant over- prescription of antibiotics, over-referrals to specialists, and unnecessary surgeries. OtoNexus Medical Technologies, Inc. is developing a simple and sensitive medical device to provide diagnostic data to quickly and accurately diagnose both presence and type of otitis media.
The work of this project will establish fast and economical assessment of CMUT sensor manufacturing performance, by electrical and acoustic measurements. OtoNexus will design and construct test systems to rapidly evaluate electrical and acoustical performance of CMUT sensors as an assessment of production quality. The Electrical Vector Impedance (EVI) test fixture provides an electrical surrogate measure for acoustic output, which can be performed rapidly at the wafer-level with 100% sampling. The Acoustic Output Measure (AOM) test fixture evaluates the pressure emitted by CMUT, and other acoustic performance parameters, after speculum final assembly. This project will develop test fixtures, methods, and processes for assessing production reliability and process consistency. The OtoNexus ultrasound device will be marketed to pediatricians and other primary care physicians, and will decrease prognostic uncertainty and resultant over-prescription of antibiotics, and place the tools for more accurate diagnosis into the hands of the very first clinician the patient sees. This will reduce costs by decreasing both antibiotic usage and specialist referrals and will also decrease required physician time by enabling a nurse or other physician extender to perform the test for otitis media.
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. -
PANGEA CHAT LLC
SBIR Phase II: Intelligent Language Learning Environment
Contact
2910 LIBBY TER
Richmond, VA 23223--7908
NSF Award
2335265 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
05/01/2024 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will create a novel language learning platform grounded in learning science to make language learning more accessible and inclusive, build human connections at home and abroad, utilize artificial intelligent (AI) learning solutions into stronger alignment to the needs of educational institutions, and exemplify the potential of decentralized social media for social connectedness through language learning. The project introduces a unique approach where students ?learn a language while texting their friends,? leveraging innovations in AI to create scalable, playful, and social language learning experiences. The project's competitive edge lies in its novel application of proprietary artificial intelligence algorithms which promote social learning and the expansive network of educators and students it aims to connect. Engineered to address the $1.2B global language learner market, by year three of commercialization, annual revenues are estimated at $2.5M.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project proposes an intelligent language learning environment which facilitates ?learning by doing? within the context of peer-to-peer instant messaging conversation. The project integrates human and artificial intelligence (AI) to immediately augment student communicative abilities while fostering learning and supporting educator practices. Technical objectives are organized by and assessed according to the product goals of privacy and security of the instant messaging platform and AI tools, student engagement, educational efficacy, and scaling to additional languages. The product will be verified private, secure and aligned for the university market. The product will engage students in 20x more conversation practice per semester than direct competitors. Efficacy studies will demonstrate gains across key metrics for developing language proficiency. Achievement of these goals will position the product to address the needs of US university language educators with clear and objective evidence of core value propositions.
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. -
PARAMIUM TECHNOLOGIES LLC
SBIR Phase II: A Flexible and Efficient Manufacturing System for Radio Antenna Reflectors
Contact
1420 E SENECA ST
Tucson, AZ 85719--3645
NSF Award
2213128 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,968
Start / end date
12/01/2022 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide faster internet speeds to remote locations. This goal will be accomplished through the delivery of custom-shaped reflector panels for satellite communication antennas. Currently, there is a significant unmet need in the market for rapid turnaround, relatively low quantity, and affordable curved metal panels with complex, high precision shapes. The manufacturing technology developed in this project may enable economical antenna design and allow for asymmetric panel shapes. The expected advancement in panel fabrication techniques may increase the efficiency of satellite communication by enabling more complex and tailored designs for individual applications. Expanded satellite communication allows for more internet access in underserved communities around the world. The new manufacturing technology may also benefit radio astronomy, with some estimates showing a 70% reduction in dish reflector costs for some large near-term projects.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to develop a new technology to make satellite dish panels. This innovation may reduce cost and allow radio antenna producers to optimize their designs for faster data throughput. To meet modern communication needs, application-specific, precision manufactured reflector panels are needed. Historic manufacturing techniques have long lead times and high material costs. This project builds on past efforts and demonstrations to integrate innovative inspection methods and new manufacturing techniques into an automatic workstation capable of fabricating 1-meter squared scale reflector panels. Test panels will be built to evaluate system performance against key performance indicators, including panel shape accuracy and time to shape and inspect panels. This new approach may produce panels up to 11 times faster than some traditional methods without compromising shape accuracy.
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. -
PARAMOUNT PLANET PRODUCT
SBIR Phase II: Cellulose Based Material Innovations for an Ocean Compostable, Fish Friendly, Plastic Packaging Replacement Platform Technology
Contact
42 MILL ST
Orono, ME 04473--4039
NSF Award
2151692 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$986,583
Start / end date
07/15/2023 – 06/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the design of products that will decompose in nature, are paper-stream recyclable, and Ocean Compostable Fish Friendly (OCFF), with a cost similar to plastic packaging. Since 2018, the US typically recycles between 5-8.7% of its plastic. According to Ocean Conservancy, ?Every year, 11 million metric tons of plastics enter the ocean on top of the estimated 200 million metric tons that currently circulate the marine environments.? The proposed products do not need biocides and use no additives in their production process. The products are made with 100% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified tree cellulose, which ensures that the product will come from sustainably harvested trees. These products will drastically reduce plastic waste while bringing jobs back to rural areas in need of economic development. The products are non-toxic and will compost anywhere and everywhere.
This SBIR Phase II project continues the prototype development of novel products and the commercialization of a new molding and drying technology/techniques required to produce Ocean Compostable Fish Friendly packaging that is durable, functional, and digestible in nature. This product is expected to be adopted by the growing number of consumers who want environmentally-safe, single-use packaging products. This product replaces single-use plastics and other bioplastics. It is naturally grease resistant and will replace perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are being banned nationwide due to their harmful effects on human health. Leading Polylactic Acid (PLA) compostable packaging products are not compostable in nature and contaminate recycling streams. These products will have a material that feels and costs similar to plastic, is greaseproof, and is not harmful to nature and wildlife if littered. The initial product is a soufflé cup comprised of 100% fibrillated cellulose (FC) from trees, a material not yet developed for packaging on a commercial scale. Phase I results included a patent-pending benchtop system that dewaters and molds the FC into desired shapes. The goal of this project is to scale the machine to mold 100% FC into products that customers desire.
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. -
PERCEV LLC
STTR Phase II: Probabilistic and Explainable Deep Learning for the Intuitive Predictive Maintenance of Industrial and Agricultural Equipment
Contact
1515 E KIMBERLY RD
Davenport, IA 52807--1924
NSF Award
2222630 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
12/01/2022 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II is to improve schedule-based maintenance programs to ensure that industrial and farming equipment can function 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The downtime associated with such high productivity equipment can result in significant lost revenue, and research shows that the average manufacturer deals with 800 hours of downtime per year. The proposed technology seeks to effectively reduce or eliminate this downtime, creating value for manufacturers. This project proposes a novel deep learning approach to predicting bearing failure in rotating industrial equipment and enable maintenance teams to confidently plan optimal maintenance activities around equipment that is in the process of degrading. This solution also aims to cost-effectively use a patented methodology to monitor industrial material handling systems with a combination of stationary and mobile battery-powered wireless sensors.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project proposes a novel deep learning approach to machinery prognostics. Many existing deep learning approaches focus on the most likely failure scenarios given a set of training data. Monitored equipment may not exbibit behavior covered in that training set, leading to low-confidence predictions. The proposed approach may not only predict the remaining useful life of a machine component, but also seeks to quantify the uncertainty of a prediction through an ensemble of models and a temporal fusion of predictions. As a result, maintenance decisions may be made from a risk-based perspective, eliminating unnecessary maintenance stemming from low-confidence predictions. Additionally, many existing deep learning approaches also lack the ability to intuitively explain their predictions to human users. In critical applications where poor predictions have serious consequences, maintenance personnel must understand and trust an artificially intelligent predictive maintenance partner. The proposed solution produces an intuitive visual explanation for the model?s prediction by highlighting and animating the segments of a raw data signal that are contributing most significantly to the prediction. This technology may allow trained personnel to quickly make optimal maintenance decisions by fusing data-driven insights with their existing domain expertise.
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. -
PHOENIX WASTE SOLUTIONS INC.
SBIR Phase II: CAS: Advanced Scalable and Sustainable Waste Disposal System
Contact
7111 TOU LOU LOU ST
Chauvin, LA 70344--2427
NSF Award
2303791 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
08/15/2023 – 07/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to complete the development of "The Phoenix", a zero-fuel furnace that converts trash to ash and energy with 30% less greenhouse gas emissions per ton than landfills or conventional incineration. This technology enables municipal solid waste to be managed in a decentralized manner, avoiding the expense and negative environmental impacts of long-distance transportation. The zero-fuel Phoenix is very cost effective as the only inputs are water, filtration media, and labor to operate the machine. Amortizing the cost of the machine over 4 years, waste disposal cost is estimated at $20/ton which is half the cost of the cheapest landfill tipping fees in the US. Heat from the water scrubber can be utilized to generate 106.7 KWe of electricity, with a potential 5 to 10-fold increase if utilizing direct heat from the furnace. The ash byproduct has beneficial reuse as a construction material or soil amendment. Glass and metal are not destroyed by the process and can be retrieved from the ash chamber for recycling, reducing the costly process of separation. These circular economy benefits help increase the economic competitiveness of the U.S. recycling and waste management industry.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II Project focuses on the commercial application of low temperature plasma to enhance thermal degradation of municipal solid waste in a clean and highly cost-effective manner. The technology would complete the development of a patent-pending mobile waste disposal, low-temperature plasma furnace with electricity cogeneration while avoiding the generation of numerous toxic compounds, including dioxins and furans traditionally associated with conventional incinerators. An ion generator utilizes proprietary technology to break down the oxygen molecule into two oxygen atoms and thereby limiting the generation of complex pollutants. However, this process may still form carbon monoxide. The Phoenix system uses a catalytic process to convert carbon monoxide, CO, to carbon dioxide, CO2, at low temperature. The Phase II project will primarily continue to improve the emissions quality of multiple feedstocks with a focus on plastics. The team will also select the most efficacious and cost-effective catalyst for CO conversion and perform extended testing to evaluate long-term operations of the unit.
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. -
PHYTUNES INC
SBIR Phase II: Wireless-Wireline Convergence
Contact
616 RAMONA ST
Palo Alto, CA 94301--2541
NSF Award
2322344 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
12/01/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project provides ubiquitous indoor access to high capacity, low latency 5G and 6G networks which can have direct and indirect benefits to society. ?The direct benefits include an increase in the ability to support manufacturing, health care, education, and enterprise services. ?For instance, remote diagnosis and surgery require very high data rates and very low latency, but medical equipment and the architecture of hospitals generate significant interference and propagation issues which drastically limit coverage. Modern industrial manufacturing (Industry 4.0) also requires advanced networks to enable in-building robotics with artificial intelligence and augmented reality to enhance productivity. ?Removing high frequency 5G coverage limitations will directly improve the ability of these industries to drive medical advances, increase manufacturing safety and efficiency, increase educational opportunities, and improve general workplace productivity. The indirect benefits of this project, while more difficult to quantify, may be more important: lowering the economic burden for high-speed connectivity will enhance the diversity of users that can contribute to innovation, thereby resulting in a nonlinear increase in societal progress.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project?s goal is to commercialize a novel technology developed in Phase 1 to enhance 5G indoor internet coverage. The core innovation is a convergence of wireline and wireless technologies enabled through a collaboration between one of the inventors of core DSL (wireline) technology and experts in the development of mmWave 5G (wireless). Specifically, the solution allows for the transmission of mid-band and mmWave 5G signals over an existing wireline medium such as cat5, cat6, or coax which currently have limited use but are already widely deployed in buildings throughout the world. This solution is possible today because of an ecosystem that includes new Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) standards, 5G cores available in the cloud, and increased processing power. The research conducted through this project will prove the feasibility of ubiquitous in-building coverage at scale with multiple low-cost radiofrequency (RF) nodes broadcasting a 5G signal that does not interfere with the outdoor signals from cell towers. The result of this project will be a seamless customer experience that provides the bandwidth and latency promised by 5G and 6G technologies inside buildings.
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. -
PNEUMONIX MEDICAL INC.
SBIR Phase II: Preventing Pneumothorax During Lung Biopsy Using a Novel Hydrogel
Contact
115 W 29TH ST
Baltimore, MD 21218--4296
NSF Award
2208775 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
08/01/2022 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve patient outcomes, and reduce the morbidity and costs associated with lung collapse (pneumothorax) during computed tomography (CT)-lung biopsies used for screening lung cancer. Over 400,000 CT-guided lung biopsies are performed in the US, and more than 1.2 million worldwide. Management and treatment of symptomatic pneumothorax often requires multi-day hospital stays and costs on average of $15,000 per patient and $1.3 billion yearly worldwide. Preventing pneumothorax may increase access to lung cancer screenings by de-risking CT-guided lung biopsies and allowing smaller ambulatory surgery centers in remote geographies to perform the screening procedure. Currently, physicians collect limited biopsy samples due to the increased risk of pneumothorax with multiple biopsy passes. Preventing pneumothorax may allow physicians to collect a greater number of biopsy samples and provide sufficient tissue to personalize the cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is developing a novel biosealant that will reduce or eliminate pneumothorax. Pneumothorax ? a collapsed lung - is the most common complication of computed tomography (CT)-guided lung biopsies, occurring in 20-40% of all CT-guided lung biopsies. The focus of the current investigation is to evaluate and demonstrate the possibility of using a biosealant and delivery device to seal needle tracts to prevent pneumothorax before it occurs, thereby filling a large gap in today?s solutions. Phase I data supports an injectable hydrogel formulation that successfully prevented pneumothorax in animal studies. In this Phase II project, the team seeks to refine the formulation for improved surgical performance and validate it with an animal model to demonstrate both efficacy and safety.
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. -
POLARCTIC LLC
SBIR Phase II: Arctic Environmental Modeling with Augmentation and Curation from an Artificial Intelligence Engine
Contact
33 DARDEN CT
Stafford, VA 22554--8339
NSF Award
2213136 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
01/15/2023 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will address the growing need for accurate models and forecasts of the Arctic. As Arctic maritime operations such as fishing, shipping, and mariculture of kelp are increasingly impacted by unprecedented climate change, traditional modeling techniques are unable to support these new demands. Ecosystems are not static, and their unpredictability hinders safe and sustainable economic development for communities. This modeling approach supports the economic competitiveness for Alaskan fisheries by increasing transparency of resources on short timescales (precision fishing) and long timescales (ecosystem modeling). The results could be used to identify new and emerging locations for fisheries, under- or over-fished locations, and differences between locations that can be restored or those that the ecosystem has shifted away from supporting. By applying dynamic ecology information, this project can provide tools to improve management of ocean resources, which could increase industry profits while simultaneously raising the total harvestable biomass.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II innovation is to create and refine an Artificial Intelligence (AI) engine capable of generating custom environmental models, making new and emerging science quickly accessible to the people and communities that need the solutions. The AI-produced software will integrate multiple types of scientific techniques from the fields of nearshore bathymetry models, habitat mapping, precision fishing, and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) tools. Scaling the generation of tailored models provides cost effective, adaptable, and accurate solutions to ocean environmental challenges. Successfully executing this plan will require a combination of technical and computing skills; numerical modeling expertise; significant scientific literacy in remote sensing, bathymetry, sea ice, physical oceanography, and fisheries science; and the development and training of novel neural network architectures. In Phase I work, remote sensing from satellites was used to map the nearshore in the prototype AI engine. Remote sensing from new satellite resources has enabled this effort of a deeper understanding of the world?s remote locations, like the Arctic Ocean. These data deserts can leverage satellites and pockets of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge to build productive, new economies that are resilient and adaptable.
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. -
PSEUDOLITHIC, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Integration of Heterogeneous Device Technologies
Contact
1114 CORTO CAMINO ONTARE
Santa Barbara, CA 93105--1914
NSF Award
2242381 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$995,057
Start / end date
05/15/2023 – 04/30/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be a disruption to the growing communications marketplace (> $4.7B market by 2026) which is limited by the capabilities of semiconductor manufacturing processes and the cost of compound semiconductors such as gallium nitride (GaN). This project will reimagine the semiconductor manufacturing process by bringing compound and silicon-based semiconductors together to reduce system costs relative to solutions using only single device technologies. This project will assemble future systems for the burgeoning communications and sensing industries in a proprietary technology platform to support a shift in manufacturing technology that spans from lithographic patterning to the assembly of the smallest constituent parts. Finally, the project will enable low-cost, automated semiconductor manufacturing to help the United States regain leadership in silicon semiconductor manufacturing while helping US-based semiconductor foundries define new markets.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is a first-of-its-kind analysis of failure mechanisms in heterogeneous semiconductors and the design of unique mixed-signal circuitry that improves the yield and reliability in integrated circuits. Heterogeneous integration of semiconductors with different fundamental material properties has been an emerging goal for ?beyond Moore?s law? semiconductors. Radio frequency (RF) and millimeter-wave integrated circuits will benefit in performance by circumventing fundamental limitations with all silicon approaches. The project will develop new approaches from materials to systems around an optimization of devices to meet performance objectives such as output power, linearity, and noise while leveraging the intimate integration with mixed-signal approaches based in silicon to provide calibration, compensation, and predistortion of RF imperfections. While low levels of heterogeneous integration have been demonstrated in millimeter-wave bands, the integrated circuit technology will require dozens and even hundreds of III-V devices integrated on a common platform with millions of silicon transistors. The proposed effort will assess the failure mechanisms associated with the assembly and operation of new integrated circuits and approaches to mitigate these problems to reduce the cost of bringing next generation products to market.
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. -
PSYONIC, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Development and Evaluation of a Robust, Compliant, Sensorized Prosthetic Hand
Contact
60 HAZELWOOD DR STE 210
Champaign, IL 61820--7460
NSF Award
1951382 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$937,162
Start / end date
02/15/2020 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project concerns the most common problems with complex prosthetic hands: lack of robustness, lack of waterproofing, lack of sensory feedback, and high cost. This project will advance the development of waterproof multi-articulated hands with a touch feedback system, offering an affordable solution to restore confidence and independence to over 10 million amputees worldwide.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will extend the work done in Phase I to develop an affordable, robust myoelectric prosthetic hand that provides natural, compliant grasps with pressure feedback to users. The work in this proposal will involve advanced mechanical design techniques necessary for waterproofing a multi-articulated prosthetic hand. Additionally, the project will advance the development of a variable grip strength, semi-automatic contact reflex system to improve the range of manipulation tasks possible with upper limb prosthetic devices. Technical tasks include: 1) development of contact reflexes through integration of position control, pressure sensing interface, and speed control for both fine, compliant manipulation of delicate objects and gross manipulation of objects requiring high grip force; 2) waterproofing to an IP67 rating, a significant technical challenge because of the many potential points of ingress and required level of manufacturing precision; 3) the mobile application user interface; and 4) standardization for manufacturing at scale.
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. -
PURAFIDE, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Scaling and Tailoring the Destruction of Emerging Contaminants with the Plasma Water Reactor
Contact
8381 CHARLECOTE RDG
Jamaica, NY 11432--2141
NSF Award
2335872 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,940
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project are the promotion of water equity and environmental stewardship. Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), threaten the natural resources of the United States. Separation is the current state-of-practice for PFAS management, but this produces hazardous waste where disposal is costly and introduces long-term liabilities. Plasma is a promising technology, but it struggles to scale. This project investigates in the field an innovative geometric design that enhances plasma ignition and propagation while minimizing energy consumption. Field deployment will positively impact the environment due to water reclamation, waste elimination, and carbon and energy footprint reduction. This project encourages multidisciplinary collaborations and explores equity-oriented business models, such as buy-one-donate-one and pay-it-forward, that attempt to safeguard those who are most vulnerable to resource insecurity. These models use water as a dual-purpose resource that couples the success of customers with the welfare and socioeconomic mobility of disadvantaged communities. Purafide is also collaborating with LaGuardia Community College?s environmental science program to develop a diverse, multidisciplinary workforce. Overall, this project will strengthen the security, stability, and sustainability of water.
The project will pilot a plasma-based treatment technology at a remediation site and a state-maintained landfill, which was identified as high-priority sites by the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team. These are challenging matrices but also where the plasma reactor has successfully eliminated CECs in the past. The innovative geometric approach maximizes the plasma-water interface and enables scaling to commercially relevant flow rates. The success criteria for the pilots will be achieving PFAS levels below the Michigan Maximum allowable PFAS Levels with an effective flow rate of about five gal/min for 1+ (>90%) log reduction. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) will serve as indicator compounds due to their prevalence and the strict standards proposed under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Purafide will design, manufacture, deploy, and parametrically assess the technology in the field. Purafide will also develop in-house analytical capabilities, such as Draft EPA Method 1633, and a technoeconomic model in an attempt to reduce and predict costs, respectively. Assuming the technical objective is accomplished, the technology readiness level will significantly increase, suggesting the minimum viable product will be ready for the full scale.
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. -
Pearl Street Technologies, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Cloud-Based Electric Power Grid Simulation Software With Equivalent Circuit Methods
Contact
6392 MELISSA ST
Pittsburgh, PA 15206--4703
NSF Award
1951083 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$749,938
Start / end date
04/01/2020 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will result from the ability to enable a safer, more reliable, and more resilient electric power system. A reliable and efficient grid is the cornerstone of the nation?s economy. With the rapid adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs), a transition from conventional generation plants to utility-scale wind and solar farms, and the threat of cyber- and/or physical attacks on the bulk electric system, ensuring the reliability and resilience of the grid has become ever more challenging. The software being developed in this project will help grid planning engineers and operators cope with these modern challenges. For the first time, engineers from organizations across the utility industry will be able to collaboratively plan the grid on a secure, scalable, cloud-based software platform that provides the capabilities needed to fully assess the impact of renewables and DERs. The software?s industry-leading simulation robustness will allow users to analyze extreme contingencies, cascading events, and weak grid scenarios to develop preventive and corrective actions that secure the grid. The software is designed to support an annual $50B+ in US power infrastructure investment and an annual $400B+ in power market transactions.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop software for electric power transmission and distribution (T&D) planning. Technical tasks are to: 1) Make cloud architecture responsive to demand with autoscaling and queueing services; 2) Architect results generation for minimized data storage requirements; 3) Manage data handling for reduced re-loading of datasets; 4) Implement a file parser for industry-standard three-phase unbalanced distribution system models; 5) Implement models of common distribution system components; and 6) Extend the cloud platform to support integrated T&D analysis. Integration of these optimized components will lead to an improved system engineered for usage at scale.
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. -
PediaMetrix, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Monitoring and management of infant cranial development at the point-of-care
Contact
155C GIBBS ST STE 537
Rockville, MD 20850--0393
NSF Award
2036061 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$982,499
Start / end date
03/01/2021 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project includes the support of newborn and infant health services at the point-of-care (i.e., in pediatrician offices and at home). This project will develop quantitative imagining and machine learning technology that will allow pediatricians to evaluate and monitor the infant?s head development during well-child visits and/or remotely. If a child is diagnosed with head deformations, early and effective therapy can be initiated. Thus, a major impact of this project is significant reduction of the number of children with cranial deformations who remain untreated and are exposed to potential health risks. Improved clinical management of these conditions will potentially lower the associated healthcare costs and improve patient outcome. Our technology will be packaged as a smartphone or tablet app, enabling access to lower-resourced communities and patients without access to specialized clinics, as well as enabling care in periods of social distancing and reduced clinical services. This project will ultimately increase awareness of the risks of head deformations and improve pediatric health outcomes.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop quantitative imaging and machine learning algorithms that accurately measure the cranial shape and size using photos of the infant head taken with a smartphone. These parameters are commonly used to monitor child development, and in the diagnosis and treatment planning of common conditions with head deformations. In this project, we will fully automate the measurements using neural networks and maximize accuracy with regression models accounting for endogenous variables, such as sex and age. To generate accurate head shape measurements even during operation by novice users, our new algorithms based on machine learning will automatically select better images to detect and classify the type of cranial deformation. By addressing errors related to novice use of the tool, such as correcting for variations in the use of the camera, the technology will ensure compliance and accessibility to operators with variable technological skills. Furthermore, we will advance reconstruction of the three-dimensional cranial shape utilizing modern smart device technologies. This approach can handle object motion and can be implemented directly on a smartphone/tablet to compute full three-dimensional shape analysis.
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. -
Pheronym, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: A scalable platform to produce nematode pheromones for crop protection
Contact
1100 MAIN ST
Woodland, CA 95695--3522
NSF Award
2240487 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$971,913
Start / end date
07/01/2023 – 06/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to create a commercial manufacturing method for a new class of environmentally friendly, sustainable biopesticides. Due to environmental and human health concerns, many traditional pesticides are heavily regulated or banned outright. Further, the demand for safe and reliable pest control is increasing. One class of eco- and climate-friendly alternatives are biopesticides; They are safe for humans and the environment, face few restrictions on their use, and can be used for insect control in situations where traditional pesticides cannot, such as near homes or schools. The project scales a manufacturing platform for a new class of pheromones to enhance control of insect pests of various commodities such as during growth seasons in the soil and aboveground or postharvest, storage. The project could open up a new industry as pheromone enhancers of pest control have not been previously commercialized. Moreover, the project deliverables may enhance food security, provide climate-friendly solutions to farmers, and enhance sustainable agricultural practices.
The project scales nematode (roundworm) pheromone manufacturing using in vitro fermentation in bioreactors. Currently, no commercial nematode pheromone production exists. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are natural enemies of insects and are used as biological control agents for many economically important pests. Like many biopesticides, EPNs have limitations, such as variable efficacy (ability to kill) in the field and limited efficacy at temperature extremes. Nematode pheromone extracts increase EPN efficacy for insect control in soil by up to 78%. There is big commercial interest in EPN dispersal pheromones from EPN manufacturers and distributors. Since there is no commercial production system for nematode pheromones, new manufacturing methods are urgently needed. Previously, the fermentation method for pheromone production was demonstrated in shaker flasks. In the proposed project, the fermentation method will be scaled in bioreactors. In concert, downstream processing will be scaled for stable, active pheromone extracts. Field trials targeting important insect pests will be used to ensure pheromone activity, and the residual pheromone effects on the soil microbiome will be determined. Finally, methods will be developed to establish quality control parameters, formulation, storage, and packaging.
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. -
Protabit LLC
STTR Phase II: Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Development of Neutralizing Antibodies for SARS-CoV-2
Contact
111 WAVERLY DR
Pasadena, CA 91105--2513
NSF Award
2136860 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project will lead to the development of engineered neutralizing antibodies for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that can be used as therapeutic agents to diminish the severity of a COVID-19 infection and decrease the chances of hospitalization and progressive disease. As the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to mutate it is necessary to increase collective preparedness by generating a wide collection of neutralizing antibodies that individually provide coverage for a range of variants (Delta, Beta, Omicron). These antibodies, when administered as an antibody cocktail, may offer broad protection over a diverse population of variants. This project?s approach generates neutralizing antibodies that are specifically engineered to bind to different regions of the spike protein thereby increasing the probability that one or more of the engineered antibodies will be effective against future mutated versions of the virus. The proposed combination of high-throughput screening, next-generation-sequencing and artificial intelligence (AI)-based antibody design allows systematic exploration of vast ranges of antibody sequences. This approach also has the benefit of engineering antibodies that are more potent, easier to administer, more stable under challenging environmental conditions, and less costly to manufacture, leading to therapeutics that can be more readily distributed to low-income countries.
This STTR Phase II project proposes to enable AI and machine learning antibody engineering approaches by providing needed antibody sequence mutation binding data. Currently available antibody datasets number in the thousands of datapoints and the team proposes to generate datasets that number in the tens of millions. The project will also be generating both positive and negative antibody binding data, potentially leading to higher performing learned antibody binding models. This project seeks to test the hypothesis that synthetic antibodies can be the equal of, or better than, naturally occurring antibodies for neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. This approach could potentially develop a wide range of antibody variations. The application of this AI-based antibody engineering will be focused on discovering a large array of high-affinity neutralizing antibodies targeting multiple, different regions of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein through the combination of yeast-display, high-throughput fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and next generation sequencing. Combining these high-throughput data generation workflows with the latest deep neural networks may lead to a new methodology that can efficiently discover high performing antibodies for the current pandemic and those in the future.
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. -
Pure Biomass Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Large Scale Cultivation of Phytoplankton via Novel Photo-Bioreactor Technology
Contact
7776 ELM GROVE CT
Minneapolis, MN 55428--3873
NSF Award
1660227 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,269,702
Start / end date
04/01/2017 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide a sustainable, low-cost, and replicable method for large-scale production of micro-algal biomass. Microalgae production is a form of aquaculture capable of producing valuable products including: Nutraceuticals, specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, feed for finfish, shellfish, and livestock, as well as food for human consumption. Moreover, microalgae can be used as a feedstock for biofuels while simultaneously removing CO2 from the environment. However, for the nascent algae cultivation industry to achieve its full commercial potential, the technology must be improved. While typical algal cultivation relies on high-density cell growth, this project will focus on the science of low-density algal cultivation to achieve high productivity, while minimizing process requirements for supplemental energy and concentrated CO2. In addition, the development of a closed-system photo-bioreactor with emphasis on low cost and modular design will allow the process to be easily replicated on a variety of lands with otherwise marginal value. As such, the system can become the basis for a robust aquaculture and biofuels industry, leading to greater economic development in marginal communities and a source of sustainable products for the growing world population.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to further optimize the design of the large-scale algal production system developed during the Phase I project to address key challenges in algae cultivation including frequent contamination, low productivity, and increased operating costs due to inefficient use of water and energy. Research activities will focus on four main objectives: 1) Finalize key design specifications for reactor geometry, materials of construction, and system components in order to maximize productivity and minimize capital costs; 2) optimize harvest apparatus design and biomass concentration procedure to further reduce water consumption; 3) develop a new media formulation to allow for stable pH control without the need for concentrated CO2; and 4) refine manufacturing of the reactor bladder to ensure sterility, durability, and product consistency. In addition to the basic algae cultivation techniques employed in Phase I, Phase II will make greater use of engineering /computational analyses to arrive at optimal designs. The target outcome of the project is a 120,000-L closed photo-bioreactor capable of sustaining H. pluvialis algae production rates of greater than 9 g/m2/d for a minimum of 4 months without detrimental contamination. In addition, the system will provide significant reductions in consumption of energy, water, and concentrated CO2. -
QAS.AI INC
SBIR Phase II: An AI-Enhanced Angiographic System to Guide Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms
Contact
48 SHIRE DR S
East Amherst, NY 14051--1814
NSF Award
2304388 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,862
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is improving the surgical outcome for patients undergoing neuro-endovascular interventions for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IAs). IAs affect 6% of the population and IA rupture results in lethal hemorrhagic strokes, which account for ~25% of cerebrovascular deaths despite improvements in management. Most ruptured IA patients (~65%) die due to the initial bleed or its immediate complications. Of the survivors, ~50% are left disabled and dependent on others for daily activities. When IAs become symptomatic and medical therapy or lifestyle changes are ineffective, treatment could involve neuro-endovascular interventions. Although these surgical approaches provide reliable and fast access to the lesion with fewer complications than open skull surgery, they do not achieve complete IA healing, with as many as 30% of the cases requiring repeated interventions. The artificial intelligence technology developed in this project will allow real-time assessment of the surgery progress by analyzing images acquired through the angiographic unit. The solution will provide the odds of failure to achieve healing of the IAs before the patient leaves the surgical suite.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will support development of the world?s first artificial intelligence platform that enables real-time informed decision support for image-guided neuro interventions to treat intracranial aneurysms. The technology uses imaging biomarkers extracted from routinely acquired angiograms during image-guided endovascular procedures and machine learning methods to account for large heterogeneity in patient pathology, neuro-interventionalist approach, and imaging equipment characteristics. The platform includes multiple innovative aspects: 1) a fully automated method to identify the location and extent of the IA, (2) instantaneous extraction of the imaging biomarkers, (3) prognosis of the surgical outcome at one-year post-procedure in a fraction of a second to allow neuro-interventionalist to readjust the endovascular therapy, and (4) full integration with the angiographic systems regardless of the manufacturer.
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. -
QUANTIVLY, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Building the digital twin of radiology operations
Contact
240 ELM ST
Somerville, MA 02144--2935
NSF Award
2304514 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$979,657
Start / end date
07/15/2023 – 06/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve the utilization of medical imaging equipment and potentially increase access to medical imaging for the population. Today, medical imaging facilities operate expensive equipment but lack access to operational data and modern tools to monitor and use them more efficiently. The company is building a digital twin of radiology operations to continuously capture imaging operations, monitor them, suggest optimizations, and optimally schedule patients. Beyond reporting and scheduling capabilities, the models will allow the prediction of interventions in software for the evaluation and comparison of different scenarios in-silico without real-world experimentation. The more efficient use of scanners is expected, in turn, to potentially benefit the patient population as it will reduce the wait time for imaging, increase patient access, shorten imaging protocols, reduce sedation duration, reduce and predict delays, and ultimately improve the patient experience. The data unified in the digital twin will also open new avenues of research for radiologists and researchers.
The proposed project aims at developing and testing key technological innovations underpinning our digital twin vision. The company will develop a generic architecture to harmonize data across many sources, including from the scheduling system and the scanners themselves. The company will develop and test new artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to augment the data and unlock essential descriptors to manage operations. This solution will include AI to passively learn imaging protocols from the patients? exams and automatically detect protocol deviations. The company will also use AI to automatically characterize the content of images and enable them to be queried. The company will evaluate federated learning techniques to allow learning ?at the edge? on large datasets at scale, without sharing the data, alleviating data privacy challenges. The company will incorporate advances into a smart recommendation engine that continuously mines customer data to identify opportunities for improvement and proposes interventions. Finally, the company will develop and test key building blocks for implementing a smart scheduling assistant that uses retrospective data and digital simulations to optimally schedule exams while maximizing equipment utilization.
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. -
RADWAVE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
SBIR Phase II: Modular And Reconfigurable Electromagnetic Navigation System For Surgical Interventions And Medical Robotics
Contact
1000 WESTGATE DR STE 103
Saint Paul, MN 55114--5003
NSF Award
2222580 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$973,799
Start / end date
01/15/2023 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is a novel electromagnetic navigation system offering a transformative solution for a wide range of medical procedures that demand accuracy, efficiency, and safety. The result of this capability and its subsequent commercialization will positively affect the outcomes of medical procedures for millions of patients worldwide. The system will enable tracking medical instruments over the full procedure space, improving accuracy and reliability, and reducing patients and staff exposure to harmful radiation while being compatible with the intraoperative imaging. The device will allow for the creation and augmentation of navigation volumes on demand during procedures as well as reliable detection and mitigation of electromagnetic interference. The broader societal impacts of the technology offer a flexible and highly customizable platform across key industry sectors important to the United States competitiveness including biomedical, consumer, industry, and defense.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will advance the development of a new electromagnetic navigation system that requires the solution of several complex problems involving mathematics, computer science and electrical engineering. Millions of minimally invasive medical procedures are performed annually worldwide which include cardiac ablations, valve replacements, bronchoscopies, orthopedic procedures, cancer treatments, etc., all with increasing robot utilization. Electromagnetic navigation systems are widely used in these procedures providing knowledge of locations and orientations when medical instruments are out of the ?line of sight?. Currently available systems, mostly developed before the wide adoption of robotic surgeries, can handle only fixed navigation volumes and are often unable to track instruments throughout the full procedure space, which may require the use of additional harmful X-ray radiation. Current tools use bulky field generators incompatible with imaging equipment and provide only limited detection and correction of electromagnetic interference-induced location distortion. This project will address these shortcomings. The electromagnetic navigation system which will have robust detection and mitigation of various electromagnetic interferences, will enable procedure-time adjustable navigation volumes, will allow high location sampling rates with multiple sensors, and will be compatible with intraoperative fluoroscopy and computed tomography (CT) imaging, allowing for key differentiating features required for commercialization.
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. -
RANCHCHECK INC.
SBIR Phase II: Technology for Stimulating the Herd Instinct of Livestock to Reduce Environmental Impact
Contact
450 SMITH COFFEY RD
Fort Davis, TX 79734--4086
NSF Award
2335554 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$998,857
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to help restore grassland ecosystems and reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from livestock by stimulating their herd instinct. Most livestock in the western United States are scattered in large pastures and allowed to roam individually and hence do not derive benefits from grazing by large herds of animals. This project aims to develop and test low-cost ear tags that use audio and electrical stimulation to reinforce the natural herd instinct of individual animals when they stray from the herd. High stock density/low duration grazing has the potential of reducing livestock greenhouse emissions and turning rangelands into a net carbon sink. Higher vegetation diversity, more water absorption, reduced erosion, and more wildlife habitat are just some of the other expected ecological benefits of this technology. This technology would also facilitate more efficient and cost-effective ranch management. The risk of livestock theft will be reduced, and the need for fences will decrease since the migratory instincts of livestock work best on larger land areas. Land, livestock, wildlife, ranchers, and the global community would benefit from the development of technology that reinforces the natural herd instinct of grazing animals.
This SBIR Phase II project will develop and test a novel approach to stimulating the herd instinct of livestock rather than geographically confining them. Key to implementing this approach is the additional innovation of a unique and low-cost strategy to use ear tags with low-power RF transceivers to calculate herd proximity from an accumulation of individual distance estimates. This technology will use a highly integrated system using an ear tag attached to each animal in the herd. Each tag will use a low-power RF transceiver to periodically send brief signals to the other tags in the herd. The tags will use signal strength measurements to calculate their own approximate distance to every other tag. Each tag will then use an algorithm to determine whether it is within an appropriate proximity to the rest of the herd. If an animal begins to stray from the herd, the tag will give an audio alert, potentially followed by electrical stimulation to encourage the animal to rejoin its peers. The capability of holding a herd at a density from 10,000 to 1,000,000 pounds per acre will be a key metric of success.
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. -
RCAM TECHNOLOGIES
STTR Phase II: Fabrication and Structural Testing of a 3D Concrete Printed Anchor for Floating Offshore Wind
Contact
5490 TENINO AVE
Boulder, CO 80303--4130
NSF Award
2333306 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,496
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is to lower the cost and accelerate deployment of clean renewable energy by advancing a 3D printed concrete anchor for floating offshore wind turbines. The anchor has potential to become the lowest cost, most scalable, and highest domestic content anchor solution, helping to maximize US jobs and economic benefits. The project advances the commercial potential of the technology by validating the structural design and mooring line connection, de-risking the anchor sufficiently to secure future investments. The project will enhance scientific and technology understanding by advancing U.S. capabilities in state-of-the-art 3D concrete printing technologies, enhancing industry and academia partnerships with the STTR university partner, and by performing research, development, and stakeholder outreach (including tours for over 2000 students, teachers, policymakers, investors, and government officials) at a port-side facility in Los Angeles, California.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project will advance the technology readiness level of an innovative, reliable, and low-cost 3D printed concrete suction anchor for mooring floating offshore wind turbines. Floating offshore wind power is poised for rapid growth in the United States, where approximately 2/3 of the offshore wind energy potential exists over waters deep enough to require the use of floating platforms. However, cost remains an obstacle to extensive deployment of floating wind. Development of low-cost anchoring presents an important opportunity for cost reduction. The key project objective is to develop a low-cost suction anchor capable of resisting extreme tension loads that arise where the mooring line connects to the anchor. The proposed research includes: 1. developing optimized detailed designs of anchors and mooring line connections manufactured using a 3D concrete printing process, 2. fabricating high-fidelity anchor prototypes, 3. validating the prototype anchor design via laboratory structural testing and finite element analysis, and 4. updating models for anchor manufacturing throughput, cost, and lifecycle emissions impacts. The anticipated technical results include an experimentally validated structural design and manufacturing approach for the anchor and corresponding models for production throughput, cost, and lifecycle impacts.
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. -
REBEL MEDICINE INC
SBIR Phase II: Novel, injectable, long-acting, local anesthetic for postoperative pain management
Contact
630 S KOMAS DR
Salt Lake City, UT 84108--1247
NSF Award
2233656 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,979
Start / end date
04/01/2023 – 03/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is a novel therapeutic for surgical pain that can eliminate the need for opioids after surgery. This project will yield a novel, long-acting local anesthetic drug product that can provide substantial value to customers as an affordable, safe, and effective, non-opioid, acute pain management solution. The technology can provide significant value to hospital systems, physicians, and patients alike by reducing healthcare costs associated with opioid-related adverse events and preventing opioid addiction by eliminating their use after surgery. In 2021, there was a historic rise in opioid overdose deaths to over 80,000 individuals. Opioid use disorder-related Medicaid spending has more than tripled in the last 15 years and the opioid crisis has been estimated to cost $72.4 billion during that time period. Preventing opioid addiction by reducing exposure of opioids to surgical patients can have a significant impact on reducing financial costs to society as a whole. In 2017, there were an estimated 48 million major surgical procedures requiring postoperative pain management in the United States, representing a $17 billion total addressable US market.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to perform Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required manufacturing characterization and animal studies to demonstrate the novel, injectable, long-acting local anesthetic technology is safe for initial human use. The solution involves a novel oleogel-based injectable drug delivery system that can provide local sustained delivery of lipophilic small molecule drugs. In Phase I, the team optimized the technology for rheological properties, drug release kinetics, and stability to create an injectable gel that provides 96 hours of sustained bupivacaine delivery.
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. -
RECON RF, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Low-Cost High Efficiency Gallium-Nitride RFIC-PAs
Contact
9235 ACTIVITY RD STE 105
San Diego, CA 92126--4440
NSF Award
2208207 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,971
Start / end date
09/15/2022 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will contribute to the advancement of the US?s competitiveness in Semiconductor based products, while also enhancing the national defense and minimizing the electricity requirements of next-generation wireless communications infrastructure equipment. This project will develop state-of-the-art Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuit Power Amplifiers (RFIC-PA), Mixers, and Switches through a leading U.S.-based semiconductor foundry. These innovated circuits will contribute to modernizing the U.S.?s 5G communications infrastructure while restoring the country?s prominence in semiconductor-based technologies.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will significantly enhance the output power and efficiency of RFIC-PA technologies over the present-day/competing state-of-the-art products. The RFIC-PA is the most voluminous, costly, and power consumptive component of emerging 5G macro and small cellular base stations, and the wireless devices connected to them. For this reason, this project will apply innovative RFIC-PA design methods at the very forefront of high-efficiency RFIC design techniques toward the design, fabrication, test, and commercialization of five discriminating RFIC-PA products at the conclusion of this NSF Phase-2 project.
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. -
RED OAK STRATEGIC, LLC
SBIR Phase II: A Blockchain Ecosystem for Encrypting Real World Data and Developing Artificial Intelligence to Optimize Pharmacy Prior Authorization
Contact
312 CALVERT AVE
Alexandria, VA 22301--1007
NSF Award
2200163 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
05/01/2023 – 04/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to significantly reduce administrative inefficiency in pharmaceutical benefit management processing. The specific focus is on prior authorization processing, where payers and prescribers must reach a consensus on medical necessity. The project delivers a solution to optimize prescription authorization and provide more comprehensive patient histories for clinical authorization criteria fulfillment than other available products on the current health technology market. Lack of efficient access to reliable patient histories is the principal reason for delayed authorizations, resulting in delayed care access. A 2022 survey showed 93% of physicians reported that prior authorization often or always creates care delays; 82% reported delays that led to treatment abandonment. A secure yet progressively decentralized patient data transfer protocol would heighten transparency of clinical decision-making processes and also increase opportunities for patient engagement during prior authorization of medical prescriptions. Further, since administrative costs increase the cost of benefits, which in turn increases the cost of care access, the potential commercial impact is that payers who lower administrative costs will be better positioned to offer higher reimbursement rates for a greater range of quality treatment options, at increasingly lower cost.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to deliver a distributed ledger with smart contracts specific to the domain of pharmaceutical benefits. Since the cause of processing inefficiency lies with siloed and incomplete patient histories, this protocol resolves administrative inefficiencies through distributed ledger technology supporting fast and compliant encrypted health data sharing among prescribers, payers, and patients. Research objectives include: 1) automating criteria fulfillment to reduce administrative waste; 2) leveraging machine learning to automate simpler case reviews; and 3) designing a shared interorganizational processing protocol capable of adapting to an introduction of revised clinical standards. Smart contracts will be deployed to a distributed ledger infrastructure to formalize and enforce clinical standards as well as contractually specified financial rules and actuarial analyses at an interorganizational level. With smart contracts embedded in the authorization process to automatically curate more robust clinical histories over each prescription lifecycle, available real world data meeting contractually specified quality standards for clinical review will increase. Historical authorization data will feed back into incrementally complex cases, advancing artificial intelligence for authorization decision support. The expected result is improved real-time insight into clinical risk, affording payers the ability to financially and strategically adapt to patient needs with increasing precision and agility.
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. -
RENEWCO2 LLC
STTR Phase II: Scalable CO2 electrolyzers for the competitive carbon negative production of formic acid
Contact
418 ORCHARD ST
Cranford, NJ 07016--1745
NSF Award
2240491 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$981,840
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is the development of an electrocatalytic formic acid production process directly from carbon dioxide (CO2) and electricity. This process will mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while producing formic acid, currently used in agriculture for silage preservation, leather tanning, and the chemical industry. The economic analysis projects that such an electrocatalytic process can currently compete with oil/gas-derived formic acid in the current market. Furthermore, this process has the potential to achieve net negative greenhouse gas emissions, meaning it will consume carbon dioxide in order to produce valuable chemical products. Immediate applications include using waste CO2 from sources such as bio-ethanol production, pyrolysis plants, landfill gas, power plants with carbon capture technology, etc. Formic acid production from CO2 feedstock in a renewable-powered, low-temperature process is expected to offset CO2 emissions equivalent to ~1 million tons, but with future further transportation and energy storage markets, the CO2 impact can reach the gigaton scale.
This STTR Phase II project develops a low-energy consumption electrolyzer for CO2 utilization in a process powered by electricity rather than heat. The electrolyzer combines the cathodic reduction of CO2 and water to formic acid with anodic water oxidation. Formic acid is a major commodity chemical used in agriculture, leather treatment, and environmentally-friendly deicing of roadways. Future markets include its use as a liquid hydrogen storage media. Electrosynthesis of carbon products from CO2 has generally been plagued with low electrical and process energy efficiencies that have prevented commercial development. The nickel phosphide catalyst class demonstrates a high potential to overcome these obstacles. Commercial application of electrochemical technologies require reaction rates three orders of magnitude larger than current research studies have shown, combined with high energy efficiencies and product selectivities. These goals can only be achieved by improving catalyst kinetics and optimizing the electrolyzer's mass transport. This development effort takes on the challenge of taking this process to high current densities and continuous operation in commercial CO2 reduction applications while minimizing the competing hydrogen formation reaction. Lastly, the electrolyzer design principles developed in this project are universal to this family of catalysts across many carbon products and are expected to further the field of carbon dioxide electrolyzer development more broadly.
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. -
RESOURCE CHEMICAL CORP.
SBIR Phase II: Scalable Production of Platform Chemicals from Inedible Biomass and Carbon Dioxide
Contact
1450 COLUMBIA CT
Palo Alto, CA 94304--1135
NSF Award
2301417 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to enable cost-competitive, high-volume production of useful chemicals and materials from abundant and sustainable feedstocks. This project is developing a process to manufacture a chemical known as FDCA (furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid) from carbon dioxide and a commodity feedstock made from inedible biomass. FDCA is a naturally occurring substance and is used to make polymers (i.e., plastics) that have superior performance compared to analogous polymers produced today from fossil fuel feedstocks. The obstacle to producing these polymers is that it has been complicated and prohibitively expensive to produce FDCA. The competing technologies for making FDCA require edible sugar as the feedstock and a very large number of process steps, resulting in high manufacturing costs. This project proposes to produce this chemical using a dramatically simplified process, which enables cost-competitive production. By advancing the technology toward commercial application, this project will have a far-reaching impact on US economic competitiveness and innovation in the chemical industry. With a secure FDCA supply, US chemical and materials companies can develop manufacturing capacity for polymers with an ultimate market opportunity of >>$100 billion. In addition, replacing energy- and emissions-intensive fossil fuel-derived polymers with these more environmentally friendly polymers will reduce emissions of multiple economic sectors. Finally, these polymers have favorable end-of-use options that will reduce plastic waste and its accumulation in the environment.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to advance the technology for a key step of the FDCA production process to a level that enables its implementation in a pilot-scale demonstration. The reaction under investigation is the aerobic oxidation of furfural to furan-2-carboxylate (furoate) under aqueous alkaline conditions. Oxidizing furfural under industrially relevant conditions (high concentration and high rates) is fundamentally challenging because furfural is prone to rapid degradation processes. Studies of the process in the earlier Phase I project provided key insights into the reaction mechanism and identified two potential reactor designs for continuous operation. The Phase II project will compare performance in these two reactor designs, scale up the preferred design, validate catalyst lifetime, and demonstrate integration of the reaction product into the downstream steps of this FDCA process. Successful completion of the project will finalize the reactor design for the oxidation unit operation in a pilot demonstration. In addition to advancing this technology toward commercialization, the project will create new knowledge to enable broader utilization of renewable feedstocks for chemical production by providing insights into catalyst selection, process conditions, and reactor designs for aqueous aerobic oxidation reactions.
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. -
REVIVE BIOTECHNOLOGY INC.
STTR Phase II: Intravitreal oxygen nanobubble technology for treatment of retinal artery occlusions
Contact
4508 SOUTHFORD TRACE DR
Champaign, IL 61822--8580
NSF Award
2236857 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$998,356
Start / end date
08/01/2023 – 07/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop an oxygen nanobubble platform technology to treat ischemic diseases of the eye, specifically Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO). The projected market for CRAO is an estimated 6,400 cases/year or $64 million, annually. The immediate goal of this project is to secure an Investigational New Drug (IND) indication for CRAO and then expand the platform technology to treat other ischemic conditions such as branch retinal artery occlusion (16,000 ? 50,000 cases/year), retinal vein occlusions (~100,000 cases/year), and diabetic retinopathy (746,000 cases/year). The company has now expanded the oxygen nanobubble concept to treat chronic wounds, a $25 billion market affecting 9-12 million Americans. The company mission is to reduce the societal expenditures on healthcare costs, increase quality adjusted life years for patients, and reduce the burden of treatment.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop an innovative technology to mitigate the severity of hypoxic insult due to retinal artery occlusions. The beachhead market is Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO), an acute blinding orphan disease for which no effective treatment exists. CRAO is an ophthalmologic emergency wherein the main artery that carries blood to the inner retina is occluded, in a stroke-like fashion by a plaque, resulting in sudden loss of vision. In humans, the window of opportunity for intervention exists between 24-36 hours after the occlusion before spontaneous reperfusion, which occurs in ~72 hours in about 90% of the cases. The company will develop, test, and validate a safe and stable oxygen nanodelivery formulation that can be delivered through pars plana, a standard method for administration of therapeutics into the vitreous cavity. The oxygen nanobubble formulation will be evaluated for oxygen holding capacity and release, tissue oxygenation, hypoxic mitigation, and preservation of function in ischemic rat eye models.
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. -
REVTERRA CORPORATION
STTR Phase II: Ultra-thin Laminar Flywheels for Utility Scale Energy Storage
Contact
4200 SAN JACINTO ST
Houston, TX 77004--4853
NSF Award
2231076 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
06/15/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is to reduce power infrastructure bottlenecks to the deployment of electric vehicle fast chargers. Typically, it is expensive to install high power electric vehicle fast chargers because of limited power availability or demand charges. A large network of electric vehicle fast chargers would reduce range anxiety among electric vehicle drivers and accelerate the electrification of transportation overall. Energy storage systems can be used to build a ?buffer? between low power availability at a site and high-power fast chargers by accumulating and then rapidly discharging energy, but conventional chemical batteries have a limited cycle life which degrades faster in high-power applications. Kinetic batteries (such as those based on flywheels), on the other hand, could enable this without having to be replaced and without hazardous byproducts. Modular, cost-effective ?buffers? could be deployed anywhere and everywhere an electric vehicle fast charger is required and where power availability is limited.
This STTR Phase II project proposes to fabricate, test, and deploy a pilot 100 kWh / 400 kW modular kinetic battery system into a 350 kW electric vehicle charging station along with commercial partners to validate whether the system can act as a drop-in solution. This project enables high-power, fast electric vehicle charging utilizing the existing, low-power grid connections. This project has three basic objectives: 1) fabricate a kinetic battery module with 100 kWh energy storage capacity and 400 kW power output, 2) conduct a rigorous test of the kinetic battery as part of a high-power electric vehicle charger, and 3) design a high-power, alternating current homopolar motor/generator which can provide damping forces to the rotor passively via its windings. This kinetic battery system implements a passively stable magnetic bearing system which enables larger module sizes (reduces balance of system costs and operating expenses) and can connect to the grid synchronously, eliminating the need for costly power electronics and enabling it to provide grid-stabilizing physical inertia as an ancillary service.
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. -
RICH EARTH LLC
SBIR Phase II: Sanitation for the circular economy: Treating high strength wastewater for nutrient and water recovery
Contact
355 OLD FERRY RD
Brattleboro, VT 05301--9175
NSF Award
2151606 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,925
Start / end date
08/01/2022 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project lies in transforming a ubiquitous source of water pollution into a renewable source of fertilizer, while facilitating onsite treatment and reuse of recycled greywater. This technological solution is intended to conserve precious drinking water supplies and reduce dependence on non-renewable resources for both wastewater treatment and fertilizer production. Rather than combining all domestic wastewater into one dilute stream, this project separates and recycles the largest source of nutrient pollution: toilet waste. Source-separating bathroom fixtures (including waterless urinals, urine-diverting toilets, and vacuum-flush toilets) direct the waste through dedicated plumbing to a compact building-scale processor, which converts it into a purified liquid fertilizer. This technology may have immediate utility in sensitive watersheds where regulations require landowners to remove nitrogen from wastewater, and in urban settings where municipalities are subsidizing or mandating distributed wastewater treatment because their central wastewater treatment facilities have reached or exceeded their design capacity. The technology may create jobs in installation and service, reduce loads on wastewater treatment plants, restore waterways, and yield clean, domestically-produced fertilizer for use in agriculture.
This SBIR Phase II project focuses on developing a building-scale, high-strength, wastewater treatment system paired with source-separating bathroom fixtures to result in a resource recovery system. Nutrients are recovered from the influent wastewater through a four-stage treatment train that includes: (1) acidification to minimize pipe occlusion, (2) freeze concentration to reduce volume, (3) pasteurization to destroy pathogens, and (4) filtration to reduce the concentration of pharmaceuticals and other organic compounds. The objective of this research project is to develop this technology to the point where it can be installed in a building and is capable of capturing greater than 90% of nutrients from 600 liters of wastewater per day with minimal energy inputs. This goal will require increasing the working volume of the current freeze concentrator, optimizing the energy usage of each element in the treatment train, packaging each element so that they are durable, readily installable, and easily maintained, and developing a fully automated control system. Each element of the treatment train will be tested individually to demonstrate that a consistent, concentrated, sanitized fertilizer can be produced from high-strength wastewater while decreasing building water demand.
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. -
RIVIEH, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Radar-based Building Automation
Contact
1050 INGRAHAM ST
Los Angeles, CA 90017--2580
NSF Award
2335079 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,841
Start / end date
05/01/2024 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is in significantly reducing wasted energy in multi-dwelling and residential buildings while improving occupant living experiences. The research proposes the development of advanced sensor technologies and machine learning algorithms to enable an inexpensive hardware infrastructure to control indoor space conditions autonomously. This concept will foster broader adoption of advanced automation technologies among buildings, especially multi-dwelling and residential buildings. One main benefit of indoor automation is its deep energy savings. The Department of Energy estimates that if all residential units deploy energy-saving features offered by building automation solutions, 1-3 quadrillion units of energy will be saved yearly. This can reduce the nation's annual energy budget by $18-$36 billion and eliminate the release of 60-120 metric tons of CO2 emissions. Alongside energy efficiency, the associated societal benefits of the proposed project can potentially save lives. The proposed solution integrates a higher level of security protection in residential spaces in addition to its ability to monitor occupants' health in real time. These life-saving features can significantly limit the impacts of intrusion events and medical emergencies.
The proposed project will advance the scientific knowledge required to approach full autonomous control in indoor spaces. Today?s building automation solutions utilize a primitive sensor infrastructure, which has high deployment costs and limits the solution benefits. This leads to a diminished value proposition and a small adoption rate. This project proposes the utilization of advanced perception sensors in buildings. The rich data stream these sensors offer allows for a compact hardware infrastructure to autonomously control indoor spaces and improve the living experience within buildings. Advances in sensing technologies were fundamental to the recent exponential growth in the autonomous driving industry and the realization of a generation-old dream. This research project aims to instigate a similar technological evolution in the autonomous control of indoor spaces. An upgraded implementation of the Phase I evaluation study will be developed to mitigate Phase I learnings. The project also aims to develop a production-ready implementation of the developed sensor technology to prepare it for commercialization and market introduction.
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. -
ROCA WATER, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Addressing Freshwater Salinization and Freshwater Scarcity with a Chloride Selective Removal and Recovery System
Contact
5757 PINE CT
Larkspur, CO 80118--9608
NSF Award
2321964 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
04/01/2024 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to comprehensively address issues related to water treatment, environment protection, and resource recovery through the development of a new desalination technology called a desalination battery. Steady growth in human population and rapid industrial development have led to greater demands for water production. At the same time, anthropogenic activities, agricultural practices, and the disposal of wastewater have led to salinization of natural freshwater resources. The desalination battery combines the functions of desalination and energy generation to reduce the energy and costs associated with desalination, addressing challenges at the intersection of the water-energy nexus. The goal of the proposed research is to accelerate the commercialization of the desalination battery by evaluating the effects of various solution components present in real feedwater types on the performance of the desalination battery. Successful development of the desalination battery will help to safeguard access to freshwater resources and ensure an adequate freshwater supply, which are essential to advance the health and welfare of the American public.
The overall goal of this project is to commercialize a new desalination technology, a desalination battery, which is based on the patented use of Bi as a Cl-storage electrode in combination with a Na-storage electrode. Like conventional batteries, the desalination battery stores and releases energy during the charging and discharging processes, but they are also coupled with the storage and release of Na+ and Cl-. As the energy consumed during charging is recovered during discharging, the net energy required for desalination is drastically reduced. Furthermore, since Na+ and Cl- are removed via ion-specific electrode reactions, the desalination battery enables membrane-free desalination. While efficient removal of NaCl has been demonstrated, the effects of various other solution components present in real wastewater and seawater are still unknown. The goal of the proposed work is to accurately evaluate the effects of different salinities, pH conditions, and various inorganic and organic species present in real feedwater on the performance of the desalination battery and develop mitigation plans for any problematic components. The success of the proposed work is critical to perform accurate technoeconomic calculations to prioritize the most promising feedwater types to target and develop a tailored commercialization plan for specific applications.
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. -
ROCKET PROPULSION SYSTEMS LLC
SBIR Phase II: Liquid Oxygen (LOX) - Methane Engine for Small Satellite Launch Vehicles
Contact
19032 66TH AVE S, STE C102
Kent, WA 98032--2116
NSF Award
2303613 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to create a rocket engine manufacturing business that would supply off-the-shelf, inexpensive, and reusable engines for current and future civilian and military rocket builders that want to launch small payloads to space. There are currently only two established companies that offer large engines exclusively to other big companies or military at production cost of over $1 million. A growing number of startups wish to build and launch small rockets to space to provide climate sensing, secure U.S. space infrastructure, and accelerate global trade by precision tracking of transportation fleets to prevent costly delays and accidents. In many cases, however, companies needing access to space cannot acquire the required engines either because they are too costly or heavy for these goals. The proposed innovation will close this gap by offering a lightweight rocket engine at a ten-fold lower unit production cost. The production of these engines will advance manufacturing and the technical workforce, increase economic competitiveness, and support the U.S. national defense.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to conduct hot-fire testing of the rocket engine prototype built in Phase I with the goal of demonstrating performance, reliability, reusability, and scalability to future higher thrust levels for this engine. The work will demonstrate and improve engine performance at low/high power levels and propellant mixture ratios enabling iterations to higher performance. This testing will proceed with the combustion devices tested first (thrust chamber assembly and pre-burner), followed by powerpack (pre-burner + turbopump) testing, and full integrated engine testing. This testing and research and development will lead to improvements in part-level geometry and the underlying analytical and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) non-reacting and reacting models, including chemical reaction mechanisms in CFD models, to achieve required component-level performance in terms of pressure losses/rises and combustion temperatures.
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. -
RefloDx LLC
SBIR Phase II: A novel, low-cost, noninvasive device to detect and characterize the presence or absence of a bolus in the upper esophagus.
Contact
1263 N 2220 W
Clearfield, UT 84015--8202
NSF Award
2208084 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
12/15/2022 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to develop a novel noninvasive device for detecting and diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux. Reflux occurs when a bolus of gastric contents flows from the stomach into the esophagus. Symptoms of reflux can include chronic cough, choking, difficulty breathing or swallowing, upper airway infections, and chest pain. These symptoms can also be associated with other serious medical conditions. The proposed technology will aid clinicians in quickly being able to assess their patients? symptoms and determine if reflux is the underlying cause. A noninvasive diagnostic modality for assessing reflux could save the healthcare system $10 billion annually, allow clinicians to provide improved care to their patients, and reduce the out-of-pocket costs of the 80 million Americans who are affected by reflux-related symptoms.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will continue the development of a patented technology which uses pulse-echo ultrasound and proprietary algorithms in a non-conventional way to create an acoustic signature. The acoustic signature can detect and differentiate a bolus in the esophagus. The esophagus distends in response to a bolus of material, eliciting the esophageal layers to change in respect to one another. These changes can be observed with ultrasound sensors placed externally on the skin. This project will develop and validate electronic hardware, software, and custom ultrasonic transducers.
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. -
Respira Labs, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: An AI-powered wearable system and platform for long-term remote monitoring of pulmonary function (COVID-19)
Contact
545 SAN ANTONIO RD APT 208
Mountain View, CA 94040--1351
NSF Award
2112096 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$958,275
Start / end date
08/15/2021 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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This phase II award received additional funding to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis.Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve care for pulmonary conditions, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This disease affects 30 million Americans, kills more than 150,000 a year and is the third leading cause of U.S. deaths. COPD costs Americans nearly $72 billion a year, half of which is spent on ER visits and hospital stays resulting from respiratory crises. Hospitalized COPD patients have reduced quality of life, more rapid lung disease progression, and a 50% increase in mortality in the subsequent two years. Currently, ongoing monitoring of COPD lung deterioration relies largely on patient-reported symptoms and inadequate tools (65-70% accurate). As a result, half of COPD deterioration remains undetected. The proposed technology facilitates early diagnosis and treatment of COPD attacks by continuous remote tracking of lung function, thereby preventing unnecessary ER visits and hospitalizations. This device improves care for long-term conditions like COPD or asthma, but also those with relatively quick onset, such as COVID-19.
The proposed project advances translation of a device using acoustic resonance to measure lung air volume. The project develops an expanded data set for analysis and deployment at scale. The project further incorporates advanced classification models into the analysis workflow to track and predict deteriorating lung function in a cloud-computing environment. The project will also develop a version to run on a patient's mobile device to enable real-time feedback.
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. -
Resuture Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Quantification of Operative Performance via Simulated Surgery, Capacitive Sensing, and Machine Learning to Improve Surgeon Performance & Medical Device Development
Contact
12425 W BELL RD STE 110
Surprise, AZ 85378--9022
NSF Award
2223976 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$996,413
Start / end date
03/01/2023 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve surgical skill acquisition, assessment of surgical performance, and medical device training. The apprenticeship-based model of surgical training has created inefficiencies in the medical device and healthcare industries. This problem is exacerbated by the evolving complexity and specialization of surgical procedures and devices. The proposed technology combines lifelike, physical simulated procedures, novel sensing technologies, and machine-learned data analytics to address a universal market need for data-driven training. The technology developed during this project will result in surgical simulation platforms to improve procedural competency and the ability to practice device deployment outside of the operating room, while providing critical data-driven insight into surgical performance and quantitative evaluation. Ultimately, this solution could reduce patient costs, improve outcomes, and expedite medical device development and adoption.
The proposed project will result in the development of a comprehensive system that collects data and evaluates vascular surgical operative performance in both the open and endovascular fields. An open vascular surgery simulation platform previously developed to train surgeons will be expanded to include endovascular procedures and the integration of capacitive sensors to capture a comprehensive set of operative performance data. This project aims to use artificial intelligence to classify key performance metrics from the collected dataset to build a comprehensive model to classify operative performance. A data-driven platform for surgical training and medical device development is not currently commercially available and the industry currently relies on increasingly cost-prohibitive means to provide vital surgical training.
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. -
S2A TECHNOLOGIES LLC
STTR Phase II: Development of Autocalibration Techniques to Enable Commercial Scale-up of Software-based Vibration Compensation for 3D Printers
Contact
600 SOUTH WAGNER ROAD
Ann Arbor, MI 48103--9002
NSF Award
2233481 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,676
Start / end date
04/01/2023 – 03/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is to increase the productivity of manufacturing machines at low cost through software improvements, without sacrificing quality. The project is specifically motivated by 3D printing, an $11 billion and rapidly growing industry within advanced manufacturing that is critical to national security, supply chain resiliency, and economic prosperity. The adoption of 3D printing for mainstream manufacturing is often hindered by the low speed of 3D printers. A major hindrance to high-speed 3D printing is vibration, which causes loss of quality at high-speed operation. This project seeks to develop a low-cost, software-based approach for mitigating the vibration of 3D printers. A major impediment to the effectiveness of the proposed software solution is the need for accurate calibration of the changing vibration behavior of 3D printers under varying operating conditions. This project will develop a set of automatic calibration techniques to address this impediment. The software algorithms developed through this project will not only benefit 3D printing but would also apply to a wide range of advanced manufacturing machines, like machine tools and robots, whose speed and accuracy are often limited by vibration.
This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase II project seeks to develop a suite of automatic calibration techniques to enable a proprietary vibration compensation algorithm to adapt to frequent changes in vibration behavior of 3D printers that occur in the field. To achieve this goal, three technical objectives will be pursued. The first technical objective will involve the development of a sensor-less auto calibration technique that continuously updates the calibration of 3D printers whose moving mass and vibration behavior changes as material is being deposited on the print bed. The second technical objective will focus on the development of a sensor-based, autocalibration technique that uses shallow machine learning to continuously fine-tune the calibration maps of 3D printers with onboard accelerometers. The third technical objective will involve the development of a sensor-based autocalibration-as-a-service technique primarily for 3D printers that do not have onboard accelerometers. To achieve these objectives, research is needed to overcome technical hurdles that hinder the accuracy and computational efficiency of the proposed auto-calibration approaches. The intellectual merit of this project is in developing science-based approaches that overcome the technical hurdles and their associated risks.
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. -
SENSEER HEALTH INC.
SBIR Phase II: Multimodal Diagnostic Microsensors for Monitoring Catheter-based Therapies
Contact
892 N FAIR OAKS AVE
Pasadena, CA 91103--3046
NSF Award
2151744 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,142
Start / end date
07/01/2022 – 06/30/2024
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to improve detection and enable prediction of implantable device failure. The first target application is hydrocephalus, a life-long, incurable disease characterized by a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain?s ventricles. Hydrocephalus is treatable by chronically implanting a shunt to divert CSF from the brain into the abdominal cavity. Around 90,000 shunts are implanted in the US each year. However, these shunts fail at alarming rates (40% within the 1st year of use), leading first to nonspecific symptoms such as headaches and blurred vision and then to permanent brain damage and death without clinical intervention. Diagnosing shunt failure is difficult and involves a prolonged assessment period with costly imaging studies and invasive shunt taps. The proposed sensor module can be integrated with already-commercialized shunt systems and may allow remote, on-demand measurement of shunt status, therapeutic efficacy, and patient health, ultimately improving clinical outcomes while reducing overall treatment costs.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will focus on the integration of various microsensors to generate a diagnostic data set for data analytics. This data set will significantly advance the scientific/medical understanding of hydrocephalus, which is limited today by the paucity of data on CSF dynamics over time. The system would include several first-to-market capabilities, including chronic repeated measurement of CSF dynamics and automated wireless transduction from multiple sensors to a cloud-based database for analyses and dissemination. The smart shunt system will enable remote, on-demand monitoring of shunt status, giving physicians the data necessary for timely diagnosis and prediction of shunt failure. At-home electronic shunt monitoring will allow physicians to quantitatively and proactively manage patients? disease in real-time, and thereby improve their quality of life.
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. -
SILICON ASSURANCE LLC
SBIR Phase II: A Software Platform for Assessment of Untrusted Electronics
Contact
747 SW 2ND AVE STE 258 IMB 30
Gainesville, FL 32601-
NSF Award
2304533 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$907,793
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to address hardware security and trust issues that are threatening the semiconductor supply chain. Various threats exist from the design stage till the end of the life of chips, such as malicious logic insertion, intellectual property (IP) theft, reverse engineering, backdoor insertion, and information leakage from fabricated chips. Ensuring the security of the supply chain necessitates enhancing chip integrity through proactive measures starting from the design stage to distribution. With security concerns increasingly gaining prominence in specific market segments, such as automotive, defense, and healthcare, various stakeholders, such as device manufacturers, system integrators, end users, and governments are voicing the need for a trusted semiconductor supply chain. Using the proposed software platform, stakeholders of the chip industry will be able to address security challenges at a low cost, without needing trained experts. Furthermore, the team's tools will contribute to minimizing electronic waste generated from refabricating flawed chips and developing software patches that reduce the performance of insecure systems. The proposed technologies will drive chip designers to prioritize enhancing chip security, ensuring competitiveness in environments where secure systems are essential.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to address the challenge of commercial deployment of hardware security software to detect, assess, and mitigate hardware security vulnerabilities in system-on-chip (SoC) designs. By utilizing a novel methodology, the tool converts Common Weakness Enumerations (CWEs) into a formal description of security properties, which the platform's remaining tools can interpret to identify commonly occurring errors and vulnerabilities in hardware designs. The software seamlessly integrates with major commercial electronic design automation (EDA) tool flow, enhancing the deployment of hardware security software. The toolsets detect security issues in SoCs, including access control violations, asset leakage, and malicious logic or backdoors. The software considers security concerns in the global electronic supply chain involving untrusted entities. The team will collaborate with industry leaders to ensure widespread accessibility. Partnerships with several design companies will demonstrate the unique capabilities of the tool to analyze large designs, e.g., RISC-V processors, and detect a wide array of security vulnerabilities. The utilization of the product will significantly enhance the technology readiness level (TRL) and drive widespread adoption.
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. -
SILICON DYNAMIX, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Long Stroke Micromachined Arrayed Cell Electrostatic Actuators for Highly Integrated Micro-Positioning
Contact
905 W PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH HWY
Richardson, TX 75080--1198
NSF Award
2151499 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$926,538
Start / end date
09/15/2022 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Phase II project is further advancement and maturation of a recently devised miniature electromechanical actuator technology with potential applications in the consumer electronics, automotive and biomedical industries. Any electrically powered system with moving parts requires actuators converting electrical energy into mechanical motion. This includes robots, surgical/medical micro-devices, precision micro/nano-positioning systems, and optical and ultrasonic imaging systems among others. The market size for millimeter-scale electromechanical actuators embedded in compact camera modules (CCM) for Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Auto-Focusing (AF) alone is currently over $3B and expected to reach over $5B by 2025. The same actuator technology can also be applied to a variety of other applications such as compact speakers, ultrasonic transducers, and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) devices.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project utilizes the newly established cellular electrostatic actuator technology to demonstrate a low cost, power efficient, high-performance solution for auto-focusing and optical image stabilization in compact camera modules. Physical movement of the lens stack with respect to the image sensor is essential in cameras for Auto-Focusing (AF) as well as shake cancellation via Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). Voice Coil Motors (VCM) currently used to address such functionalities are relatively bulky, slow, power hungry, and costly. Enabled by the state-of-the-art micromachining techniques, force generating ultra-narrow electrostatic gaps within the proposed actuators offer high work output per volume with close to 100% energy efficiency. Under this project, for realization of a viable product prototype, mechanical displacement amplifiers and shock absorbing structures will be designed and integrated within the silicon chips along with the actuators. Comprehensive mechanical shock tests on loaded actuators as well as long-term electrical reliability and mechanical durability tests will be performed on the fabricated prototypes.
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. -
SILVEC BIOLOGICS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Using a novel RNA therapy to immunize trees and vines against deadly bacteria
Contact
200 GIRARD ST
Gaithersburg, MD 20877--3490
NSF Award
2223139 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$994,939
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop the first small RNA-based immunization approach for several deadly plant diseases including Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) in grapevines. Xf diseases include (1) Olive Quick Decline Syndrome, which is currently threatening the entire Southern European olive industry and killing trees that are over 1,000 years old; (2) Pierce?s Disease, which has severely damaged Southern California vineyards; and (3) Citrus Variegated Chlorosis, which is one of several diseases threatening the citrus industry. In addition, the project seeks to develop a proof-of-concept inoculations against several other of the most impactful viral and fungal diseases affect grapevines in the United States. A single inoculation can potentially provide lifetime protection against multiple pathogens while not harming the tree. In the absence of treatment, in a few decades, citrus, olive, and many other valuable crops that produce food for millions of people may cease to exist outside of insect-protective structures like greenhouses.
The technology being scaled-up is based on a novel infectious RNA that can be used as a delivery vehicle for anti-pathogenic agents. The proposed project has 4 key goals: (1) optimizing siRNAs against Xf and further improving the inoculation process for grapevine crops; (2) targeting Xf in grapevine crops; (3) targeting grapevine red blotch virus; (4) targeting downy mildew of grape caused by Plasmopara viticola fungus. Efficacy will be demonstrated in separate trials for each pathogen, ultimately laying the foundation for a single integrated product that would be able to protect grapevines against multiple deadly pathogens. This technology seeks to build on validations in the model plant N. bethamiana by scaling up to a full demonstration of efficacy in grapevines. Once efficacy is demonstrated, then field trials will be conducted.
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. -
SIMPLYVITAL HEALTH, INC.
STTR Phase II: Increased Security for Blockchains Applied to Healthcare
Contact
7 SHERMAN ST
Belmont, MA 02478--3130
NSF Award
2026461 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$989,853
Start / end date
02/01/2021 – 03/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is a significant increase to the security of healthcare safe public-private blockchain protocols. The use of blockchain technology drives efficiencies in direct alignment with improved patient experience and improved health, both at a reduced cost. The economic impact of bringing down the costs of providing healthcare has the potential to benefit millions of lives. One serious threat on Proof-of-Work (PoW) blockchains is the double-spend attack. With a successful double-spend attack, miners can reverse payments and obscure the audit trail of data access. The deployment of the proposed protocol will ensure the integrity of both these properties. More broadly, the proposed system can improve security for any PoW blockchain, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. The system can also greatly improve user experience by processing in a timely and standard manner via regularly created blocks.
This STTR Phase II project proposes to virtually remove the threat of double-spends for healthcare safe blockchains. Existing PoW blockchains are based on computational puzzles. Once a miner solves a puzzle, she adds a block to the chain and is rewarded with coins. In expectation, miners produce blocks proportional to their share of the computational resources. But mining is a random process and occasionally a miner with a small share of the resources can generate a majority of the blocks. In those cases, a minority miner can overwrite existing blocks, nullifying or double-spending earlier entries. The proposed system prevents double-spend attacks by requiring miners to aggregate multiple solutions to the PoW problem before submitting a block. This aggregation ensures that miners with the majority of the processing power have a high probability of submitting the majority of the blocks, reducing the risk of double-spends by orders of magnitude. The technical work includes: First, developing a new consensus mechanism for blockchains. The consensus mechanism is a highly sensitive, embedded piece of software and this adoption will be handled with careful engineering. Second, the project will decrease associated bandwidth use on the network, a primary cost. The project will seek to create a new solution for reducing network costs based on advanced filters. Third, the project will address and mitigate remaining security issues, such as proof withholding attacks and Denial of Service attacks. Finally, the work will empirically quantify the improvements to ensure high quality engineering and to inform translation strategy.
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. -
SKIP TECHNOLOGY, INC.
SBIR Phase II: High Energy-Density Hydrogen-Halogen Flow Batteries for Energy Storage
Contact
2113 SE 7TH AVE
Portland, OR 97214--4604
NSF Award
2136304 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$978,993
Start / end date
06/15/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project is directly related to the utilization of renewable energy sources in the electrical grid. Due to the variability of supply, renewable energy generators (e.g. solar and wind) cannot supply the entire electrical demand as these often under-produce during times of high demand and over-produce during times of low demand. To alleviate this problem, large-scale energy storage solutions are necessary to balance generation and demand. This project aims to create the necessary technological breakthrough of a chemical battery to address this need. The company has developed an enabling technology that unlocks a chemistry which was first proposed over forty years ago. However, it has always failed before due to a flaw at its core. The proposed work addresses this flaw. The proposed storage technology will enter the large-scale energy storage market that is poorly served by existing solutions and is expected to exceed hundreds of billions of dollars worldwide annually within the decade as the world transitions to greater renewable energy generation.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to bring a novel membrane technology for flow batteries to a commercial ready status. In previous iterations, flow batteries of this type have been limited in success due to issues of thin-film membranes which are at the heart of such batteries. A novel solution to this problem has been identified and a proof-of-concept has been successfully demonstrated. This project aims to transition that device from a laboratory setting of a single operational cell to a commercial product linking many such cells in a manifold. This work will involve a combination of laboratory experiments, manufacturing design, as well as theory and simulation work. At the end of this project, numerous cells in a physical stack will be built that will facilitate manufacturing and quality assurance. These advances will enable a direct transition to full-sized commercial-ready flow batteries. Initial investigations have demonstrated that the novel technology and approach to solving flow battery membrane problems may be extended to other similar fields with similar advantages, e.g. fuel cells.
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. -
SKROOT LABORATORY INC.
SBIR Phase II: Resonant Sensors for Wireless Monitoring of Viable Cell Concentration in Small, Disposable Bioreactors
Contact
2233 MCKINLEY CT
Ames, IA 50010--4508
NSF Award
2025552 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,007,905
Start / end date
01/01/2021 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the creation of a sensor system for cell-based manufacturing of such products as biologic therapies, food ingredients, and bio-based materials. These sensors will overcome current limitations for tracking critical cell growth data, which requires manual sampling with slow turnaround times. This system will enable better predictive growth models for improved production process development and will lead to better decision-making on cell type and culture conditions to produce biologic material. Better performance at this stage leads to potentially significant savings during the manufacturing lifetime of the drug.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is focused on developing a wireless sensor system to address the need of continuously monitoring viable cell density during biomanufacturing. Many industries use cells for production, but the initial focus is upstream development of cell therapies and biologics. Central to this development is tracking the growth of cells in a variety of small-scale, single-use bioreactors to determine key event points for feed and harvest. Current methods rely on infrequent sampling and off-line counting due to the volume required, risk of contamination, and cost. The central research objective is to develop methods for standardized sensor and reader fabrication and quality testing for calibration studies in commercially-relevant environments and systems. The proposed project will develop: 1) sensor stickers that are applied to the exterior of culture vessels, 2) readers that interrogate the sensor, and 3) algorithms to convert the sensor signal to cell count and push notifications to operators.
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. -
SKYGIG, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Power-Optimized Beamforming Front-End Technology for High-Capacity Millimeter-Wave Wireless Communications
Contact
2222 FULLER CT
Ann Arbor, MI 48105--2401
NSF Award
2243835 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
08/15/2023 – 07/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop a platform technology as an enabler of a wide range of high-throughput wireless communications for the next generation of broadband multigigabit connectivity. The millimeter-wave (mmWave) technology solves some of the key underlying challenges of mmWave radios and networks and is pivotal to a wide set of 5G/6G wireless applications, including fixed and mobile wireless access, among others. As a building block of 5G/6G, this advanced wireless technology will enable rapid and robust roll-out of the next generation network. This project will enable network operators to rapidly roll-out advanced 5G wireless telecommunication networks and will allow service providers to deploy cost-effective broadband connectivity to millions of underserved users, bridging the digital divide. The advanced wireless technology will serve a wide set of wireless related applications in the 5G/6G market. The solution may impact multiple industry sectors ranging from smart transportation and online healthcare to education, smart city initiatives, and manufacturing and semiconductor industries.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project focuses on the development and implementation of the mmWave beamforming Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) as the core of a novel, power-optimized, beamforming, front-end technology. This technology uniquely provides a combination of ultra-high gain beamforming with significantly reduced power consumption and RF losses when compared to the conventional mmWave front-end technologies. The mmWave front-end technology is based on a novel architecture along with high-performance sub-systems. The team will investigate and demonstrate the performance of this beamforming RFIC front-end architecture for adaptation in highly efficient and high-capacity wireless networks. Integrated as a wireless solution for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), this technology offers significant cost savings and revenue boost for network and service operators and providers.
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. -
SMART GIRLS HQ LLC
SBIR Phase II: A Digital Platform That Engages Elementary Aged Girls in STEM Through Personalized Informal Learning
Contact
9319 ROBERT D SNYDER RD
Charlotte, NC 28223--0001
NSF Award
2321914 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,800
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is an increase in the representation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) employment areas, enabling the US to meet the increasing demand for STEM workers and maintain competitiveness in the global innovation community. The factors contributing to the underrepresentation of girls and women in STEM often take effect early in their education and extend beyond traditional classrooms settings. Very few solutions specifically address the support needed by parents to facilitate STEM informal learning in a way that is engaging to their young daughters. This project intends to deliver personalized learning pathways designed to catalyze positive STEM experiences for girls early in their learning journeys so that they are more likely to embrace STEM careers.
This project seeks to deliver a learning platform that operates using a novel recommender system, which applies algorithmic modeling of surprise and curiosity as well as best practices regarding the unique STEM learning needs of young girls. The main technical hurdles that will be addressed in this project are as follows: (1) refinement of algorithmic model, which will be applied to generate recommendation sequences that elicit curiosity in manner that both increases interest in STEM and prompts additional STEM learning and career awareness; (2) expansion of a dataset and data representation through the enhanced features and improvements to the data model; (3) visualization and gamification of learner interest inputs and (4) implementation of an engaging user interface and experience. The refinement of algorithmic models is expected to expand the research knowledge on recommendations for behavior change, recommender systems for a young target audience, and surprise and curiosity modeling in artificial intelligence systems. The solution will ultimately deliver a commercial application that personalizes STEM career exploration, particularly suited for young women.
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. -
SOCTERA, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Thermally-optimized power amplifiers for next-generation telecommunication and radar
Contact
350F DUFFIELD HALL
Ithaca, NY 14853--2700
NSF Award
2335504 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project enables the next generation of wireless communication that makes our world smarter and safer. The promise of 5G is to enable unprecedented connectivity - smart cars, smart homes, etc. The technology also promises equity of information in the form of broadband coverage across the United States. Thus far, the dream of 5G has been limited due to poor signal range and prohibitive cooling costs. This solution is a thermally-optimized power amplifier that dramatically increases signal range and stays cool - reducing costs. As a result of boosted signal range, broadband coverage will be incentivized in more rural areas, preventing the deepening of the digital divide. Lower costs enable next-generation connectivity between smart devices - such as that between cars which can dramatically lower motor vehicle accidents. Finally, the development and production of this technology, all within the United States, will contribute to the ongoing effort to revitalize the nation?s semiconductor industry.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project focuses on the scaling and commercialization of an innovative power amplifier technology. State-of-the-art power amplifiers (PAs) are made of gallium nitride. In many cases, the performance of these PAs is thermally limited - they can't handle the heat they generate during operation. The result for wireless communication systems, such as 5G telecom and radar systems, is limited signal range and high cooling costs. By inserting a thin aluminum nitride layer in its semiconductor stack, the power amplifiers developed in this Phase II project will have significantly improved thermal management, resulting in increased efficiency and power handling capabilities. The resulting power amplifiers will reduce cooling cost and increase signal range, enabling next generation telecommunications and advanced radar systems. In this project, production will transition from the university lab to a scaled, commercial process. This transition will involve multiple rounds of power amplifier fabrication and assessment, as well as the formation and maintenance of key partnerships. The result of this project will be a demonstration of the minimum viable product at commercial scale.
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. -
SOFTHREAD, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Zero Trust Solution for Precision Medicine and Precision Health Data Exchanges
Contact
5520 RESEARCH PARK DR
Catonsville, MD 21228--4851
NSF Award
2226026 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$984,905
Start / end date
04/01/2024 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project leverages novel converging technologies and expands blockchain technology to new healthcare domains enabling the secure exchange of confidential, precision health information such as advanced directives and life-sustaining management within and between organizations. The confidentiality, security, and efficiency of data management are critically important in advanced care and life-sustaining treatment decision pathways for ethical, clinical, regulatory, and legal reasons. The combination of the proprietary blockchain solution with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and edge computing enablement offers enhanced privacy and security, improved audit-readiness, better risk management, and superior operational efficiency. The solution functions as an overlay to legacy systems. It easily integrates with existing information management systems, in the cloud or on premise. Further, this solution is scalable, providing a competitive advantage and ease of adoption for stakeholders, including those who are seeking Web 3.0 upward compatibility. In addition to the direct impact within this application area, the technology can have a broader positive influence on the economy and society by preventing or reducing data breaches, increasing trust and quality of life, and reducing the total cost of healthcare.
This SBIR Phase II project establishes a novel, efficient, and effective solution for advanced directives and life-sustaining management, which is one of the critical areas within precision health and medicine given the highly personalized and ethically-complex nature of the application. The zero-trust solution achieves decentralized confidentiality, fine-grained access control, and robust intrusion tolerance by avoiding any single point of failure and maintaining operational efficiency. By leveraging modern cryptographic protocols, pre-built privacy-preserving smart contracts, advanced user access control overlays, support for publish/subscribe messaging patterns, integration with off-chain operations, and confidentiality-preserving machine learning models, the solution offers a unique, modular, decentralized architecture that can meet complex regulatory, privacy and security requirements. Further, the technology is specifically designed to address Internet of Things (IoT) network security and data management at scale. The project aims to reduce cyber-vulnerability, increase operational flexibility and achieve scalability that will prove beneficial to a broad array of related healthcare and precision medicine domains such as transplant services, genomic medicine, or biobanks where data confidentiality is of critical importance, especially as these are highly vulnerable to data breaches and cyberattacks.
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. -
SOILSERDEM LLC
SBIR Phase II: Creating high-quality, lower-cost soil maps using machine learning algorithms
Contact
1406 MAYFIELD DR
Ames, IA 50014--5525
NSF Award
2304081 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
08/15/2023 – 07/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to produce high-quality (accurate/high-resolution) soil maps for agronomists and farmers at scale. Accurate soil information is a fundamental driver of better, more-efficient crop/soil management. This new branch of technology will deliver developed map products across various cropping systems that exist in the continental U.S., intersecting economic and environmental sustainability. Making site-specific soil fertility mapping information accessible to a diversity of land stewards is the goal of this project. Expected outcomes include more environmentally responsible farm management and manure and nutrient-management planning, precision farming, land use planning, planting decisions, evaluating stressors on plants, field conditioning, crop rotation, and prediction/interpretation of yields. Other benefits are increased farm profitability and increased soil health. This technology will result in increased crop yield while allowing for decreased input costs, leading to higher profitability in an industry that chronically suffers from low profit margins. The anticipated project outcomes meet NSF goals by advancing science, improving the lives and health of U.S. citizens, and potentially generating increased tax revenues and jobs via increased farm success.
This innovative technology has three components that differentiate it from the best current technologies used to produce maps of essential soil nutrients. The first is applying generalized landscape quantification to drive optimal soil sample collection accommodating landscape variability, thereby eliminating the need to collect unnecessary soil samples. The second component leverages advanced machine-learning algorithms that are able to use the small number of uniquely collected soil samples to produce accurate predictions. Finally, the technology is a transferable model that does not necessitate additional hardware to achieve its results. As envisioned, this technology can select appropriate covariate mosaics to capture relevant soil variability irrespective of cropping system and management practices. The scope of this project will be beneficial to row cropping system across the U.S., specifically targeting corn-soy, potatoes, wheat, and cotton production. Unlike currently available methods that produce inadequate data for challenging (cost-prohibitive) mapping targets, this new technology will render those targets accessible and cost-effective with reliable accuracies.
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. -
SOLARID AR, LLC.
SBIR Phase II: Real-time computer automated identification and quantification of insects entering the SolaRid insect control device (ICD)
Contact
267 FAYES FOREST RD
Clinton, AR 72031--6012
NSF Award
2247237 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$981,168
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project include an artificial intelligence technology designed to detect, identify, and determine levels of insect infestations in fields, providing a comprehensive decision support system in real-time. More efficient and precise insect monitoring would result in reduced chemical insecticide use by increasing the specificity and timeliness of the applied input. Successful completion of the project could serve to increase the economic competitiveness of the U.S. in the world agricultural market, positively impact the health and welfare of the American public through reduced pesticide use, and introduce rural populations to technology highlighting the benefits of investment in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. This technology could result in significant savings per acre through decreased expenditures on pesticides and decreased damage done by pests. Considering pests cause $45 billion per year in crop damage annually, and US farms spend more than $25 billion per year on pesticides, the savings to the industry could be substantial.
The project provides an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven insect trapping system that can identify a broad diversity of insects in real-time. The primary objective of the project is to finish development of an integrated pest management tool that attracts, captures, and images pest insects, identifies and counts them in real-time, and delivers data and management decisions in a user-friendly format to internet-accessible devices. In order to achieve this objective, the technology will be deployed in several agricultural systems where they will continuously obtain data in the form of insect images. The insects in these images will be identified by experts and the data will be used to train the AI insect identification system. During the project, the system will learn to identify a diversity of important and commonly encountered insects in agricultural fields and orchards and a user-friendly interface for delivering results to users will be developed. The end goal is an all-in-one pest management tool that can be deployed in any agricultural system in the United States where it can aid farmers in the management of pest problems while minimizing pesticide use and increasing yields.
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. -
SOLVUS GLOBAL LLC
SBIR Phase II: Artificially Intelligent Solution to Maximize Value Creation and Upcycling Potential of Aluminum Scrap
Contact
104 PRESCOTT ST
Worcester, MA 01605--1703
NSF Award
2026106 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$992,485
Start / end date
09/15/2020 – 09/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop an artificially intelligent sorting software (AISS) for the metal scrap processing industry. Scrap packages of unknown composition can result in costly melt losses and increased consumption of primary aluminum to balance out composition. Recycled aluminum production consumes 5% of the total energy required to form primary aluminum and yields significantly less waste per ton. The AISS aims to (1) enable production of high-quality, maximum-value scrap by combining market and compositional data to optimize sorting criteria and (2) use artificial intelligence to predict optimally salable scrap packages; the estimated value of this information is $1 billion, representing over 4% of total industry revenue.
This SBIR Phase II project will advance translation of a system combining market value and compositional data to produce maximum-value nonferrous scrap sortation decisions. The proposed work will deliver the AISS to scrap processors for identification, in real time, of maximum-value commodity packages by analyzing several data streams. It will recommend optimized sorting criteria for maximum profit generation, predict scrap stream composition, and monitor scrap-package composition for guaranteed quality. This project will: (1) enhance the AISS to include stream prediction and real-time data integration, (2) scale integration and testing to validate the AISS hardware package, and (3) complete integration, testing, and commercial-scale optimization of the AISS software-hardware package with sensor-sorting systems. This project will develop the first real-time adaptive sortation algorithm introduced to the non-ferrous scrap sortation industry.
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. -
SPADXTECH LLC
SBIR Phase II: High-Performance and Green Materials Based on Engineered Cellulose-Producing Bacteria
Contact
17 BRIDEN ST
Worcester, MA 01605--2639
NSF Award
2310226 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by replacing plastics with cellulose secreted by genetically modified bacteria in the form of synthetic leather. This substitution effort will assist the USA in reaching net-zero GHG emissions by saving over 660 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) or CO2-equivalent gases by 2050. Replacing synthetic leathers made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polyurethane (PU) or hide-based leather with bacterial cellulose will have significant environmental benefits. Being petroleum-based, PVC and PU production has significant GHG emissions. Genuine leather requires transport of hides to tanneries, most of which are no longer located in the USA. Additionally, the water-intensive tanning and dyeing processes produce toxic wastes. In contrast, growth and processing of bacterial cellulose produces little to no toxic waste and few GHG emissions. Further, the material is biodegradable (unlike PVC or PU), which is appealing to consumers in the rapidly growing market for vegan leather. Scale-up of the production to replace plastics worldwide with this sustainable material will reduce trash generation and alleviate the problem of plastic waste in the environment.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will enhance the properties of the existing synthetic leather materials and will develop the technology to produce large quantities of the material at low cost. Composed of bacterial cellulose, this high-performance, environmentally friendly material will impact the textile, construction, and packaging industries. The material looks, feels, and performs like real leather having desirable properties such as suppleness, sew-ability, and high tensile strength. The initial focus will be on creating a vegan leather alternative consisting of multiple cellulose sheets combined using a proprietary formulation. This project will enable the refinement of the material to meet industry standards for durability (e.g., water resistance, flex resistance, abrasion resistance, colorfastness) and aesthetics (color and patterns) and will develop the processes for producing the material at a commercial scale to meet market demand for quantity and price. Further, the fast-growing bacterial strains provide a competitive advantage for scale-up. The research will provide a solid scientific foundation to produce much larger quantities of this cellulose-based material at competitive prices for other applications such as insulation for the construction industry.
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. -
SPATIAL SURGICAL LLC
SBIR Phase II: Development of a computer-guided, orthopedic laser surgical system
Contact
31 LEBEAUX DR
Shrewsbury, MA 01545--3308
NSF Award
2154373 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$997,189
Start / end date
08/01/2022 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve distal extremity joint arthroplasty. Arthroplasty is a surgical procedure to restore the function of a joint. The proposed technology replaces cold knife, electrocautery, orthopedic saws and drills with a hand-held, all-tissue laser ablation system that fast cuts bone without necrosis. The effect is to reduce surgical time, create more precise cuts and drill holes, decrease recovery times, and reduce the need for opioid medications after surgery. The integrated visualization system may allow orthopedic surgeons to perform precise surgical planning that is difficult or impossible with current methods. While important in hips or knees, surgical precision is critical in wrists, ankles, and fingers/toes. The proposed device produced in this project may improve surgical success rates and reduce complications and revision surgeries, which will reduce patient suffering and excess healthcare costs. At the same time, the proposed tools may enable safe and successful distal extremity joint arthroplasty to be performed routinely.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to develop an all-tissue laser-based orthopedic surgery system that integrates cameras for real-time, three-dimensional (3D) vision within a single handpiece. Conventional saws and drills compress and shear bones, causing postoperative joint pain and prolonging recovery times. A laser cuts by ablating tissue at its specific molecular absorption without killing the surrounding tissue (i.e., necrosis). One critical technical innovation in this project is to use a pulsed, high peak power, 9.3 ?m wavelength carbon dioxide (CO2) laser that rapidly ablates hydroxyapatite (bone) and water (soft tissue). The laser pulse widths are chosen to approach the tissue?s Thermal Relaxation Time, TRT, which eliminates necrosis. Another critical technical innovation is to integrate various cameras (similar to smartphone and confocal microscope cameras) within the 9.3 ?m ablation laser pulse train to provide real-time, high-definition, intraoperative vision. The proposed device may be enhanced to demonstrate sufficiently large bone ablation patterns, clinically acceptable bone ablation speeds, and non-tapered laser drilling tapering. The instrument will be housed in a handheld device that mimics existing orthopedic tools and will be run by firmware to perform at speeds necessary for clinical use.
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. -
STARK STREET MATERIALS COMPANY
SBIR Phase II: Manufacturing Feasibility of New Radiation Shielding Fabrics
Contact
420 SE 62ND AVE
Portland, OR 97215--1765
NSF Award
2222985 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$991,621
Start / end date
02/15/2023 – 01/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project includes the reduction of lead and toxic elements used as radiation shielding in medical, dental, and veterinary settings. Lead and several of its salt composites have been the go-to radiation shielding material, but there have been documented instances of lead contamination to radiation workers. The proposed technology replaces lead and other elements used in radiation shielding with the safe and non-toxic element bismuth. This project focuses on the technical challenges related to molding new, lighter weight, cleanable, flexible, and elastic radiation shielding materials that can be used to produce garments that are much lighter and more ergonomic for medical personnel who wear radiation shielding for a large portion of their workday.
This technology is built on new scientific understandings of bismuth surface stabilization chemistry and chemical engineering in very high-density microparticle composite materials. By tailoring the surface chemistry of bismuth particles, the material properties change dramatically on the macro property scale. In Phase I, the company demonstrated the feasibility of producing the final material, including the identification of polymers, scale-up of materials, and compounding that generated a fabric with exceptional elasticity, high X-ray attenuation, and a very thin profile for its target weight. While composite materials with greater than 85 % by weight bismuth particle filler requires specialized techniques and molding requirements, it yields a superior final material that outperforms all radiation shielding fabrics currently on the market. This project addresses a number of these processing challenges and fabrication techniques.
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. -
STARNAV LLC
SBIR Phase II: Low Earth Orbit Navigation System (LEONS) - The Ground Network
Contact
3600 LIME ST
Riverside, CA 92501--0937
NSF Award
2322418 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$976,584
Start / end date
04/01/2024 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide a safe and reliable positioning and timing system for systems when the Global Positioning System (GPS) fails. Billions of users, including drone applications, precision farming, and The Department of Defense rely on GPS. Unfortunately, GPS signals are weak because they are transmitted from space, making them susceptible to jamming and hacking. Research from the scientific community has studied the use of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite signals as a backup to GPS. This project will deploy a novel platform for testing theoretical studies and required infrastructure that will enable the use of LEO satellite signals by vehicles to improve their navigation systems. Improving drone navigation technology will push several markets into full fruition, including drone package delivery and delivery of emergency medical supplies, which are projected to see double digit market growth over the next few years. Precise positioning is also expected to support fully autonomous tractors, which will boost the agriculture market by scaling precision seed laying. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) considers 13 of the 16 critical infrastructures to be critically dependent on GPS. This project aims to remove this single point of failure from over-reliance on GPS.
This SBIR Phase II project will develop a ground network service that supports the use of existing and future LEO satellite signals for positioning and timing to serve as an alternative or complement to GPS. The research objectives are to: 1) complete a proof-of-concept system enabling the use of these signals for positioning and timing, 2) analytically characterize performance of the system, and 3) demonstrate an operational proof-of-concept system in a region of the United States. To reach these objectives, this project will leverage fundamentals from signal processing and estimation theory to convert LEO signals into GPS-like signals. Convex optimization theory will be used to guide the deployment of the infrastructure needed to realize the system. The demonstration of the system will be evaluated by comparing the mean and standard deviation of the position errors produced by the LEO satellite signals with theoretically achievable values.
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. -
STEG AI CORPORATION
SBIR Phase II: Novel photographic steganography to reduce digital piracy on live streaming platforms
Contact
5270 CALIFORNIA AVE STE 350
Irvine, CA 92617--3233
NSF Award
2208746 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
12/01/2022 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to reduce video and image copyright-related liability for social media companies and retain profits for digital media licensing companies and other content owners/distributors who are holding or enforcing content rights. Beyond content protection, the technology being developed can also address the emerging need for digital content authentication that can assure users the digital images or videos they are viewing are legitimate and not altered through the use of ?deep-fake? or other similar technologies. Global piracy of digital video has been estimated to cost media providers, content creators, and legal distributors $67-$79 billion in lost revenue. While companies pay billions of dollars per year for sports broadcast rights, illegal sports streaming sites can generate enormous ad revenues at virtually no cost. With the advent of the internet and the abundance of high-quality recording equipment on small, portable devices, it has become easier for video pirates to capture and share copyrighted material. Using photographic steganography to mark copyrighted content with undetectable messages will provide stakeholders with built-in anti-piracy protections. This technology, in turn, will help ensure legal content distribution, content protection for producers, and content assurance for consumers.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to develop a competitive solution to copyright protection through imperceptible watermarking of digital images and digital videos using photographic steganography. This project is distinct from prior work in that it: (1) models the human vision system so that pixel modulations are machine-readable but imperceptible to humans; (2) robustly handles video compression algorithms like H.264, HEVC, MPEG, and VP9; (3) employs single-frame, synchronization-free methodology compatible with both still images and videos; (4) enables free-space light communication (light field messaging) using smartphone cameras; (5) works with ordinary camera and display hardware with no special spectrum or speed requirements; and (6) employs state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms trained with hundreds of thousands of images. The proposed product will be able to reliably detect screen-to-camera piracy while maintaining broadcast video quality standards. During this project, the technology will be strengthened in four key technical areas of development: (i) robustness to critical image/video mutations; (ii) real-time encoding; (iii) computationally efficient decoding; and (iv) industry-standard certification for visual quality.
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. -
STORX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
STTR Phase II: Accurate Fetal Health Monitoring During Labor and Delivery
Contact
2918 COHO PL
Davis, CA 95616--5636
NSF Award
2233238 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$996,466
Start / end date
04/15/2023 – 03/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is to advance an innovative method of fetal monitoring, which has the prospect of improving outcomes, reducing cost, and promoting equitable access to quality care during childbirth. The project serves the aligned interest of several key stake holders: patients, payers, providers and policy makers, as it will promote the safety of both the mother and baby in the birth process, while reducing the need for unnecessary interventions by the care providers. The project is expected to have very broad impact as safe childbirth is a societal health imperative that touches virtually every family, and disproportionately impacts families from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Other broader impacts include enrichment of trainees? educational experience at the partner research institution, and transition of underlying federally-supported basic research into the marketplace.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project will build on an innovative technology for non-invasive, transabdominal measurement of fetal arterial blood oxygen saturation (fSpO2). The underlying principle of operation is shining light in the abdominal area of the pregnant mother at two specific near infrared wavelengths, followed by sensing the small amount of diffusely-scattered light on the maternal abdomen. The relative concentration of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the pulsating fetal blood regulates light absorption by the fetal tissue, resulting in a faint pattern in the sensed light signals. The sensed signals are analyzed to detect such patterns, and to infer fSpO2. The project activities include further revisions of the device prototype and collaboration with a team of clinical researchers to demonstrate safe and accurate transabdominal fSpO2 measurement in a pilot patient study. The project provides the foundation and support for impacting patient care in the longer term.
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. -
SUNFLY BRANDS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Final Ink and Stamp Development and Safety Testing For the SPF Indicator Stamp
Contact
4445 28TH AVE W
Seattle, WA 98199--1438
NSF Award
2229779 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,427
Start / end date
04/01/2023 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to help reduce sunburn (a primary risk factor for melanoma), skin cancer, and photoaging rates by helping people to apply and reapply adequate amounts of sunscreen. Sunburns, 93% of skin cancer, and up to 90% of the age-related changes to skin are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Skin cancer is more commonly diagnosed than all other forms of cancer combined in the U.S. with estimated annual treatment costs of $8.1 billion. Sunscreen is an over-the-counter drug that can prevent the damaging effects of UVR, yet multiple studies show that sunscreen users only apply about a third of the recommended amount of sunscreen and do not reapply often enough. The recreational (beach and body) sunscreen market is $2.5 billion in the U.S. ($11 billion globally) and growing at an annual rate of 7%. By helping people apply and reapply the correct amount of sunscreen at the right time, this project will help prevent sunburns, skin cancer, and photoaging.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will result in the first accurate, affordable, and convenient sunscreen effectiveness indicator. Though other photochromic (UV-sensitive and color-changing) sunscreen effectiveness indicators exist in the marketplace, they are inaccurate (temperature and UVA1 sensitivities cause reporting errors), expensive (>$0.60 per use) and inconvenient (stickers and wristband formats) which largely account for their lack of market adoption. This project will result in the first stamp-on-skin photochromic sunscreen effectiveness indicator in two formats: a stand-alone stamp that will work with any sunscreen and a stamp-in-cap format that is built into the sunscreen?s cap. It will also result in two different photochromic ink formulations (one for use with sunscreen lotions and another for sunscreen sprays) which will be stamped onto user?s skin and accurately report?at-a-glance and in real-time the degree of users? sun protection so they can apply and reapply the right amount of sunscreen at the right time. A single stamp will last an entire day in wet or dry conditions and withstand multiple color-fade and sunscreen reapplication cycles.
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. -
SUNTHETICS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Accelerating R&D through Streamlined Machine Learning Algorithms for Small Data Applications in Advanced Manufacturing
Contact
3055 HUNTER RD
San Marcos, TX 78666--6460
NSF Award
2325045 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will improve and accelerate the development of new chemicals, processes, and formulations in the pharmaceutical industry. By harnessing the power of machine learning (ML), this project aims to save time and resources by up to 95%, while reducing waste generation, thereby enhancing the commercial and societal impact of drug development. Traditional process optimization in drug development is a time-consuming and expensive endeavor, often relying on trial-and-error approaches. Lead optimization and route scouting in pre-clinical drug development can take months and involve thousands of experiments, costing millions of dollars in personnel expenses alone. This project seeks to address these challenges by employing ML to guide experimental design with small datasets. Through a combination of ML and chemistry knowledge, this project aims to streamline the optimization process by suggesting only the most promising experiments and minimizing the number of failed attempts. This solution not only grants patients quicker access to medicines but also enables companies to generate earlier revenue and maintain longer market exclusivity.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project addresses one of the most significant challenges faced by research and development (R&D) chemists: the optimization of categorical variables in synthetic processes, specifically solvent selection. Solvents play a vital role in the chemical industry, including reaction, separation, purification, and formulation. The proper solvent can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and result in a more environmentally friendly process. Despite successful advances in ML-guided optimization and green solvent selection methodologies, available tools do not effectively combine environmental and performance parameters for simultaneous solvent selection and process optimization. This project will provide a solution for scientists across the chemical industry to leverage small data and innovative ML technologies to advance manufacturing.
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. -
SUPERCLEAN GLASS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Increasing energy yield from dusty solar panels with a new generation of an electrostatic self-cleaning technology
Contact
83 AVALON CIR
Smithtown, NY 11787--3866
NSF Award
2322204 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
04/01/2024 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact and commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will generate numerous positive societal outcomes by increasing the economic competitiveness of the United States through the development of innovation in solar energy and promoting energy independence. Worldwide, the tremendous growth of large utility-scale solar power plants in desert-like regions has put extreme pressure on local water resources for cleaning dust from solar panels. A typical solar power plant of 100 megawatts can power 42,000 homes. Over its 25-year life, this power plant requires 38 million gallons of potable water, transported by 4750 tanker trucks, and incurs $22 million in cleaning costs (without even factoring in 25 years of inflation). Cleaning over one-quarter of a million dusty solar panels multiple times a year would still result in a loss of $51 million in energy sales due to this soiling from dust. Reducing these losses and avoiding all these costs has a great impact on lowering the cost of our electricity for homes, electric vehicles, and the growing electrification of society.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to lower the cost of solar electricity, improve the reliability and predictability of solar power plants, and, importantly, eliminate the use of water in the cleaning of dusty solar panels in these desert-like regions. To address technological and scientific challenges related to this new technology, the research?s efforts will include a combination of experiments and modeling to increase the size of prototypes and verify their performance in laboratory and field conditions. The outcomes of these efforts will result in improved efficiency, lower cost, and scalability of this new approach. Our industrial partners will guide the commercialization efforts to facilitate wide adoption of this technology by the solar industry.
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. -
SUPREMETRIC LLC
STTR Phase II: Body fluid identification for forensic purposes using Raman spectroscopy
Contact
66 JEFFERSON RD
Glenmont, NY 12077--3318
NSF Award
2304318 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,999
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project contributes to broader societal and commercial impacts by enabling crime labs to better utilize overstretched resources by ensuring only relevant crime scene samples undergo DNA analysis. Currently, the large number of irrelevant samples submitted for testing contributes to a massive backlog that clogs up crime lab workflows and delays the timely delivery of critical information to investigators and prosecutors. This technology will allow real-time identification of body fluids at the crime scene, streamlining the collection-testing pipeline. DNA analysis has great potential to lead investigators to suspects. By expediting the DNA analysis process, investigators will more quickly apprehend criminal offenders, who otherwise could remain free to commit other crimes. DNA also has the ability to exonerate suspects who have falsely fallen under suspicion, protecting them from experiencing such burdens as arrest, pre-trial detention, criminal conviction, and the social and economic consequences of being labeled a criminal. The critical data provided by this technology will lower court costs while increasing the speed of investigations, increasing the accuracy of testing results, and improving court outcomes, all to the benefit of society.
This project develops software that performs nondestructive body fluid identification, confirming the presence or absence of specific body fluid types. Biological stains are present in many crime scenes and provide critical data to investigators. However, testing capabilities for these stains are currently insufficient. Forensic scientists often proceed to DNA analysis without first establishing the nature of the stain when small amounts are present, resulting in unnecessary DNA testing of samples with no relevant fluids. This team will work with a proprietary algorithm that recognizes trace signals on interfering substrates and confirms the contents of the sample without destroying the evidence. Previous Phase I efforts established proof-of-feasibility of the statistical model. This Phase II project will develop a fully functional working prototype of the software and validate it in both inter-laboratory and real-world settings. The first-generation technology will be integrated with benchtop instruments for applications in crime laboratories, while the second-generation technology will enable the use of portable instruments for on-site body fluid identification. Ultimately the technology will include additional features such as phenotypic analysis of biological stains, including the determination of sex and age of donor.
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. -
SUSMAX LLC
SBIR Phase II: Developing scale-up manufacturing of engineered waste coal ash based lightweight aggregate for concrete applications
Contact
3401 MARKET ST STE 200
Philadelphia, PA 19104--3358
NSF Award
2321815 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to increase the accessibility of construction lightweight aggregate (LWA) for the concrete industry using a thermodynamics-guided technology to locally produce a cost-effective and engineered LWA from waste coal combustion ash (W-CCA). The traditional LWA manufacturers are only available in few locations and states in the U.S. due to the manufacturers? raw materials dependency, and therefore, LWA customers (e.g., ready-mix concrete suppliers) in some regions pay more than 70% of the LWA price to transport the LWA hundreds of miles to their plants. At the same time, coal ash landfills are abundant and are scattered around the country. According to the EPA, more than 500 W-CCA landfills are leaching toxic substances into the groundwater at levels exceeding federal safe standards due to improper landfill construction and management. The consequence of these contaminations is continuous damage to the environment, groundwater, and human health. By implementing this technology to produce an engineered LWA from W-CCA locally, both the supply chain issue of LWA and the environmental damage of W-CCA accumulated in the landfills will be alleviated.
This project?s goal is to scale up manufacturing of a waste coal combustion ash (W-CCA) based lightweight aggregate (LWA), designed through a thermodynamics-guided technology. The product will be produced through a two-step approach to demonstrate the successful use of the LWA for lightweight concrete production. This technology addresses the main challenge of LWA production from W-CCA which is chemical composition variability in the feedstock from one landfill to another. The engineered LWA is based on the chemical composition of the raw W-CCA and the required conditions for the formation of a porous LWA. The project will consider formation of the optimal amount of molten phase, the appropriate viscosity for partially molten ash, and the gas release from the ash to form the pores. To achieve this project?s goal LWA manufacturing at batch scale will be developed and tested and the properties of the product will be assessed according to relevant American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards to demonstrate compliance. The product LCA will be used for structural lightweight concrete preparation and characterization and the team will develop a continuous manufacturing system for LWA production at tonnage scale. Finally, field scale concrete will be cast and characterized using the produced LWA at tonnage scale.
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. -
Sasya, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Sustainable production of high-performance dietary supplements
Contact
1000 WESTGATE DR, SUITE 117A
Saint Paul, MN 55114--1912
NSF Award
2139470 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$995,239
Start / end date
08/01/2022 – 07/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to facilitate improved animal husbandry practices by providing high-performance natural supplements that can replace prophylactic antibiotics, drugs, and hormones. The use of medically-relevant antibiotics in animal feed initiated the spread of ?super bugs,? causing a public health concern. Reducing the dependency on antibiotics in animal feed requires a concerted effort from multiple sectors. The outcome from this project may provide pragmatic alternatives to using antibiotics. Through research and demonstration, this project aims to overcome consumer skepticism towards accepting new supplements and contribute to maintaining profitability in animal farming even after antibiotics are eliminated from feed.
The proposed project uses state-of-the-art computational tools in enzyme design to create new biocatalysts with tailored microorganisms. The resultant designer microorganisms with new functionalities may produce supplements used in animal feed using sustainable bioprocesses. A crucial component of the project is to design efficient bioprocesses that provide supplements that are fungible with existing supply chains, without the need for any additional on-farm infrastructure. Many natural supplements are either extracted from plants or produced using harsh processes, contributing to their expense. Successful completion of this project may overcome geographical or seasonal limitations in supplment production and represent the use of cutting-edge technology in the dietary supplements sector.
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. -
Savage Medical Inc.
SBIR Phase II: A Novel Device Alternative to Temporary Ostomies
Contact
2622 BELMONT CANYON RD
Belmont, CA 94002--2235
NSF Award
2127137 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,742
Start / end date
12/01/2021 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve the care and quality of life of colon cancer patients while reducing healthcare costs. The development of a reliable, reversible, and cost-effective means to protect segments of bowel has potential applications to treating a number of common disease conditions such as colon cancer, Crohn?s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, ischemic bowel disease, and abdominal trauma. There are more than 120,000 temporary ostomies (surgical openings) performed each year in the US, and a majority of these can be eliminated with the development of the funded technology, addressing a $6.4 Billion total market opportunity. This funded device will initially target the over 40,000 individuals who have low bowel resections, the majority for rectal cancer. This represents an initial market size of $200 million in US. The overall impact with full market penetration in just the US rectal resection market is $2.4 billion in savings.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project advances the development of a novel technology to protect segments of bowel. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer with about 30-40% of cases involving the rectum. Rectal cancer is typically treated with surgical resection. However, anastomotic leaks can occur in up 10-18% of patients after resection, with an associated high mortality due to severe abdominal sepsis. Currently, diverting ostomies are typically placed above the anastomosis to mitigate the severe consequences of an anastomotic leak, but temporary ostomies themselves are highly morbid, have significant risk of mortality, are expensive to the healthcare system, and drastically impact patient?s quality of life. The funded technology is a medical device that provides temporary, minimally invasive protection of bowel during the healing process, avoiding the need for a diverting ostomy. This project will perform design verification testing, end user testing, and large animal validation testing required for human study approval. The goal of this project is to have a fully validated (both benchtop and animal testing completed), clinically ready medical device ready for further development.
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. -
Serinus Labs, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Silicon CS-FET sensors for safety monitoring of electric vehicle lithium-ion battery packs
Contact
2120 UNIVERSITY AVE
Berkeley, CA 94704--1370
NSF Award
2112273 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,954
Start / end date
08/15/2021 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to enhance lithium-ion battery safety in electric vehicles (EV). Battery safety is critical for EVs, and existing monitoring of temperature, voltage, and current is insufficient. This project advances a new sensor to improve safety.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will introduce Si CS-FET-based gas sensors as an advanced safety monitoring modality for EV battery packs. Lithium-ion cells vent certain gases, indicating potential problems such as overcharging and overheating. This project will develop and optimize materials and processes for high-volume manufacturing of Si CS-FET-based gas sensors. Key outcomes will be Si CS-FETs with high sensitivity and selectivity, low-power operation, and demonstrated reliability through accelerated lifetime studies. Successful project completion will also significantly advance the field of battery monitoring sensors and the broad field of battery diagnostics.
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. -
SimInsights Inc
SBIR Phase II: Virtual and Augmented Reality Enabled Personalized Manufacturing Training
Contact
20381 LAKE FOREST DR STE B15
Irvine, CA 92618--3356
NSF Award
1927046 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$748,868
Start / end date
09/01/2019 – 01/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research SBIR Phase II project will be achieved through investigating approaches to leverage extended reality (XR) for immersive, interactive and intelligent training in manufacturing, healthcare and higher education, to accelerate learning, increase engagement, and foster more effective use of expensive equipment. In 2017, the global training market was estimated to be $388 B, while the US market was estimated to be $166 B. Training and design use cases frequently rank among the top 5 XR use cases in industry reports, and the enterprise VR training market alone is forecasted to grow at 140% year over year for the next five years to reach $6.3 B per year. XR technologies hold significant potential by providing users with a sense of presence and immersion heretofore not possible due to cost, safety, security, physical, geographical or other limitations. This project will pursue this growing market opportunity with content expected to bring together classrooms, labs, factories, hospitals and field service environments, broadly advancing learning and engagement in both schools and workplaces.
The intellectual merit of this SBIR Phase II project lies in the development of high- fidelity modular and reusable virtual object and assembly models, customized models for scenarios, tasks, instructions and user proficiency, application of natural language processing techniques to enable conversational interactions in immersive multiplayer environments and the use of computer vision techniques to support effective reuse of content across both virtual and augmented reality settings. Specialized modules will be developed for each of the above functionalities and then integrated to develop an innovative, easy-to-use product that will make it easy for non-programmers to author and publish XR content for training, design, service and other use cases, as well as collect data to evaluate the content and experiences. Pilot testing will be conducted with users in the higher education industry to rigorously evaluate and iteratively refine the technologies and the final product. By judiciously combining XR, virtual objects, and simulations with voice, vision and collaboration, this project aims to build an innovative product that may enable anyone to build engaging knowledge-rich content.
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. -
Sinovia Technologies
SBIR Phase II: Flexible Printed OLED Displays
Contact
595 TAYLOR WAY, UNIT #1
San Carlos, CA 94070--6248
NSF Award
2026208 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,199,999
Start / end date
08/15/2020 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the creation of low-cost, flexible displays allowing smart objects to better communicate with their users. Researchers estimate that in 2017 there were 20 billion devices connected to the Internet that were not computers, estimated to grow to 125 billion by 2025. These Internet of Things devices are already used in many applications for transportation, health and wellness, factory production, public safety, retail, agriculture, homes, and offices. These devices can enable better resource allocation, predictive maintenance, operations management, worker training, task automation, energy management, and safety; they will require displays that are thin, low power, flexible or curved, and easy to read. A near-term need is autonomous transportation, which will need a method of visual communication between vehicle and rider. This project will develop organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays; just this initial transportation application will help improve mobility for the elderly and disabled, traffic safety, and related needs. In the longer term, this project will enable manufacturing of improved displays with reduced processing waste.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop roll-to-roll printed passive matrix (OLED) displays. These displays are built upon a patterned transparent conductive anode that defines the pixels. To date, the only method used in industry to create this anode is photolithography, a slow and expensive process. The high-resolution printable anode developed here replaces both the incumbent material and the lithographic process, laying the foundation for fully roll-to-roll printed displays.
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. -
SoundPipe
SBIR Phase II: IVUS Drug Delivery for Critical Limb Ischemia
Contact
1110 E MARKET ST STE 4Q
Charlottesville, VA 22902--5364
NSF Award
1831176 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$766,000
Start / end date
09/01/2018 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
This SBIR Phase II project will develop a drug delivery technology to address the unmet need of antiproliferative drug delivery below-the-knee. In the United States, there are 323,000 new critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients each year. CLI is the most severe stage of peripheral artery disease (PAD), atherosclerosis of the lower limbs. Ultimately, 40% of CLI patients will undergo lower limb amputation as a result of CLI, half of whom will then die within a year. Existing technologies have failed in these vessels, resulting in higher rates of patient amputation. This project will create a better intravascular drug delivery tool to treat PAD patients after angioplasty. This improved drug delivery will provide three key societal benefits: 1) reduced costs and greater efficiency when revascularizing the vessels of critical limb ischemia patients, 2) a reduction in healthcare costs by reducing repeat procedures, and 3) improved patient outcomes resulting from improved drug delivery achieved using image guidance. If successful, this technology may improve patient health while reducing treatment costs for millions of patients around the world. This will also improve understanding of what aspects of CLI treatment are most effective by offering the flexibility to vary different aspects of drug delivery. When completed, this project will enhance the understanding of intravascular drug delivery with ultrasound and microbubbles.
This project will provide strong technical innovation through a new ultrasound drug delivery device and new methods to evaluate cardiovascular drug delivery devices. Using a combination of intravascular ultrasound and drug loaded microbubbles, this project will provide better localization of delivery with lower drug doses. This project will then evaluate the drug delivery platform using realistic models of human disease from donated tissue combined with routine techniques (histopathology) and more recent advances (microCT) to evaluate the effect of the disease on drug delivery. The core research objective of this project is to deliver paclitaxel to human diseased arteries with the new intravascular ultrasound and microbubble drug delivery platform. It is anticipated that this project will result in an improved drug uptake over the existing technologies in diseased arteries where drug uptake is poorest. The data and techniques from this project will be used to compel adoption among interventionalists and to validate the the drug delivery system as a tool to prevent amputations in CLI patients.
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. -
StabiLux Biosciences, Inc
STTR Phase II: High Brightness Fluorophores for Bioscience Applications
Contact
22151 RIDGE ROAD
Houghton, MI 49931--9010
NSF Award
1738466 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,381,998
Start / end date
09/15/2017 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is the development of novel high-brightness fluorescence compounds (fluorophores). These compounds will find applications in flow cytometry, a laser-induced fluorescence technique that can analyze thousands of cells per second. This efficient technique is important for clinical diagnosis, and research in the areas of blood cancer, STEM cells, and drug development. In a flow cytometry test, each cell structure is stained with a known fluorophore that is conjugated with a specific biomarker. Thus, the population of all cell structures and types can be determined simultaneously by analyzing the fluorescence signals. Unfortunately, such analysis requires experienced engineers, reliable equipment, and high-performance reagents. The proposed high-brightness fluorophores will enhance the performance of equipment and reagents, and enable the detection of low abundant cell structures without complicated signal processing. In addition, these fluorophores will improve data reliability, reduce research and drug development time, and cost. These compounds also will simplify the design and reduce the cost of flow cytometry equipment, which will help to expand market adoption. The commercial impact of this technology is expected to be significant, as the market size for flow cytometry is expected to be $2.2 billion by 2018.
This STTR Phase II project aims to establish a platform technology for the production of high-brightness fluorophores that can emit in various colors. In principle, flow cytometry could simultaneously detect up to 30 different parameters with 30 color signals. However, due to the issues of spillover (signal overlap), and auto-fluorescence (background noise), the current technology allows for just two- to eight-color analysis to ensure accuracy. These issues could be resolved in part by a complicated signal analysis, but this approach may be prone to analysis errors. The proposed high-brightness fluorophores are designed to overcome spillover by increasing the weak signals of low abundance cells. In addition, these fluorophores also may reduce or eliminate the need of autofluorescence background compensation by increasing the signal to noise ratios. A higher signal to noise ratio will enable scientists to obtain well-resolved data with more accurate conclusions within a shorter amount of time. This technology will allow the detection and sorting of low abundance cells, and will promote the progress of immunology studies, cancer research, as well as technology for early disease detection. This will enabling flow cytometry equipment to be used to its full potential for reliable multi-color detection, which will lead to better patient and research outcomes. -
Stochastic Research Technologies LLC
SBIR Phase II: Novel Adsorbents for Selective Removal of Naturally Occurring Radionuclide Materials (NORM) from Fracking-Produced Water
Contact
2714 CRYSTAL WAY
Crystal Lake, IL 60012--2224
NSF Award
2335090 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,331
Start / end date
05/15/2024 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is in the oil and gas industry where produced water is generated from conventional oil and gas production and unconventional sources such as coal bed methane, tight sands, and gas shale. The geologic formations that contain oil and gas deposits also contain radionuclides (referred to as Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM)) as well as compounds containing Barium (Ba), Strontium (Sr), and Arsenic (As) that can pose problems with scaling on the equipment and are hazardous to workers' health. Stochastic Research Technologies is developing easily disposable, safe, cost-effective, and customizable clay-based adsorbents to remove As, Ba, Sr, and Radium from produced water. This will enable oil and gas exploration and production companies to reduce their environmental impact, representing a key constraint on their growth. Removing contaminants will allow water to be reused and recycled for agricultural and household needs. The technology is not energy intensive and does not pose scaling or safety concerns like current technologies. Further, the adsorbents result in a small amount of waste, which minimizes disposal costs. The technology is not restricted to removal of just NORM but can also be very useful in applications like removal of PFAS, and recovering important materials like Lithium, rare earth elements.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a unique technology for removing Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) and other contaminants from produced waters of Oil and gas Industries. Through the development of theory and a novel optimization-based Computer-aided molecular design (CAMD) framework, the company researchers generated order-of-magnitude better clay-based adsorbents than currently commercially available or published adsorbents for removal of produced water impurities. The proposed research and development are of considerable fundamental and practical significance to the wastewater and produced water area. The project addresses important issues concerning group-contribution methods, computer-aided molecular design, NORM removal, and environmental impacts. On the practical side, the NORM removal problem occurs in the oil and gas industries worldwide. The unique adsorbents generated by Stochastic Research Technologies provide a cost-effective, safe, and customized solution to this ubiquitous problem.
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. -
Sunthru LLC
SBIR Phase II: Scaling of a Rapid Aerogel Insert Manufacturing System for High Performance Windows.
Contact
4051 RIDGE RD
Schenectady, NY 12302--6116
NSF Award
2303965 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of a cost-effective, transparent, aerogel-based window insert that can be used to make high-performance windows that will fit in a double-pane footprint and achieve triple-pane performance. This project will contribute knowledge to the technological challenges associated with scaling up an innovative aerogel manufacturing process. Use of these aerogel-based high-performance windows will improve the health and welfare of US citizens by reducing building heating and cooling costs as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This project will also contribute to the development of a diverse STEM workforce in the U.S. through continued and expanded collaborations with academia, to hire trainees and interns from diverse backgrounds.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will advance knowledge in the manufacturing of large transparent aerogel inserts for high-performance windows. Use of the aerogel insert will allow the window industry to achieve triple-pane performance in the current double pane window infrastructure and meet the higher performance requirements of the 2022 ENERGY STAR specifications. To date, highly transparent inserts have been successfully manufactured at the laboratory scale and integrated into prototype window products. This Phase II project will scale up production of these inserts by: (1) completing installation and testing of a pilot aerogel manufacturing device, (2) scaling production of the aerogel material to pilot insert and batch sizes, and (3) producing pilot aerogel inserts in bulk for customer and industry partner testing.
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. -
SurfPlasma, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Rapid disinfection using compact plasma reactors
Contact
8722 NW 9TH PL
Gainesville, FL 32606--7156
NSF Award
2151628 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$878,296
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses the societal need for a non-thermal, economical, and efficient solution for sterilizing deadly pathogens that are common in medical facilities and everyday living spaces. The commercial opportunity lies in developing a non-thermal, portable, safe, and economical sterilization device for materials contaminated with virus, bacteria, and fungi. The proposed technology will be used in areas that are lacking in current state-of-the-art sterilization technologies. It operates at low temperature, necessary for temperature-sensitive equipment, is ecofriendly, has high throughput, requires little maintenance, and includes an inbuilt mixing system for the sterilization of complex surface geometries. Applications include sterilizing personal protective equipment (PPE), surgical tools, medical devices, food, beverages, etc. from harmful pathogens. The addressable market consists of healthcare facilities, medical device companies, and food and beverage companies. The major impact will be in crowded facilities and community settings where rapid disinfection of objects is required. Additionally, the technology can be integrated with existing systems like refrigeration units. The technology is expected to save lives by preventing hospital-acquired infections, the further spread of COVID-19, and possible future outbreaks.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes a sterilization device that operate at low temperatures, works with complex geometries, and is low energy and low cost. These areas are not currently addressed by one single, state-of-the-art sterilization technology. The solution is based on an active plasma module (APM). Previously, research established APM efficacy against SARS CoV-2 and its surrogate on metal, plastic, and fabric, and the required operating conditions (exposure times, ozone requirements, and power) to achieve sterilization. The objectives in this project include prototype development with (i) efficacy tests against BioSafety Level (BSL)-2 and -3 pathogens, (ii) cycle times, ozone requirements, and power demands, (iii) a practical ozone removal system to meet safety limits, (iv) material compatibility data, and (v) a user-friendly control interface. The team will also examine APM quality control, the ability to meet required product specifications, and management of the reverse-engineering threat. Successful Phase II completion will result in a market-ready prototype with sterilization data against various pathogens and product specifications required for customer adoption. The project will advance research on power efficient ozone sterilization.
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. -
Swift Coat
SBIR Phase II: Non-Thermal Plasma Source for Functional Metal-Oxide Nanoparticle Coatings
Contact
8501 W FOOTHILL DR
Peoria, AZ 85383--2052
NSF Award
1951204 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$781,823
Start / end date
05/01/2020 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to advance the development of a self-cleaning window glass coating with the same appearance as bare glass. The improved performance and decreased cost will enable its use in applications beyond residential and commercial windows, such as outdoor displays and solar modules, dramatically increasing the potential overall market opportunity. More broadly, the project will validate and scale a new coating technology that may potentially improve many properties of surfaces used in wide-ranging applications from computer chips to clothing.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to develop a high-performance photocatalytic self-cleaning coating on glass. Present photocatalytic coatings typically utilize dense titanium dioxide, that increases the reflectance of the glass because of its high refractive index. Initial work has demonstrated coatings of controllable refractive index deposited with a new coating technology, Aerosol Impact-Driven Assembly (AIDA). This project will scale a multilayered, multicomponent coating that addresses the photocatalytic activity/transmittance trade-off. The coating will have industry-leading photocatalytic activity and transmittance higher than the current state-of-the-art at lower costs. More broadly, the project will validate and scale a new coating technology that may potentially improve the optical, thermal, electronic, chemical, and adhesive properties of surfaces for many applications. Research objectives include optimization of the durability and outdoor performance of this coating by refining the deposition hardware and the coating structure, demonstration of the scalability of the AIDA process by depositing coatings on larger substrates, and quantification of the performance metrics required for infusion.
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. -
Symbrosia, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Optimizing production and final product stability of Asparagopsis taxiformis as a novel feed material for livestock methane reduction
Contact
73-4460 QUEEN KAAHUMANU HWY
Kailua Kona, HI 96740--2639
NSF Award
2309372 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to reduce methane production in the ruminant livestock industry via the commercial production of Asparagopsis taxiformis for inclusion in cattle feed. There are currently 1.5 billion head of cattle on earth, which contribute significantly to greenhouse emissions via methane release during growth. It has been demonstrated that the inclusion of A. taxiformis in cattle feed can drive down methane emissions by more than 80%. However, production capabilities of A. taxiformis lag behind the market need. A conservative estimate for biomass production necessary to mitigate methane emissions of 1.5 billion cattle is 264 metric tons of fresh algae biomass daily. The goal of this project is to optimize outdoor cultivation practices is necessary to meet this production goal. Additionally, pelletization of the final product will broaden implementation capacity of this novel livestock feed additive from small farmers to industrial feedlots, further increasing the impact of the product by incorporating this novel feed into standard ranching practices.
This project pursues development of novel cultivation procedures of A. taxiformis in scaled production operations. Currently, production approaches focus on low-light, energy intensive, and difficult to scale indoor cultivation. This project focuses on producing biomass in automated outdoor cultivation systems, thus overcoming limitations of scaling and associated energy costs of indoor cultivation. The development of alternative outdoor cultivation systems specific to the species? needs will improve yield in production to meet industry needs. Additionally, the industry standard of milling final feed products results in a lower mass:volume ratio for shipment, driving shipping costs up. Milled material is problematic for product viability due to moisture absorption from increased surface area:air ratio. By working with a local feed mill where the algae are produced, the approach outlined in this project can realize economic gains by a local entity, reducing the costs of shipping dramatically.
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. -
SynMatter, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Durable Superhydrophobic Smart Coating with Active Corrosion Protection
Contact
16914 DEER OAK LN
Orlando, FL 32828--6979
NSF Award
2025965 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$991,881
Start / end date
09/01/2020 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to dramatically improve the corrosion protection of metal assets vital to the energy and transportation industries. Corrosion contributes to the loss of structural integrity of metal structures, which poses a risk to human safety and the surrounding environment. Metal corrosion costs an estimated $2.5 T globally, with US costs representing roughly 25%. Durable, anticorrosive, highly water-repellent coatings using special materials can potentially double the lifetime of coatings on oil platforms and ships in a way that protects the environment. This extends maintenance cycles and reduces asset lifetime maintenance costs up to 50%. The high performance will also reduce the number of coating layers, reducing labor costs up to 25% per maintenance cycle. This technology will improve structural safety, reduce maintenance frequency, lengthen the operating lifetimes, improve environmental characteristics, and reduce the costs of operating and maintaining metal assets.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project further translates coatings of superhydrophobic smart particles for high-performance anticorrosion paints. These superhydrophobic particles offer new on-demand release of corrosion inhibitors (active corrosion protection) and superhydrophobicity (passive corrosion protection) into one multi-functional material, unlike current state of practice. The platform nature of the technology enables inclusion of numerous types of corrosion inhibitors to safeguard delicate marine environments. Smart particles can then be incorporated into many existing coating systems to deliver a unique combination of durable, anticorrosive, and highly water-repellent coatings. This project will optimize production processes and conduct verification and validation tests.
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. -
Synopic Inc.
SBIR Phase II: AI-driven 3D imaging and visualization for endoscopy
Contact
91 FAIRLAWN DR UNIT 1
Berkeley, CA 94708--2105
NSF Award
2112333 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
09/01/2021 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve outcomes of medical endoscopy procedures through 3D imaging where only two-dimensional images were previously obtained. 3D imaging can reduce costs through improved and earlier detection of cancer and other disorders. The proposed technology can also impact other specialties, such as ophthalmology and dermatology, where quantifiable depth imaging can have a profound impact. Additional opportunities for the proposed camera exist in mobile, consumer devices, and in-cabin automotive monitoring.
The proposed project will develop technology for a compact, single camera 3D imaging system integrated with endoscopes to capture both high-resolution color images and measurable depth information. Current 3D imaging in minimally invasive procedures, captured by stereo cameras, is limited to laparoscopy using multiple trocars to perform surgery. The stereo cameras take an entire trocar by virtue of the space needed for the two cameras. Stereo imaging is not translatable to endoscopy, which houses all instruments inside a single tube. This new 3D imaging system works by integrating an optimized lens modification and back-end neural network to extract three-dimensional information from the imaged area. Because the proposed modification integrates within the single camera module, it can scale with size, enabling three-dimensional imaging capabilities in smaller endoscopes (e.g., for use in gastrointestinal tract, urology, or gynecology) where instrument sizes are constrained. This project will: (1) develop new algorithms to improve high resolution imaging and accuracy, (2) optimize for real-time performance, (3) miniaturize the imaging system toward endoscopy, (4) design a visualization system for the clinical workflow, and (5) validate the system for tissue imaging.
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. -
TACIT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Repurposing RNA processing factors to edit RNA for the treatment of Dravet syndrome
Contact
329 OYSTER POINT BLVD FL 3
South San Francisco, CA 94080--1913
NSF Award
2334756 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,255
Start / end date
01/15/2024 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of a safe and effective treatment for a devastating form of pediatric epilepsy called Dravet syndrome. Dravet syndrome is an inherited disease that is caused by mutations. This disease affects children and young adults and results in devastating seizures, developmental issues, and premature death in most patients. Gene therapy is an approach that involves replacement of mutated DNA sequences, but broad use of these approaches has been limited by safety issues. This project follows a unique RNA editing approach to replace defective sequences in the gene in order to halt or reverse the progression of this disease. This project will be instrumental in developing a treatment for nearly 30,000 patients in the U.S. with this condition and would constitute a multibillion-dollar market.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project focuses on the development of an RNA editing approach that replaces defective sequences within mutated RNAs as a means to address inherited human disease. The company focuses on Dravet syndrome, a dominantly inherited disease that causes recurrent and devastating seizures in children. Dravet syndrome is caused by mutations in SCN1A, which is an ion channel that is primarily expressed in inhibitory neurons. By targeting defective RNAs with a system that is active only in inhibitory neurons, the company will devise an approach that avoids the risk of toxicities associated with aberrant ion channel expression. Indeed, this disease has resisted gene replacement approaches due to this risk of off-target activities. The company?s system also avoids the use of immunogenic proteins and functions via repurposing of cellular machinery. The result is an inherently non-immunogenic systems which will avoid the varied safety risks associated with use of non-human transcription factor or gene editing systems such as CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats).
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. -
TENDER FOOD, INC
SBIR Phase II: Meat substitutes combining cultured animal cells with plant-based fibers
Contact
444 SOMERVILLE AVE
Somerville, MA 02143--3260
NSF Award
2303460 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$997,986
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the advancement of sustainable and ethically produced meat alternatives. Most people have tried or know someone who has tried plant-based meats. Opinions vary but most people acknowledge that meats made from animals are not accurately recreated using plants, especially for unprocessed whole cuts like chicken breasts and beef tenderloins. The question remains if plant-based meat can be more like animal meat in terms of texture, taste, and nutrition. One approach is to test if plant-based meats improved when they are combined with cultured animal cells. To address this hypothesis, this project will advance the technological understanding of realistic plant-based meats by developing methods to combine cultured animal cells with fibrous plant-based scaffolds. By finding out how many animal cells are needed to enhance plant-based meats, and what types of animal cells to add, this project will help define commercialization strategies for this emerging market.
This project will test methods for adding cultured animal cells to plant-based whole cut meats. Animal cells are expensive to produce, and the quantity of each cell type needed to improve plant-based meats is not known. For example, what is the number of muscle cells, fat cells, or skin cells needed to make a plant-based chicken breast taste better? What are the best ways to add cells? How do different cell types like muscle, fat, or skin get placed in the right spots? What other plant-derived additives can enhance the flavor that cultured cells may provide? These questions can be answered by making plant-based meats with real meat texture and testing different methods of incorporating animal cells into them. Food-grade plant protein fibers that are the same size as animal skeletal muscle fibers will be packed together like muscle tissue to replicate the structure and texture of conventional meat. Animal cells will then be added to enhance the taste, aroma, and nutrition. This project will focus on developing methods to add animal cells to plant-based pork, chicken, and beef.
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. -
TENDO TECHNOLOGIES INC
SBIR Phase II: Development of an industrial flow meter for low-volume dispensing
Contact
303A COLLEGE ROAD E
Princeton, NJ 08540--6608
NSF Award
2322302 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,593
Start / end date
11/15/2023 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses an unmet need in the small dose dispensing market ($35.63 billion annually). The pharmaceutical, medical device, agriculture, and consumer product sectors all have carefully curated sensory-stimulating mixtures of concentrated liquids and need to deliver extremely small volumes in an efficient, accurate, and precise manner to minimize lost materials and ensure the satisfaction of their customers, while minimizing environmental impacts. Additionally, end-use applications such as in-home mixing of flavors and fragrances or real-time on-the-fly nutrient mixing in agriculture have demonstrated a particularly high need. Current dispensing technologies do not meet the unique needs of beachhead customers as competing technologies are too large, expensive, or unable to measure a wide array of fluids that may be highly viscous or opaque. The new approach promises to bring functionality to end users, that is only currently possible in highly controlled industrial settings. In addition to the economic impacts associated with the commercialization of this elastic filament velocimetry (EFV) technology, these new products will also help to mitigate the environmental impacts of precision agriculture, increasing the concentration of dispensed materials, and thereby reducing transportation and dilution costs.
This project validates an accurate and precise flow meter for measuring small flow rates of highly concentrated materials, enabling on-the-fly dispensing of low-volume fluids to create customized mixtures to meet end user needs. The technology utilizes EFV, a novel approach that uses a strain-based sensor that responds to fluid flow by deformation of a sensing element which changes its resistance in relation to fluid velocity. The proof-of-concept probe is sterilizable, highly accurate, and resource-efficient, enabling customers to accurately dispense small volumes of fluids across a broad range of viscosities with up to twenty-fold increase in throughput, 75% footprint reduction, and 95% reduction in cost, with increased accuracy and precision. These properties directly meet the needs of customers in several industrial segments including pharmaceutical dispensing, scientific research and development, and manufacturing, with an initial focus on end-use applications in food and beverage, flavors and fragrances, and precision agriculture. The research will significantly de-risk commercialization of the technology by demonstrating and expanding the technical capabilities of the probe to achieve product-market fit.
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. -
TERECIRCUITS CORPORATION
SBIR Phase II: Photopolymer-based Microelectronic Device Transfer Process
Contact
319 BERNARDO AVE
Mountain View, CA 94043--5225
NSF Award
2152683 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$993,980
Start / end date
10/01/2022 – 09/30/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to enable electronic products of great environmental benefit and social value which cannot be economically made today. Among these are three important product classes that can deliver on the promise of the connection of everyday devices via internet (Internet of Things) and their rapid computing power. First, wearable devices (such as smart watches, health monitors, or activity trackers) must be smaller, thinner (often flexible) and less power-hungry than current versions. Second, low-power, high resolution displays with high brightness are needed to visualize results, even in direct sunlight. Third, the decentralized computers which collect, manage and process large datasets require designs that can easily manage sensors, process information, and control devices to support smart cities, smart vehicles, smart homes, and smart applications. The primary focus of this project is to enable the next generation of advanced displays, capable of substantial energy savings coupled with greater visual appeal. Broadly, the results are critical for enabling the cost-effective manufacturing of each of the three product classes, which all suffer from fundamental challenges in chip manufacturing and require innovation in packaging and assembly to be commercially viable at scale.
The proposed project is designed primarily to make better displays possible. There is a widespread desire to make displays with ultrasmall light-emitting diodes (LEDs), enabling better contrast and color, sunlight viewability, longer lifetimes, lower power consumption, and lower cost. To do so, currently unsolved chip fabrication obstacles must be overcome. The main impediment is a cost-effective approach to place such small LEDs at desired pixel positions with adequate precision. The objective of the project is to meet this need, using a unique non-contact photopolymer-based method which transfers <10 um die with +/- 2 um accuracy at many thousands of units per second with high yield. The research will involve systematic study of the parameters of the process, including polymer composition and characteristics, film characteristics, pre-transfer bonding process parameters (temperature, pressure and time), and optical system parameters. Yield will be measured statistically and improved. While demonstrating actual throughput requires full-scale production equipment, the feasibility of meeting industry required targets will be demonstrated to the extent possible on lab-scale equipment.
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. -
TERRAFUSE, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Physics-Informed Machine Learning Emulators to Model Physical Spatio-Temporal Processes for Climate and Weather Risk Forecasting
Contact
163 ARLINGTON AVE
Kensington, CA 94707--0000
NSF Award
1951266 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$750,000
Start / end date
04/15/2020 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide commercially-deployable technology for highly-scalable, spatially-granular, and cost-effective risk predictions of climate-driven events, such as wildfire spread, from real-time to yearly time scales. As insured losses due to wildfires have increased over fivefold in the last decade, the associated risk makes it critical to improve the ability to predict physical and financial impacts at scale. Current predictive technologies used in major industries, like energy and insurance, are based on complex, hand-engineered, and computationally-intensive numerical physics models of climate and weather. In contrast, the proposed technology develops special AI emulator systems that learn the relevant physics and key drivers, including wind and surface hydrology, in wildfires. The proposed system can perform predictions much more efficiently due to a far simpler computational workflow and native AI hardware acceleration. In addition, AI emulators automate the assimilation of vastly higher amounts of remote-sensing and other observational data (e.g., radar measurements from weather satellites or land cover and vegetation data) over numerical models, allowing for increased accuracy, continuous improvement, and dynamic predictions reflecting changing on-the-ground conditions.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses the pressing need in the energy and insurance industries to accurately and consistently assess wildfire risk over large geographical regions and at a localized level, on time scales ranging from daily to yearly. The proposed R&D will focus on developing and validating an AI emulator of wildfire spread. This entails 1) developing AI architectures for assimilating observational (remote-sensing) and numerical simulation data on drivers of wildfire at different temporal and spatial scales, including vegetation, soil hydrology, and atmospheric winds; 2) integrating data on historical wildfires and their spread to drive the learning process; 3) conducting extensive verification and validation studies; and 4) developing and deploying APIs and graphical interfaces for accessing AI emulator output on the cloud.
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. -
TFWIRELESS INC.
SBIR Phase II: Physical (PHY) Layer Rateless Codec Technology for Proximity Space Links
Contact
3210 W 45TH ST
Minneapolis, MN 55410--1414
NSF Award
2335575 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
05/15/2024 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project stems from developing a revolutionary wireless communications technology innovation based on physical (PHY) layer rateless codes which could provide high throughput and high coverage with low computational costs, minimum latency, and enhanced energy efficiency, i.e., long battery life. The initial target market is the space communications market, both commercial and government space programs. The Phase II project focuses on enabling technology addressing real capability gaps that could provide cheaper and faster solutions for the data communication systems of commercial and government space customers. The first testing ground for the novel PHY layer rateless codec technology will be the satellite and ground communications systems (gateways/terminals) of the PWSA - Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. In the commercial sector, well known companies are launching Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) constellation of satellites for broadband connectivity in underserved and remote areas of the world. Both the satellite and consumer terminal of the mega satellite constellation systems can be equipped with novel modem solutions. The novel satellite modem will be on the supply chain of Satellite Vendors and Satellite Operators in the LEO market. Commercial customer end users include Airlines, Maritime vehicles, Mobile Network Operators for 5G connectivity and Cellular Backhaul, and Residential Internet Access.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to develop a Physical (PHY) rateless codes based novel link adaptation transmission technology for the reliable transmission of information bits between a wireless transmitter and receiver. PHY rateless codes have the innate ability to adapt both the code construction and the number of code bits for an as-need basis incremental transmission of code bits. The constituent code of link adaptation technology in the PHY layer works with the Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) protocols in the data link layer. The Phase II project designs innovations for the component encoders and decoders of the PHY layer rateless codes such as designing a GRAND (Guessing Random Additive Noise Decoding) decoder for the LT codes, investigating the variable node degree design for the tradeoff between waterfall and error floor performance, pairing probabilistic amplitude shaping with PHY layer rateless codes and concatenation with CRC for maximizing the minimum Hamming distance for short block length performance. New design features based on deep learning/AI enhancements, structured permutations, and techniques for optimizing the LT code degree distributions will be added to the PHY rateless encoder and decoder. The expected technical results include patented designs for encoder, decoder, and the related software in Matlab/Python for the blocks of a `FutureG? baseband modem.
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. -
THERMAQUIL, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Drug Free Noninvasive Occipital Nerve Block Device to Reduce Opiate Prescriptions
Contact
3401 MARKET ST STE 200
Philadelphia, PA 19104--3358
NSF Award
2026112 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
09/15/2020 – 06/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of a simple wearable device to manage pain. Despite advances in new therapies, addictive narcotic medications still remain a widely utilized method to control pain for many conditions. The proposed technology represents a new noninvasive approach to blocking nerve conduction without reliance on drugs. The device can be easily adapted to treat any condition wherein pain is transmitted along nerves close to the skin surface. This work will demonstrate feasibility of a novel therapeutic approach to pain management without risk of drug dependence or addiction.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will fully develop a human wearable thermal nerve block device for treating severe head and neck pain by blocking nerves in the occipital region. Occipital pain is driven by a number of physiological and pathological causes, and many patients fail to find adequate pain relief solutions that allow them to continue their daily activities, thus leading to poor quality of life with reduced productivity and socialization. The device developed in this project will thermally modulate the occipital region in such a way as to initiate and then maintain a drug-free nerve block.
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. -
THEROMICS INC.
STTR Phase II: Thermal Imaging, Augmentation of Microwave Energy in Various Tissues and Chronic Safety
Contact
375 WEST ST
West Bridgewater, MA 02379--1014
NSF Award
2301440 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is a novel biocompatible gel to improve the effectiveness and safety of thermal tumor ablation procedures. The technology enhances the energy medium of radiofrequency energy, resulting in more effective electroporation of tumors, increasing the therapeutic concentration of energy while minimizing unintended damage to surrounding fluids or tissues. The technological medium aims to improve procedural outcomes for the $800 million and $2.7 billion worldwide image-guided thermal ablation market, with broad applicability for a wide variety of ablation procedures, including those performed for endometrial bleeding, pain management, spinal decompression and denervation, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and emphysema reduction.
This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase II project aims to develop a novel protein-based gel for improving procedural outcomes during focal tumor ablation procedures. This novel material provides a viscous fluid medium for focusing radiofrequency energy intensity to its intended target area in order to intensify localized energy delivery. During the first phase, a computational model will be developed using 3D microwave imaging under simulated clinical conditions to predict the thermal behavior of the gel. During the second phase, preclinical data will be collected using liver, kidney, and muscle tissue in vivo preclinical models and magnetic resonance imaging to quantify temperatures, ablation zone size, and thermal energy deposition. During the third stage, the gel?s effects during tissue ablation will be assessed using in vivo porcine lung and standard non-invasive clinical imaging methods. During the fourth phase, an in vivo chronic safety study will be completed. Upon completion, the results from these milestones will provide the necessary preclinical evidence to initiate first in human studies.
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. -
THINK BIOSCIENCE, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Microbial Discovery and Biosynthesis of Targeted Protease Inhibitors (COVID-19)
Contact
2523 BROADWAY ST STE 301
Boulder, CO 80304--4241
NSF Award
2213051 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
12/01/2022 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project is to develop a mature, market-ready approach for building targeted, readily synthesizable inhibitors of viral proteases. The technology will extend the discovery platform to new targets and disease indications and build a biochemical foundation for progressing preclinical programs to promising leads, starting with a potent lead candidate for treating COVID-19. The project seeks to generate new intellectual property that covers the discovery platform and promising small molecules, and it will support new opportunities to partner with pharmaceutical companies on antiviral therapeutics, which continue to be an important unmet medical need.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project seeks to expand and industrialize the company?s recently demonstrated approach for using microbial systems to guide the discovery and assembly of protease inhibitors. The project focuses on COVID-19 and other viral diseases that lack effective treatments, exhibit significant epidemic potential, and/or remain relevant to U.S. biodefense. The research program may uncover inhibitors of a broad set of viral proteases and as it screens large libraries of biosynthetic pathways for targeted inhibitors. This solution complements the multi-part effort by developing a potent lead candidate for treating COVID-19 and a general workflow for the (bio)synthetic optimization of hits identified. Success in these tasks may stretch contemporary approaches to synthetic biology by applying them to the discovery and assembly of new biologically active compounds and may develop a supporting (bio)synthetic workflow?one that that combines applied enzymology and synthetic chemistry.
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. -
THIOZEN INC.
SBIR Phase II: Hydrogen from Hydrogen Sulfide
Contact
100 CUMMINGS CTR STE 451C
Beverly, MA 01915--6132
NSF Award
2304259 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$954,542
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will make a significant impact on science and technology, national emission reduction efforts, and the energy security of the United States. The team aims to advance science by developing a low-cost and low-emission method to produce hydrogen from hydrogen sulfide, a common waste product found throughout the energy supply chain. This technology will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution and contribute to improving public health in communities near industrial sites that adopt this technology. From a commercial perspective, the project has the potential to lower costs and carbon emissions of energy products made in the United States, such as hydrogen production in oil refineries. Implementing this technology would provide refineries with an onsite, low-emission source of hydrogen from waste streams, reducing costs and emissions. Ultimately, this innovation will enhance the energy security of the United States by enabling domestically produced, low-emission hydrogen energy.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project proposes to develop a chemical cycle that generates hydrogen from hydrogen sulfide. This effort represents an alternative hydrogen production technology tailored to large, cost-sensitive firms. Despite the significant need to decarbonize current hydrogen production, market adoption of low-emission technologies has stalled because their cost precludes use in commodity chemicals. This project aims to break this trend by using hydrogen sulfide, an abundant low-value waste stream, as a feedstock for a chemical cycle that generates hydrogen gas without significant greenhouse gas emissions. The project will have several technically challenging objectives including optimizing the process to deal with orders of magnitude higher hydrogen sulfide concentrations mixed with several highly reactive and corrosive impurities and researching and developing product separations from complex process mixtures. Additionally, the project will screen materials and catalysts and prepare the process for integration into the complex structure of a modern chemical processing facility. While already validated for other markets, the experimental and modeling tasks will test the performance of the technology on refinery waste streams and prepare for larger-scale, industrial site demonstrations. It is anticipated that the completion of this project will lead directly into a refinery site demonstration plant.
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. -
TILE FARM LLC
SBIR Phase II: Making Math Intuitive, Creative, and Social in Tile Farm Classroom
Contact
1316 RICHMOND DR NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106--1809
NSF Award
2322118 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
11/15/2023 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project creates a math education app aimed at transforming the way young children relate to math. Poor math achievement and negative attitudes towards math are pervasive in the United States and have been problems for decades. The app's design is based on a wealth of educational theories known to have a positive influence on students' mathematical and scientific achievement. The app teaches math in a way that makes math learning more intuitive and engaging, while simultaneously teaching young children to become persevering and confident problem solvers. Furthermore, the app links math to diverse subjects such as art, social studies, computer science, and engineering. Ultimately, the app aims to inspire a new generation of problem solvers contributing as creative professionals in every field from science to art.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will create a novel mathematics pedagogy that places a unique emphasis on the visualization of math, student creativity, and the development of students' problem-solving skills, while using artificial intelligence to optimize student learning and motivation. Furthermore, the technology will allow for young children to design, build, and share their own math learning games and puzzles, and provide a powerful social learning experience. The app?s design is based on a wealth of theoretical evidence that has shown how early development of children's spatial, numeracy, and critical thinking skills can have a profoundly positive influence on students' mathematical and scientific achievement later in life. The novelty of this approach opens doors to a wide variety of research opportunities in education research and neuroscience.
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. -
TRAXyL, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: An Economic Optical Fiber Solution to the Last Mile Problem
Contact
7669 LIMESTONE DR STE 115
Warrenton, VA 20187--4485
NSF Award
2025972 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$992,848
Start / end date
09/01/2020 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project develops a new method to distribute ?last mile? fiber optic communication lines. Existing fiber installation methods like trenching require extensive approvals and are labor-intensive, disruptive, and cost-prohibitive, especially in underserved or remote areas. ?Last mile? fiber is the most expensive part of any installation with a market valued at over $50 billion. This solution enables a quick, low-cost deployment of optical fiber directly onto pavement without cutting into the surface, effectively turning a barrier into a pathway. This new method will enable ubiquitous fiber optic connectivity and will expand the reach of fiber optic networks through the ?last mile?. By lowering fiber deployment costs and improving efficiency, this technology will accelerate the rollout of 5G, enable smart city growth, and deliver broadband access to rural areas. This solution extends the benefits of fast communications to previously inaccessible locations, connecting businesses, homes, hospitals, and schools, providing access to information, knowledge, and opportunity for everyone.
The intellectual merit of this project is to validate a new fiber installation method leveraging existing road networks. Using pavement as the base, low-profile fiber cables are bonded to the surface and protected against traffic and weather by layers of durable coatings. Fiber links can be installed quickly on-demand with an installation machine that requires no digging and minimal disruption. The research objectives of this project are to build and test three prototype machines in the field and to iterate on design. The research includes using the machines to install fiber, test pavement transitions, and compare costs and speed against other installation techniques. The anticipated technical results will expand understanding of machine utility, improve the user interface, verify the suitability, and validate economics.
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. -
TREESWIFT INC
SBIR Phase II: Robotic Forest Inventory and Mapping
Contact
3401 GRAYS FERRY AVE
Philadelphia, PA 19146--2701
NSF Award
2222426 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
01/15/2023 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will create a sustainable business model for a new approach towards forest mensuration and monitoring. The core commercialization strategy is that multi-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) teams replace the tape measure, not the forester. This technology addresses the needs for forest measurement techniques that are more accurate, efficient, and verifiable. The advances are critical for climate-smart forest management and carbon markets. There is a global environmental need for the assessment of trees and forest conditions, since trees are the lungs of the world as nature?s carbon sequestration engines. This technology is also addressing labor shortage challenges by making foresters more productive and providing opportunities and education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) for rural workforces. The results of this project will be a foundation for capturing data of the natural world to accelerate growth of nature-based solutions.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will advance knowledge in the fields of robotics and forestry. Improving forest measurement techniques is a generational challenge as lack of forest management, wildfires, natural disasters, and diminishing biodiversity are negatively affecting the broader economy and society. However, the current standard for measuring forest volumes is a manual human measurement, and there is a need for a more scalable solution. Robotics is the key to that solution, but there are still deep technical advances necessary to bring it to market. The first anticipated outcome is the development of algorithms, software, and hardware for intelligent, decentralized, autonomous multi-UAV systems that can coordinate in a dense forest. The second anticipated outcome is new forest sampling and tree volume techniques that leverage the ability to measure vast quantities of trees in precise detail, relative to manual measurements. The first outcome expands the frontier in the field of robotics and the second outcome expands the fields of forestry and ecology.
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. -
TRIC ROBOTICS LLC
SBIR Phase II: Use of ultraviolet light as a treatment for pathogens in strawberry fields
Contact
872 HIGUERA STREET
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-
NSF Award
2151662 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$965,770
Start / end date
12/01/2022 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to accelerate the transition from chemical pesticides to non-chemical alternatives by providing farmers with a sustainable, long-term solution for managing pests, while reducing agricultural impacts on human health and the environment. Today, strawberry farmers are reliant on chemical pesticides, spending $2,500/acre on over 60,000 acres/year to support the $3.6 billion U.S. strawberry industry. Organic farms, representing 10% of the industry, lack effective treatment methods resulting in high labor costs and increased risk of yield loss. This project seeks to develop a system for using ultraviolet light as an efficient and equally effective alternative for chemical pesticides, disrupting the pesticide manufacturing industry by providing farmers with a healthier and more environmentally conscious method for treating crops. The solution may eliminate uncertainty associated with chemical applications, reduce labor requirements, and increase profitability for farmers. Additionally, technologies developed as part of this project will minimize human exposure to chemical pesticides and reduce the ecological damage caused by existing agricultural treatment practices.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to further develop a novel, non-chemical treatment system for commercialization of agricultural pest control. This system will provide a cost competitive alternative to chemical pesticides, a global $84 billion market. Existing pest controls are ineffective due to insect resistance, cause uncertainty, and result in reduced yield and profitability. This project?s objective is to create a reliable, non-chemical treatment alternative that uses ultraviolet (UV-C) light to control multiple pests effectively and sustainably. The project team will build a UV-C treatment device with a dosing control algorithm for achieving reliable pest control in minimum treatment time. This dosing controller will use novel volumetric irradiance profiles to characterize the effectiveness of a treatment and adjust treatment time and/or distance to account for field uncertainties. The goal of this research is be a commercial UV-C treatment system integrated into an automated pest control system.
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. -
TYFAST ENERGY CORP.
SBIR Phase II: High-Performance Batteries to Decarbonize Heavy Duty Construction Equipment
Contact
12559 EL CAMINO REAL
San Diego, CA 92130--4067
NSF Award
2335320 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$934,823
Start / end date
04/01/2024 – 03/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of a new class of high-performance lithium-ion batteries that enables the decarbonization of diesel-powered vehicles in construction and heavy-duty industries. Current battery technologies being used in passenger cars do not have the combination of power, life, and operating window needed to fully electrify construction and heavy-duty vehicles. Just like gasoline engines are not used in these workhorse applications, a new kind of battery technology is required to decarbonize these diesel-powered vehicles. The construction and heavy-duty vehicle industries are responsible for >15% of worldwide carbon emissions. Importantly, diesel emissions contain high levels of toxic air contaminants such as sulfur and nitrous oxides that are acute health hazards. Elimination of these emissions will not only improve workforce health, but also improve job safety and lower noise pollution. Further, this technology development will reduce the United States? dependency on fossil fuels and shift energy utilization to renewable sources supporting energy independence and national security. The diesel-powered vehicle industry is over a decade behind in vehicle electrification and the development of this technology can help accelerate its transition.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of a >3 Ah lithium-ion battery that enables a full charge in 6 mins, cycle life over 10,000 cycles, and charge or discharge capability down to -40 ?C using a novel anode material called lithium vanadium oxide or LVO. The main problem with lithium batteries today is they either provide high energy density with very low cycle life or high power with very low energy density. The operating conditions of diesel-powered construction and heavy-duty vehicles require a combination of high power, high energy, and long cycle life that LVO aims to deliver. The research objective for this project is to deliver a scaled LVO-based Li-ion cell based on the technical innovations demonstrated during the Phase I project. The proposed research will scale the LVO anode fabrication starting with larger batch powder preparation then roll-to-roll electrode coating and eventually full >3Ah Li-ion cell assembly. These Li-ion cells will then undergo performance and safety testing to validate meeting the combined power, life, and energy targets needed to decarbonize diesel-powered heavy-duty and construction vehicles. Successful demonstration of this high-performance cell will enable strong commercialization prospects.
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. -
Temblor, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Temblor--an innovative, mobile source of seismic risk understanding and solutions for the public and providers
Contact
119 SCENIC DR
Tiburon, CA 94920--1335
NSF Award
1853246 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$800,000
Start / end date
04/15/2019 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to attempt to reduce the largest financial protection gap in the world: the impact of a great earthquake on a major population center. The public is woefully unprepared for such an event, banking on government assistance in lieu of personal resilience. Worldwide, there is $400 billion in uninsured global disaster risk. Even in California, there are 3-4 million uninsured seismically vulnerable homes and a million uninsured vulnerable businesses. People need to understand their vulnerability in terms of dollars and safety, they need to learn how they can protect themselves and their families, and most important, they need to be inspired to take action. This project's free mobile app and blog use public data and models to explain a home's seismic risk, and to show the benefits of buying a seismically safer home, retrofitting an older home, or buying earthquake insurance. Most important, the app and blog do so without scaring, soothing, or snowing the user.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is building a suite of global seismic hazard and risk models that enable the company to forecast the consequences of earthquakes to any building, anywhere on Earth. At every step in the process, the technology rids the models of bias, judgment, or expert opinion, relying instead on algorithmic, reproducible and testable constructs. The company provides insurance agents with sales tools, giving a home or building owner's earthquake score and financial losses in the largest likely earthquake. It provides insurance companies with the means to underwrite (price) insurance, to assess the average annual losses of their portfolios, or to assess portfolio losses at any likelihood of occurrence. For a catastrophe bond whose payment is triggered by a shaking intensity, the company provides the likelihood of attachment over any time period. For a reinsurance company, it provides the ability to compare losses at any or all locations. For a mortgage lender, it provides mortgage portfolio losses, and an estimate of mortgage defaults in the scenario earthquakes to which the lender is most vulnerable. For a multinational company with globally distributed facilities, the technology assesses and ranks their worldwide risk to enhance their resilience.
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. -
Tempo Therapeutics
STTR Phase II: VaxMAP a single dose multivalent vaccine to produce durable and cross-reactive immunity against various coronaviruses
Contact
3030 BUNKER HILL ST
San Diego, CA 92109--5754
NSF Award
2308751 – STTR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
06/15/2023 – 05/31/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project will address the unmet need for more effective vaccines that can be rapidly deployed to decrease the lag time between pathogen emergence and vaccine development, minimizing socioeconomic effects such as those seen in the COVID-19 pandemic. This new vaccine technology has the potential to drastically improve the lives of US citizens during future outbreaks of new pathogens. Further, this new technology has the potential to have positive impacts by providing high value US products for the whole world and generating US jobs both in research fields and manufacturing of biotechnology products. Successful completion of this STTR phase II project will position the company with a technology that has potential multiple partnership opportunities including biotechnology and pharmaceutical businesses developing antigens for vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. By developing this new vaccine platform technology, the company will be able to gain access to a significant segment of the global vaccine market estimated at $61 billion in 2021 and projected to grow to $125 billion by 2028.
This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project will enable the company to pursue the development of a new vaccine platform with robust and long-lasting vaccination responses against emergent pathogens. Although effective COVID-19 vaccines are now available to fight the global pandemic that started in 2019, they are facing significant limitations including diminished efficacy against new spreading variants, requirements for multiple doses, and challenging distribution pathways due to cold chain issues. The research objectives are to determine the optimal dose of the vaccine in a murine immunization model, understand the durability of its immune response, assess the vaccine's protective immunity against different SARS-CoV-2 variants, evaluate the vaccine shelf-life stability and develop a regulatory plan. Based on the successful preliminary data, it is anticipated that the new product will generate protective immunity against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 by providing a long-lasting immune response that will result in longer-lasting protection against infection when compared to current vaccines. Furthermore, the shelf-life and storage conditions of the new vaccine platform are anticipated to facilitate distribution and stockpiling, as no drastic cold chain logistics are expected.
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. -
The Bee Corp
SBIR Phase II: Infrared Image Analysis to Assess Beehive Health for Crop Pollination
Contact
525 S MERIDIAN ST STE 1E8
Bloomington, IN 47404--4095
NSF Award
1926806 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,137,989
Start / end date
10/01/2019 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project safeguards domestic food supply by improving honeybee health. Honeybees pollinate 1/3 of domestic food supply and contribute more than $15 billion to the U.S. economy. Although honeybee populations are at a 20-year high in the U.S., the cost to keep them alive is at its historical peak. This project reduces labor costs for commercial beekeepers, allowing them to devote more time to restoring hives that show signs of poor health and infestation. The product can be used to optimize hive placement, allowing growers to pollinate using the smallest number of hives. As growers' demand for hives decreases, the number of hives shipped across the country to pollinate crops will be reduced, resulting in a more robust stock of commercial honeybees.
This proposed project expands on research developed in Phase I to grow the product from its first version into a scalable product, which includes predictive model improvements, additional data collection, mobile app development and additional field testing. A major component of the Phase II grant will be improving accuracy and performance of the hive strength model. Additional data collection will be important in Phase II to improve the model to perform well in a wider range of ambient conditions. By the end of Phase II, full automation of the software allows for the product to be used at all times. A major component of the Phase II work will be the development of a web-based mobile application that can take infrared pictures using smartphone camera attachments, upload images automatically to a database, and provide real time analytics on the images. This project is a breakthrough in the crop pollination space using infrared imagery that can be adapted to improve thermodynamic insights across many verticals.
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. -
ThruWave Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Low-Cost 2D and 3D Millimeter Wave Image Sensors
Contact
909 NE 43RD ST STE 210
Seattle, WA 98105--6020
NSF Award
1951273 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$739,252
Start / end date
05/01/2020 – 12/31/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to advance a system for millimeter wave (mmWave) imaging and associated data analytics. This system has potential applications such as pharmaceutical manufacturing inspection of items on an individual pill level. The technology could audit the number or type of pills inside a bottle, pouch, or blister pack; bottles inside a case; and it could look for damage, such as a broken vial or bottle. The improved resolution coupled with the proposed data analytics software will provide accurate metrics about an item that does not require costly human labor. In other fields, such as robotics and automation, mmWave sensors enable imaging in inclement weather and smoky environments, where optical sensors fail.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to (1) develop a 3D mmWave imaging system with improved imaging resolution and (2) develop image processing software that can automatically extract image data and rapidly evaluate metrics. This project will focus on development of 60+ GHz 3D imaging solutions and analytics to retrieve important metrics from those images. By increasing the frequency of operation to 60+ GHz, mmWave image resolution can be improved to 3 ? 5 mm voxel size. Additionally, while mmWave images can be produced in near-real-time, these images must still be analyzed by a human. The analytics software to be developed in Phase II will automatically extract key metrics about the scene specific to each industry use case. This project will advance the state of the art in mmWave imaging by developing a low-cost, modular, high-resolution mmWave imaging system that is coupled with automated analytics, enabling a low-cost automated auditing function with broad industry applicability.
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. -
Transaera, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Using Metal-Organic Framework Materials to Increase Sustainability of Indoor Farming
Contact
444 SOMERVILLE AVE
Somerville, MA 02143--0000
NSF Award
1949661 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$764,688
Start / end date
05/01/2020 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project is the ability to sustainably produce more food with fewer water and energy resources. Indoor agriculture has the potential to transform the way we grow and source our food, enabling locally-sourced crops at higher yields. Food crops can be grown sustainably year-round near all major urban centers, if greenhouse energy and water consumption can be reduced. This research will lead to the creation of a new class of energy- and water-efficient indoor climate systems, thereby making indoor agriculture environmentally sustainable and economically viable.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will advance the development of a novel metal organic framework (MOF) material enabling a new class of compact, energy-efficient cooling and dehumidification systems for commercial and residential air conditioning applications. This project will advance a novel MOF material with unprecedented water adsorption capacity. Moreover, the MOF material may be quickly synthesized from low-cost, bulk commodity chemicals using a flow synthesis process. A dehumidifier operating with this material can harvest waste heat to provide optimal humidity conditions in applications such as controlled environment agriculture or residential comfort cooling. The goal of the proposed R&D is scale the manufacturing of this novel material, develop composite structures that embed this material, and integrate these structures into air conditioning devices for commercial and residential applications.
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. -
UNIGRID INC.
SBIR Phase II: Sodium-Based Solid-State Batteries for Stationary Energy Storage
Contact
6640 VIA MADERA
San Diego, CA 92130--7024
NSF Award
2331724 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$978,993
Start / end date
03/15/2024 – 02/28/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project introduces a non-flammable and affordable stationary energy storage solution. Renewable energy generation has significantly increased over the past decade; however, in order for renewable electricity to be fully utilized along with demand and without curtailment, accompanying energy storage is a necessity. Storage capacity is currently lacking and must catch up with renewable generation to ensure a stable and clean grid. Current state-of-the-art lithium-ion storage solutions remain expensive, hazardous, and subject to global supply chain constraints. The technology involved in this project halves the cost of production compared to lithium-ion, is non-flammable, and utilizes abundant, domestically sourced materials. Advancing the technology in this project will open up new energy storage market opportunities, lower the barrier to adoption for energy storage, eliminate the risk of battery fires, and maximize the usage of renewable energy.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project develops and demonstrates a new battery in the commercially-relevant amp-hour scale, bringing it from the lab to market. Demonstrating its properties at this scale, namely its energy density, cost, manufacturability, electrochemical properties, and non-flammability, will provide crucial technology and manufacturing validation for the stationary energy storage space. Widespread adoption of this technology will bring about peak power reduction, energy cost reductions, reduced frequency of service interruptions and lower overall greenhouse gas emissions. The Phase I research efforts have successfully demonstrated the feasibility and stability of the chemistry, and the Phase II project will develop an Amp hour (Ah)-level commercially relevant cell product for third party testing and customer validation, as well as for the performance of tests to meet regulatory standards, such as UL 9540A for battery systems. New, safe energy storage technologies are necessary to meet increasing global energy demands, stabilize the grid, and accelerate further renewable energy generation.
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. -
US AIR TECH, LLC
SBIR Phase II: SATCOM TECHNOLOGY OF ELABORATE LUNEBURG LENS ANTENNA
Contact
9040 S RITA RD STE 1270
Tucson, AZ 85747--9192
NSF Award
2233465 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$979,625
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop a full satellite communication (satcom) terminal commonly known as VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) for fixed and mobile platforms such as residences, manned and unmanned aerial vehicles, and maritime crafts. This novel satellite communication antenna can be used for Low, Medium and Geosynchronous Earth Orbits (LEO/MEO/GEO). Inexpensive, rapid prototyping will promote the proliferation of satcom technology that will serve disadvantaged communities, low resourced businesses in remote areas, transportation-related industries, and national security.
This SBIR Phase II project seeks to develop a satcom antenna technology. The technology pushes the technical limits of current satcom antenna technologies (?dish? antenna and phased-array antenna also known as electronically steerable antenna, flat panel, and others). The technical capabilities metrics include an extremely high data bandwidth output that is 100 times current bandwidth and a data traffic speed that is 100-times that of current technologies for speed performance. In addition, this approach provides reliable, dependable connectivity with a view angle capability that covers a large spatial angle. The large view angle, used in radar applications, enables a unique tactical scanning advantage of the sky for defense operations and provides simultaneous engagement capability to several flying targets at once, i.e., Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) or drones. With a relatively small footprint compared to current antennas, this approach addresses several capability gaps encountered in the defense industry. It also addresses internet connectivity/voice communication issues that have plagued extensive areas of the earth, making urban cable communication networks and moving platforms such as leisure and commercial air and maritime transportation more accessible.
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. -
VAPOR CELL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
SBIR Phase II: Chip-Scale Optical Frequency Standards
Contact
2237 PINE ST
Boulder, CO 80302--4606
NSF Award
2322392 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$956,313
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project produces compact optical frequency standards using state-of-the-art optical frequency metrology techniques adopted from national metrology institutes. Commercially, these devices will produce fundamentally accurate and stable optical frequencies in the form of laser light. End uses of these optical frequency standards include telecommunications test equipment, aerospace sensors, semiconductor inspection tools, and chemical measurement tools. The market trend is to produce more compact, mass-producible devices to improve sensing capabilities across industries. Improving the accuracy and stability of compact photonics technologies will enable next-generation microelectronics and photonic systems to produce reliable measurements without sacrificing durability or sensitivity. The resulting products will be inexpensive and will lend themselves to scalable manufacturing. Making these products accessible to the scientific and technology communities will enable researchers and engineers to build intrinsically accurate products based on definitions of the International System of Units (SI) second. This product will compete within the Atomic Clock Marketplace which is valued at $300 million, and which is growing at 6.25% per year. This effort has the potential to reverse the ongoing problem of price-creep of timekeeping devices that is currently preventing the large-scale adoption of quantum standards.
The intellectual merit of this project is to use advances in microfabrication techniques combined with fundamental molecular and optical physics to produce compact, stable, and accurate optical frequency standards. Measurement science requires the distribution and availability of measurement references and standards. Optical frequency standards serve a variety of niche applications requiring accurate measurements with light. This research will improve the purity of chip-scale iodine vapor cells using novel materials and also fully investigate the materials invented during the Phase I period of performance. These vapor cells will be practical realizations of the SI second as agreed upon by internationally accepted standards protocols. The core technical innovation in this project will focus on producing a ?physics package? containing a chip-scale iodine vapor cell with electrical functionality for controlling the vapor pressure, laser light routing for implementing high-resolution spectroscopy, and a software interface that converts the various sensor inputs into a precise and accurate measurement of a molecular transition. The team will leverage trends in optical clocks that have proved the utility of software-defined algorithms in the interrogation, synthesis, and discipline of physics packages to counter environmental and measurement-related disturbances ultimately producing a stable and accurate device.
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. -
VECTECH, LLC
SBIR Phase II: Advanced Computer Vision Methods for Diagnostic Medical Entomology
Contact
3600 CLIPPER MILL RD
Baltimore, MD 21211--1955
NSF Award
2322335 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,479
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to enable the provision of high quality vector surveillance data to public health institutions domestically and internationally. Vectors, or organisms that transmit diseases to other organisms, like mosquitoes and ticks, have a significant impact on human health and agriculture, with associated mortality and morbidity. This project aims to advance artificial intelligence methods to identify mosquito species from high resolution images. While well studied and documented, mosquito species identification remains a highly skilled task, where the few capable of this skill for a given region often have many other job responsibilities, making time devoted to the laborious task of mosquito identification difficult to justify at scale, despite the necessity of the data created. This project and its derivative works will enable organizations without this skill in-house to acquire this highly valuable data. The solution will also allow organizations with this skill in-house to task shift identification to seasonal technicians, and field a larger dataset. This larger dataset would enable better decision making for the control of mosquito borne disease. If successful, these methodologies can be translated to other vectors for disease, further benefiting public health.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is centered around the problem of mosquito species identification. There are more than 3,000 species of mosquitoes in the world, each with different behaviors and capacities for carrying disease. Regionally trained taxonomic experts can identify them through visual inspection, but there is a shortage of such experts. Some artificial intelligence (AI) methods for image-based identification have already been developed, but they are only designed for a limited number of species and face issues due to complex mosquito morphology and the variability incurred in practical use by vector control organizations. This project seeks to enhance existing methodologies for artificial intelligence (AI)-based insect identification by making use of generative models to address issues in training datasets caused by sampling biases. These models will be used to modulate the presence of underrepresented attributes to make a more robust and less biased model. The generative models used for this task will also be used to translate the data for viability in one constrained image domain to another. The final task is to use these models to modulate the training datasets for closely related mosquito species to fine tune performance for minute, but important, distinctions.
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. -
VENA VITALS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: A Beat-to-Beat Blood Pressure Monitor Using Micro-Nanoscale Wrinkled Functional Materials
Contact
5270 CALIFORNIA AVE
Irvine, CA 92617--3231
NSF Award
2213169 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
03/15/2023 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is focused on providing real-time and continuous monitoring of blood pressure for patients in surgery and critical care. Currently, only 10-15% of patients undergoing surgery receive continuous blood pressure monitoring because such monitoring requires specialized skill to administer the invasive procedure and can also introduce potential complications. The remaining patients are monitored intermittently with a non-invasive blood pressure cuff, resulting in gaps in information between readings and potentially delayed response times. Rapid blood pressure drops are associated with poor patient outcomes such as organ damage/failure, post-surgical complications, and death. The success of this project has the potential to not only increase the number of surgical and critical care patients who receive continuous monitoring, improving quality of care and patient outcomes, but also to enable continuous blood pressure monitoring in other applications, such as in pre-eclampsia patients in obstetrics. This project also has commercial potential. With over 50 million surgeries performed in the US each year, the serviceable, addressable market is $2.5 billion per year. Expanded to the global market where over 230 million surgeries are performed annually, the total addressable market is over $11 billion.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project develops a wireless, continuous, and non-invasive blood pressure monitoring device that can capture rapid fluctuations in blood pressure with high temporal resolution. Current technologies developed to address the unmet need for non-invasive, continuous blood pressure monitoring have been limited in their accuracy, cost, and ease-of-use. The research objectives to advance this project to commercial and clinical readiness are: device optimization through sensor improvement and algorithm development, form factor development for mechanical and electrical stability, and development of a smart calibration system for improved usability. Through iterative device design and testing in clinical environments, this project aims to tackle the long-standing challenges of continuous blood pressure monitoring, namely motion, calibration, and signal drift. The Phase II project outcome is a wearable, non-invasive, and continuous blood pressure monitoring device to be used in the operating room and intensive care unit. This device has the potential to not only empower clinicians with greater insight into patient condition, enabling rapid response and improved care in the clinical setting, but it can also be used to improve understanding of disease progression, treatment effectiveness, and patient stratification across demographics.
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. -
VERANTOS, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Determination of complex outcome measures using narrative clinical data to enable observational trials
Contact
325 SHARON PARK DR # 730
Menlo Park, CA 94025--6805
NSF Award
2024958 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,198,117
Start / end date
01/01/2021 – 09/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop a software application that identifies clinical outcomes to support high validity real-world evidence (RWE). Approaches to ensure data accuracy and protocol validity are critical to maintain safety and efficacy in healthcare. This project will analyze electronic health data to generate clinically meaningful information for personalized treatment plans for patients with multiple conditions that can confound treatment. This technology will fulfill an unmet need to improve patient outcomes, improve healthcare delivery and chronic disease care management, and reduce healthcare costs for patients. This technology can also improve regulatory and reimbursement decision-making for therapeutic approaches.
This SBIR Phase II project will address the need for consideration of using additional health data to allow for individualized personalized therapeutic plans for patients with multiple co-morbidities. Subgroup analysis or individualized therapy plans for precision medicine are currently not available based upon the structure of randomized controlled trials for broad conditions like breast cancer or hypertension. This proposal seeks to identify clinical outcomes from unstructured Electronic Health Records (EHR). The proposed work is to develop analytics using natural language processing and inference to leverage the large amounts of health data from real-world evidence (RWE) and observational studies to augment data provided in randomized controlled trials (RCT). The analytic tools will allow a comparison of the effectiveness of various treatment protocols in defined cohorts of patients and develop a personalized treatment plan for an individual patient with multiple co-morbidities. The tasks include: 1) Leverage linguistic phrases extracted by natural language processing (NLP) to recognize outcome-related clinical findings to be maintained as clinical feature metadata; 2) Combine NLP and inference to accurately identify candidate clinical outcomes; and 3) Apply machine-learned and expert knowledge to accurately define complex outcome measures.
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. -
VISIONAIRE PRODUCTS, INC
SBIR Phase II: A novel, microfluidic device to improve collection and analysis of biopsy samples from ocular paracentesis
Contact
218 FIELD CLUB RD
Pittsburgh, PA 15238--2239
NSF Award
2233691 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
03/15/2023 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to transform current eye care by providing a novel tool for ocular fluid biopsies. The fluid in the eye is isolated from the rest of the body by a blood-ocular barrier, so obtaining blood work does not help for diagnosing most ocular problems. Testing of ocular fluid has been shown to decrease rates of blindness in cases of ocular infections. However, this procedure is under-utilized due to the flaws with the current method for collecting fluid. Because of this, ocular infections can be misdiagnosed and undertreated, which can lead to increased rates of vision loss. Additionally, ocular fluid is an untapped reservoir for emerging biomarkers which has created an unmet need for better tools to collect this fluid. This project will result in a new product that can be used to collect ocular fluid for analyses that will guide treatment of some of the most common sight-threatening conditions including macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetes. This technology will open a new frontier in ocular diagnosis and improve vision outcomes for patients.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is focused on fabricating a new medical device for ocular fluid biopsies. This project will create an instrument that is specifically designed to collect of fluid from the front of the eye. The research will include optimization of the needle to decrease the force of entry. This new tool will enhance the surgeon?s control during the procedure and decrease risk of injury. This research will also investigate the fluid dynamics of collection with the integration of a microfluidic chamber and specialized collection system that is designed to handle small fluid volumes. A significant limitation of the current procedure is that the fluid volumes collected are small and the current method leads to fluid loss and inaccurate results. Additional development will evaluate advanced engineering features to connect the device for drug delivery. The expected outcome of this research is an innovative surgical tool that will enable ophthalmologists to perform ocular fluid biopsies more reliably and achieve better results.
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. -
VIVIFI MEDICAL LLC
SBIR Phase II: Laparoscopic Device for Treatment of Varicocele and Related Conditions
Contact
10018 TESLA DR
Rosharon, TX 77583--1955
NSF Award
2212869 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
12/01/2022 – 11/30/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to develop of a safe and curative, minimally invasive procedure leading to long-lasting outcomes for patients with varicocele. Varicocele is the most common cause of male infertility and is also associated with testicular pain, erectile disfunction, and low free testosterone. Varicocele affects approximately 30 million men in the US alone and is the direct cause of over 1.5 million infertile couples. Current methods of treatment have low success rates, with only 50% of patients noticing > 50% improvement in sperm parameters and up to 37% of patients showing no change after treatment. The treatment for varicocele has not changed since 1929 and consists of ligation or occlusion of the internal spermatic vein, the primary route of drainage for the testis. Even though surgical ligation procedures have shown promising clinical efficacy, the technical difficulty in performing the procedures and low success rates leave room for improvement.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to leverage a highly effective procedure proposed to treat varicocele. This procedure was proposed in the 1980s and was based on an advanced understanding of hemodynamics responsible for pathophysiology of varicocele. Through initial studies, this procedure showed groundbreaking results and has been used in multiple independent studies to treat patients with close to 100% success rates. Additionally, the complication rates are significantly lower, with complete elimination of hydrocele formation, recurrence rates of < 0.2% and faster recovery times. However, this procedure has not caught widespread adoption due to the high skill required to perform this procedure. This SBIR project seeks to develop a technology that will lower the barrier to perform the highly challenging procedure, thereby making the procedure a reality for patients of varicocele and infertility. The resulting device may afford patients the benefits of surgery, without the risk, ultimately reducing overall cost of care associated with patients of infertility.
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. -
VOLTELA INC
SBIR Phase II: A software-based tool for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone's connection reliability enhancement
Contact
11 E LOOP RD STE 318
New York, NY 10044--1500
NSF Award
2304143 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$998,998
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will improve Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) services used in package delivery, aerial surveillance, and infrastructure inspections. The goal of the effort is to provide UAS services beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) and enable reliable communication links to remote ground control stations. Existing solutions for control of BVLOS drones are based on either satellite connections with expensive subscription fees or cellular-based products with limited network availability, frequent interruptions, and high interference. The team?s integrated software solution will enhance the connection reliability for BVLOS drones using the voice channel redundancy of the existing mobile network (2G/3G/4G/5G), identify and mitigate the circumstances of the link failure, and provide an accurate visualization of the network coverage for optimal route selection. The team?s ubiquitous, ultrareliable, and low-latency communication technology allows cellular-connected UAS service providers to reliably control their long-range UAS, and benefit from fewer mission abortions and reduced costs compared to satellite links. The flexibility of the software solution can serve every drone use case and can get more drone companies through the regulatory approval process faster, reducing the time to enter the market.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to develop a software-based solution that provides scalable, redundant, and guaranteed cellular network connection for BVLOS drones. The proprietary software solution is based on three enabling features voice channel redundancy, a connection selection algorithm and a network mapping tool. In this project, the research and development efforts will be dedicated to 1) the development of the scalable software-only version of the data-over-voice technology operating with commercial off-the-shelf communication hardware, 2) implementation of software solutions to make drone connectivity reliable end-to-end and dynamically adapt to the requirements of drone use cases; 3) development of the aerial network coverage visualization tool to provide the drone industry with valuable insights into connectivity in airspace, 4) firmware implementation of solutions for overcoming the connectivity failures and further enhancing the network reliability, and 5) development of an application programming interface (API) which manages connectivity dashboard. The successful completion of these activities will deliver the fully functional software-only solution for BVLOS drones with its safety and performance validated with ground/air measurements, thus confirming the commercial potential.
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. -
Veramorph LLC
SBIR Phase II: Design optimization and manufacturing scale-up of oral dosages with environmentally responsive polymers
Contact
241 FRANCIS AVE
Mansfield, MA 02048--1548
NSF Award
2231141 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project expands the understanding and application of environmentally responsive materials in pharmaceutical products. The limitations of current inactive ingredients cause 30% of new drugs to be terminated and leave roughly half of approved drug products with room for improved efficacy. Thus, more effective materials are vital to continue improving public health via prescription drugs. As a risk-averse industry, pharmaceutical innovation prioritizes the active ingredients that address disease. However, this project could demonstrate that innovative inactive ingredients can enhance drug product efficacy with minimal additional risk to clinical translation and commercialization. This project will progress drug product design to effectively incorporate responsive materials and corresponding manufacturing practices to meet quality standards, with regulatory guidance from the FDA Novel Excipient Review Program. These developments could establish higher standards of drug performance. The impact of a broadly compatible material which can serve as a highly effective drug delivery technology is faster and more compatible drug manufacturing process. The potential benefit will be broader availability of prescription drugs with lower prices.
The proposed project has two primary objectives: (1) establish a scaled-up manufacturing process and associated analytical methods for the production and quality control, respectively, of drug products utilizing a novel environmentally responsive polymer, and (2) design an effective and shelf-stable capsule formulation for the drug fulvestrant using the same polymer. The primary hurdles include converting current lab-scale manufacturing protocols to be compatible with commercial-scale manufacturing equipment and ensuring the capsule formulation is shelf-stable while retaining highly effective oral drug delivery metrics. To overcome these challenges, the research and development plan will first validate analytical methods for critical quality attributes of drug product intermediates, which will then be implemented during manufacturing scale-up and fulvestrant capsule design. These goals will help identify processing parameters and formulation composition that balance low operating expense and high-performance metrics. The final deliverable will be a drug master file (DMF) summarizing the manufacturing and quality control processes for drug products utilizing an environmentally responsive polymer.
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. -
VitalFlo Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Development of a Smart Health Management System for Respiratory Patients
Contact
224 FAYETTEVILLE ST FL 4
Raleigh, NC 27603--1818
NSF Award
1926849 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$838,000
Start / end date
08/01/2019 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be the redefinition of the care of asthma patients. Asthma is highly prevalent in the US, with 25 million patients currently suffering symptoms, and was the cause of 1.7 million emergency room visits in 2015, resulting in a huge societal cost. A predictive platform that can identify when a patient is at risk of an asthma attack would serve to reduce such costs by allowing intervention in a timely manner, thereby reducing the number of emergency room visits by asthma patients. Through the combination of remote monitoring of patient lung function, local environmental sensing, and data analytics, asthma can be understood at a personalized scale, a dramatic shift in the standard of care for this chronic and complex condition. Additionally, the platform developed in this project can be expanded to other conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or cystic fibrosis, broadening its impact. Ultimately, it is envisioned that this project will result in a world without asthma attacks.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will result in the development of a machine learning-based data analytics platform to identify in advance when asthma patients are at risk of an asthma attack, thereby enabling physicians to alter a patient's care plan and avoid hospitalization. To date, there is no integrated system to gather and analyze high-quality lung function and environmental data for asthma patients on a daily basis in order to truly analyze and predict a patient's health. As a result, asthma care is often reactive, requiring emergency treatment and resulting in poor clinical outcomes. The objectives of this Phase II research include the development and validation of a machine-learning based analytics model to generate new insights into the health of asthma patients; the development and implementation of a physician portal to translate such insights into clinical outcomes; and the development of new datasets to create a more robust and accurate platform. The result will be a live prediction platform to assist physicians in keeping asthma patients out of the emergency room.
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. -
WAIHOME LLC
SBIR Phase II: Affordable Onsite Wastewater Treatment Solution
Contact
59-477 HOALIKE RD
Haleiwa, HI 96712--9524
NSF Award
2321143 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$996,717
Start / end date
09/15/2023 – 08/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses the poor performance and unaffordability of existing, onsite, wastewater treatment technologies. In Hawaii, the state government has mandated the upgrade of 88,000 cesspools across the state by 2050, but studies have shown that 97% of homeowners will not be able to afford the upgrade. Further, an estimated 55% of Hawaiian homeowners will need to install a system other than a conventional septic system due to site sizing, grading, and sensitive receiving environment constraints. The proximity of Hawaiian homes to the ocean makes them particularly susceptible to rising sea levels that disrupt soil-based treatment technologies like septic systems. This is a problem in many coastal communities in America, but perhaps most notably in Miami-Dade County, FL where an estimated 64% of county septic tanks will begin to fail annually by 2040. Existing upgrades to septic systems exist but they take the form of septic system add-ons or package plants that invariably drive up the cost of treatment systems.
This SBIR Phase II project is developing a wastewater treatment technology similar in shape and size to a solar hot water heater. The system is designed to operate passively, similar to a septic tank, but utilizing photosynthesis within a symbiotic algal-bacterial biofilm to provide high quality aerobic treatment on par with expensive package plants. The aboveground typology of the treatment unit protects the treatment process from high groundwater levels even during extreme flooding events, preventing the spread of disease and pollution. Further, situating the unit aboveground greatly simplifies the installation process to avoid expensive excavation costs and unearthing of homeowner backyards. This team has successfully piloted a proof-of-concept with Phase I funding. Moving into Phase II, the team will perform design iteration on the key geometric and operational parameters of the treatment unit and subject prototypes to sequential pilot tests in the field. The objective is to identify optimal manufacturing and design criteria for a resilient commercial treatment product that meets industry standards for use in sensitive receiving environments.
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. -
WICKED CO-OP LCA
SBIR Phase II: Software technology to facilitate decentralized coordination across groups working on systemic problems
Contact
936 N 79TH ST
Seattle, WA 98103--4714
NSF Award
2052383 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
04/15/2021 – 10/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/ commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project creates a platform specifically designed for more democratic online group-to-group collaboration in a distributed system. This could provide insights into new ways software can support collaboration, democratic infrastructure, and improve current understanding of how to optimize democratic and decentralized IT governance systems more broadly. Once successful, the technology will accelerate the rate of innovation and coordination across multi-disciplinary teams.
The project is an effort to study how to create software with group-node database architecture relationships. The goal is to create layers of group network formation while balancing scalability with resiliency. The main innovation is a software-based system for decentralized organizations, which will eventually be using a decentralized underlying infrastructure such as distributed web technology or blockchain. This paradigm incorporates (a) social protocols for effective teaming and coalition formation; (b) automation supporting democratic/cooperative organizations working in a distributed network; (c) accelerated information discovery across disciplines and sectors, (d) data science optimization for model thinking for global optimization solutions in complex systems. The platform would also explore fractal and emergent group dynamics, as an opportunity for thousands (if not millions) of tiny experiments regarding the specific nature of group formation, commons coordination, and effective communication for distributed organizations at scale.
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. -
WINTER INNOVATIONS INC.
SBIR Phase II: A Novel Suturing Device
Contact
2450 E J CHAPMAN DR, STE 114
Knoxville, TN 37996--0001
NSF Award
2304269 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
11/15/2023 – 10/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve outcomes following orthopedic soft tissue surgeries through the development of a novel stitching technology. Effective stitching is essential for successful outcomes in ligament and tendon surgery. These surgeries require specialized and technically complex stitch techniques and are performed on a regular and routine basis. More than 1 million ligament and tendon surgeries are performed in the United States each year, with 7.5% requiring one or more revisions due to graft or stitching issues. This innovation utilizes a two-part needle technology in order to improve surgical consistency and reduce surgical times needed for each procedure. The design enables surgical stitching in a novel manner to enable a multitude of patterns based on the individual needs, while reducing the need for surgical revisions by nearly 2/3 and time needed to perform each procedure by 1/3.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project furthers research and development of a novel suturing device for orthopedic ligament and tendon surgical procedures. The two-part needle design is based on integrated knot designs and is used to increase fastening mechanical integrity while reducing surgical variability and durations. The first technical milestone includes design optimization and validation to demonstrate system superiority over the current clinical standard across various anatomies and procedures (ankle, elbow, and knee). Biomechanical and cadaver models will be indicative of procedural success. The second milestone will develop and test several new embodiments (size and shape) for enabling wider adoption, using a similar methodology. The new design aims to enable system use for new procedures that are currently inaccessible with the current single part needle design configuration.
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. -
XL BATTERIES, INC
SBIR Phase II: Development of a Flow Battery Using Common Materials and Proprietary Electrolytes
Contact
33 LOCKE DR
Marlborough, MA 01752--1167
NSF Award
2240504 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$997,018
Start / end date
08/01/2023 – 07/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is the development of a grid-scale battery to enable large-scale, long-duration energy storage. New technologies for long-duration energy storage are required to solve the challenge of renewable energy intermittency. The widespread deployment of a new battery technology based on ubiquitous and inexpensive chemistry that is fabricated from low-cost and high-throughput manufacturable cell materials will help society achieve climate goals and bolster American manufacturing and energy independence. Additionally, the energy landscape of the future clearly presents enormous commercial potential. US grid storage capacity today is less than 0.01% of daily generation. Globally, the estimated energy storage needs to meet climate goals is 15 Terawatt hours by 2030. This translates to a market opportunity of $1.3 trillion to be fulfilled by emerging technologies.
This SBIR Phase II project proposes to design and fabricate a prototype battery system using highly stable, proprietary electrolytes and knowledge gathered from an SBIR Phase I award that verified the stability of charge storage solutions when in contact with inexpensive cell fabrication materials (plastics, rubbers, and composites). This project will validate performance in full-scale cells, stacks and systems, and culminate in the delivery of a battery system capable of outputting 1 kW for 10 hours. The delivered 1 kW/10 kWh system will have a longer lifetime (20+ years) and demonstrated lower cost than current flow batteries available today and will represent a significant step towards the development of a utility scale energy storage system.
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. -
XONA SPACE SYSTEMS INC.
SBIR Phase II: Space-Based Atmospheric and Integrity Monitoring for Mission-Critical Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT)
Contact
157 SOUTH BLVD
San Mateo, CA 94402--2446
NSF Award
2136836 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$999,995
Start / end date
07/15/2022 – 06/30/2024
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to enable much-needed improvements to global position, navigation, and timing (PNT) services that are used by billions of people every day. The Earth?s atmosphere distorts PNT signals transmitted by satellites (i.e. global positioning systems, GPS), which lead to end user errors in position and time accuracy that are not easily removed. The goals of this project are to remove these atmospheric-derived errors in real-time at a system level. The effort will support novel global PNT services that will bring more precise global positioning and timing accuracy (less than 10 cm, less than 1 nanosecond) to end users in many downstream applications. Global precision timing from such a service will support the scaling up of intelligent transportation systems, making autonomous vehicles safer while driving down equipment costs. These autonomous vehicles include the projected millions of drones and automobiles that will be manufactured over the next several years. In addition, a global precision timing service, when available indoors, will reduce the deployment cost of millions of critical infrastructure devices in power, telecommunications, and financial sectors.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to accurately map the Earth?s troposphere and ionosphere and demonstrate autonomous satellite integrity monitoring using a constellation of small satellites. Proper mapping of the atmosphere may remove atmosphere-derived errors in space-based PNT systems. The first research objective is to expand the algorithmic and data processing framework for PNT satellites, called the Atmospheric Mapping and Satellite Integrity Monitoring System (AMSIM). The research will be adapted to real constraints of the system including spectrum and orbital configurations. The second research objective is to demonstrate the major elements of AMSIM on orbit, which will be accomplished with two demonstration satellites in Low Earth Orbit. The third research objective is to combine these factors to inform the true PNT performance of the production system so that it can be clearly conveyed to target end users. The anticipated technical results will be a commercially-viable and technically-feasible space system architecture enabling a precision global PNT system that can offer 10 cm and 1
nanosecond accuracies to end users.
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. -
Xonotiv LLC
SBIR Phase II: A novel clutch mechanism for a more intuitive, stable prosthetic knee
Contact
32701 111TH PL SE
Auburn, WA 98092--4739
NSF Award
2025771 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$987,866
Start / end date
09/15/2020 – 02/28/2025 (Estimated)
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to help more amputees walk safely with less effort. Approximately 800,000 individuals live with a major lower limb amputation, and this number is growing largely due to diabetes. The 50,000 amputees each year who need a new prosthetic knee have two options: learn to use a traditional prosthetic knee or attempt to obtain a high-tech, computer-controlled knee. The first option requires that the amputee learn and execute specific technique(s) to walk safely, while the latter does so automatically but cost $30,000-100,000 and requires physical qualification, limiting the availability. The novel prosthetic knee developed here offers stability automatically, regardless of amputee technique. It prevents buckling while simultaneously allowing the user to walk safely with any leg motions the user is able to generate. Since it requires no electronics or power, it is available to all amputees regardless of ability, and at a fraction of the cost of high-tech knees. Amputees will be able to walk farther with less effort, improving health and quality of life, and easing caregiver burden. Additionally, this design could be adapted for use in orthotic, robotic or exoskeletal systems.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project proposes to develop and test a novel prosthetic knee. This project will explore the trade space of mechanical and analytical capabilities. This project will validate intuitive movement and universal stability for above-knee amputees through its innovative swing- and stance-phase functionality. This work will advance the knowledge of prosthetics, rehabilitation and bipedal locomotion.
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. -
YERBA BUENA VR, INC.
SBIR Phase II: Low latency and ultra-high quality 360 video streaming platform for highly immersive VR experiences
Contact
4444 YERBA BUENA AVE
San Jose, CA 95121--1052
NSF Award
2335511 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$998,251
Start / end date
05/01/2024 – 04/30/2026 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase II project is the first video streaming solution providing ultra-high-quality video with low latency for Virtual/Augmented/Extended Reality (VR/AR/XR) applications. Such applications are revolutionizing innumerable fields, with a projected market volume of $10.3 Billion in 2024 in the U.S. Yet, in reality the potential of VR/AR/XR remains untapped due to a remarkable limitation of existing video streaming solutions: high-quality videos entail huge latencies of 30-50 seconds, while low latency is only achieved with low quality video. However, both are important factors in VR/AR/XR, since high video quality is essential to generate a truly immersive experience for users, and low latency is essential to allow for live virtual interaction. The proposed technology promises to overcome this problem and unleash the full potential of VR/AR/XR, through advanced applications in education, business, healthcare, defense, leisure, and more. This proprietary technology is the result of years of R&D, making it difficult for competitors to match its superior performance. If successful, this technology will represent a key commercial milestone for the proposing company, with forecasted annual revenues of $74.5 million by year three of commercialization, through a business model based on pay-per-use fees.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project seeks to develop a video streaming solution that can manage 360° videos with ultra-high quality (>8K at a minimum of 60 fps) at low latencies (<1 second), enabling seamlessly switching between multiple cameras and audio tracks. The trade-off between video quality and streaming latency presents the main barrier for truly immersive and interactive Virtual/Augmented/Extended Reality (VR/AR/XR) experiences. Thus, this project?s research objectives are focused on: 1) extending the existing Android solution to iOS devices; 2) low latency composed experiences, supporting synchronized content from multiple cameras; 3) supporting multiple audio tracks within one stream; 4) platform validation, benchmarking various cloud service instances; 5) documenting the workflow and establishing a procedure for third party operators to deploy the end-to-end system; 6) determining Graphic Processing Units that meet the systems performance requirements; and 7) extending the platform to new generation XR devices. By the end of Phase II, the goal is to provide a platform that enables high-resolution 360° video streaming with latencies of less than two seconds, demonstrating sufficient maturity in each of its components, and to have clearly defined the hardware specifications that are required to provide optimal AR/VR/XR experiences.
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. -
ZS SYSTEMS LLC
SBIR Phase II: Novel Manufacturing Method for Precision Optical Encoders
Contact
675 N 36TH ST
Lafayette, IN 47905--4475
NSF Award
2322184 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
10/01/2023 – 09/30/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to develop a novel manufacturing method to produce high-accuracy, optical encoders. Encoders are sensors that measure position, either linear or angular, and convert it into an electronic signal. Modern automation and robotics systems heavily rely on encoders for precision positioning and motion control. The global encoder market is projected to reach $4.4 billion by 2028, growing from $2.4 billion in 2022. Increasingly accurate encoders are needed to further innovate and enable the manufacturing of complex next-generation products, such as advanced microchips, implantable medical devices, and precision weapon systems. As design specifications become more stringent, the need to meet the demand for high-precision encoders becomes paramount. Successful completion of the project will establish a pilot capability to cost-effectively produce encoders with over an order of magnitude finer fundamental resolution.
The intellectual merit of this project is focused on developing a technology that has the potential to revolutionize the manufacturing of optical encoders. Traditional encoder production involves using contact photolithography to replicate a pattern from a master photomask. However, this process requires a full-size photomask, introduces defects and errors into the device, and limits the achievable accuracy and resolution. To address these drawbacks, a novel, high-resolution, projection lithography system is being developed to drive an additive micro-fabrication technique. The new approach offers numerous advantages, including economically viable production of precision encoders with sub-nanometer resolution, improved manufacturing yield, and shorter lead times. The Phase II research activities encompass the development of a full-size hardware prototype with performance traceable to NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) standards, as well as the establishment of the necessary infrastructure to support the newly developed technology.
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. -
ZeoVation, Inc.
SBIR Phase II (COVID-19): Highly Potent Nanozeolite-based Silver Antimicrobials
Contact
1275 KINNEAR RD STE 232
Columbus, OH 43212--1180
NSF Award
2025819 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
09/15/2020 – 08/31/2024 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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This phase II award received additional funding to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis.Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide a long-lasting antimicrobial and antiviral solution for medical, military and consumer applications. Antibiotic resistance has increased the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections, and the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has caused a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. This project seeks to mitigate these problems by developing a technology to effectively decrease the transfer of bacteria and viruses via contaminated surfaces. This antimicrobial surface coating technology kills pathogens and minimizes their transport; it can be used in medical and healthcare institutions to support contagion mitigation efforts.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will scale up manufacturing of a silver/zinc ion nanozeolite via a method to produce a spray product. Formulations that can be easily and uniformly applied on soft and hard surfaces by optimal choice of additives will be developed. Two unique features of the spray are increased adhesion of the active nanozeolite to a surface as well as the ability to predict when the activity of the nanozeolite is diminished by visual observations, prompting the reapplication process. Uniform spreading of the nanozeolite on a surface will be controlled by the viscosity of the spray and the design of the pump sprayer. This project will demonstrate efficacy against gram-negative, gram-positive bacteria, pathogenic fungi and coronaviruses, as well as developing application protocols.
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. -
ZestBio, Inc.
SBIR Phase II: Microbial conversion of pectin-rich agricultural byproducts into specialty chemicals
Contact
2715 HILLEGASS AVE
Berkeley, CA 94705--1229
NSF Award
1951249 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$799,380
Start / end date
05/01/2020 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
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Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is enabling commercialization of novel technologies that convert pectin-rich agricultural byproducts into useful specialty chemicals for existing multi-billion dollar chemical markets. The United States is a leading producer of pectin-rich byproducts, including the citrus (>5 million tons annually), apple (>5 million tons annually) and sugar beet (>37 million tons annually) industries. With this platform fermentation technology, it is possible to perform specific chemical conversion of these US byproducts into value-adding products. Implementation of this technology can increase overall revenue from crops far exceeding current byproduct mitigation strategies. This offers reduced volatility in crop value, financial sustainability for farmers, and construction of rural fermentation facilities. Furthermore, by using existing crop byproducts and eco-friendly fermentations, the resulting chemical products will be have lower environmental impact than competing chemicals made from petroleum or sugar.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is designed to improve the conversion of industrial pectin-rich agricultural byproducts into specialty chemical products. Each year, large volumes of agricultural byproducts, such as citrus peels and sugar beet pulp are produced, but lack value-adding technologies. By using novel scientific breakthroughs in microbial metabolism and tools for strain engineering, microbial organisms can be engineered to convert the sugars from these byproducts into useful chemicals through environmentally sustainable fermentation. The goal of this Phase II project is to improve the production rate for the synthesis of the first chemical product using this technology. The first objective is to improve the oxidative metabolism of the host organism to aid in strain productivity. The second objective is to use a combinatorial library of strains to refine and optimize the microorganisms' fermentation rate. The final objective is to take the improved strains and optimize the fermentation conditions using bioreactors. This three pronged-approach promises to improve chemical production rates.
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. -
mathbrix llc
SBIR Phase II: Building Mathematical Thinking and Problem-solving Skills Together Through Play
Contact
20 S SARAH ST
Saint Louis, MO 63108--2819
NSF Award
2200238 – SBIR Phase II
Award amount to date
$1,000,000
Start / end date
01/01/2023 – 12/31/2025 (Estimated)
NSF Program Director
Errata
Please report errors in award information by writing to awardsearch@nsf.gov.
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to address major deficits in mathematical achievement among children living in the United States, and to develop new modes and approaches to learning with mobile technology. A growing body of research shows that the human brain is most receptive to learning math concepts in the pre-school years and that children who do not receive appropriate instruction at this early age often fail to achieve in mathematics later in life. This is of particular concern because mathematical ability is highly correlated academic success and future jobs increasingly require strong math and problem-solving skills, resulting in significant implications for the competitiveness of tomorrow?s workforce. This Phase II project will develop a next generation education technology that guides families and children through a series of learning activities, performed mostly off-screen, but which are guided an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mobile learning application. This technology supports new approaches to learning and has applications in the commercial sector as products using natural language processing (NPL) continue to proliferate.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project involves the development of new learning technologies that can encourage parent child interaction and aim to increase parent engagement in learning experiences with their children (ages 3-8). A cloud-connected mobile applications will provide regular opportunities for parent and child to build early math and problem-solving skills in age-appropriate, meaningful contexts. Machine learning algorithms deliver activities that match developmental milestones, learning objectives, and family interest. Animated characters guide users through activities both on and off computer and prompt meaningful conversations by asking both parent and child open-ended questions. AI technology analyzes recorded feedback to obtain the degree of engagement by considering nuances such as voice tone, phrasing, and number of conversational turns.
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.
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