SynTouch LLC BioTac Toccare provides tactile evaluations that are consistent, quantifiable, and reflective of human perceptions.
Technology topic
Robotics (R)
The Robotics topic covers robot intelligence and experiential learning, particularly in the areas of high-performance processors or hardware that provides situational awareness and improved artificial intelligence. Innovations in voice, obstacle and image recognition, emotional response and hand-eye coordination are encouraged. We encourage proposals describing projects that borrow features from other animal nervous systems and include biologists, neuroscientists and psychologists on their team to exploit new knowledge in the study of the brain and behavior.
NSF also seeks proposals that address next-generation automation; the flexible and rapid reconfiguration of assembly lines allowing mass customization; the use of advanced control, scheduling, modularization, and decentralization with agile, mobile robotic systems that can enable the cost-effective manufacture of small lot-size products; and on-demand parts manufacturing.
Proposals to support the physical and educational needs of individuals with disabilities (e.g., vision, hearing, cognitive, motor related) are sought. Robotic applications in healthcare, smart drones and drone networks are appropriate. Medical devices focused on providing new capabilities to doctors including surgery; robotic exoskeletons to enhance human strength; personal robots with an emphasis on human-centered end use and interaction, personal caregiving and increased autonomy; future of work; flying taxis; reverse engineering the human brain; robot sense, motion, thought, and emotion; human-robot art; and robots of augmentation are welcome.
Subtopics are not aimed at supporting or conducting clinical trials, clinical efficacy or safety studies, the development pre-clinical or clinical-stage drug candidates or medical devices, or work performed primarily for regulatory purposes. Limited studies with human subjects may be acceptable to the extent that they are performed in support of feasibility, such as proof-of-concept studies of early-stage technologies. Proposals that request support for clinical studies will be deemed noncompliant with the SBIR/STTR solicitations and returned without review.
Sub-Topics
R1. Human Assistive Technologies and Bio-related Robotics
R2. Human-Machine Interfaces and Control/Architecture
R3. Robotic Applications
R4. Robotics in Agile Manufacturing, and Co-Robots
R5. Underground or Underwater Robotics for Low-Visibility, Poor-Connectivity or Hidden Topography
R6. Other Robotics Technologies
Application process for Robotics (R) funding
Eligibility for Robotics (R) funding +
- Your company must be a small business (fewer than 500 employees) located in the United States.
- At least 50% of your company’s equity must be owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents. NSF does not fund companies that are majority-owned by multiple venture capital firms, private equity firms, or hedge funds, to participate in SBIR and STTR.
- All funded work, including work done by consultants and contractors, needs to take place in the United States.
- The project’s principal investigator (tech lead) must be legally employed at least 20 hours a week by the company seeking funding. The principal investigator doesn’t need any advanced degrees.
- The principal investigator needs to commit to at least one month (173 hours) of work on a funded project per six months of project duration.
Evaluation Criteria: What We Look for When Evaluating Robotics (R) proposals +
- Technological Innovation
- Broader Impacts
- Commercial Potential
- Read more about our criteria
Take our project assessment to see if your work might be a good fit for NSF funding.
Featured Companies
Robot quickly picks and places orders
Righthand Robotics, a small business funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is developing a robot that can pick and place thousands of products.
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