National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency established in 1950 and based in Alexandria, Virginia. It is dedicated to supporting research and education in science and engineering across a wide range of disciplines. The NSF provides significant non-dilutive funding, up to $1.5 million, to startups and small businesses through its America's Seed Fund initiative, which is part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program mandated by Congress. With an operating budget of approximately $7.8 billion, the NSF is committed to advancing fundamental research and education, thus fostering innovation and technological development in the United States.

James Donlon

Program Director

Debasis Majumdar

Program Director

Graciela Narcho

Staff Associate

Sethuraman Panchanathan

Director

Past deals in Self-driving

Gen Auto AI

Pre Seed Round in 2023
At General Autonomy Inc. (Gen Auto AI), we are dedicated to pioneering safe, explainable AI technologies to foster trustworthy general autonomy, aimed at enhancing urban living through the use of robots. Our commitment to safety is the cornerstone of our approach, ensuring that every solution we develop meets the highest standards of reliability and security. Our innovative autonomy solutions are designed to seamlessly integrate into urban environments, offering advanced capabilities for autonomous robotic vehicles, connected and autonomous vehicles, and industrial mobile robots. Understanding the critical importance of trust in the adoption of autonomous technologies, we leverage explainable AI to ensure our systems are not only effective but also transparent and understandable. This approach empowers us to build confidence in our technologies, paving the way for a future where urban life is significantly improved through intelligent, autonomous assistance. With a focus on enhancing safety and operational efficiency, our solutions are tailored to meet the diverse needs of urban settings. Whether it’s improving transportation with connected and autonomous vehicles, optimizing logistics with industrial mobile robots, or introducing autonomous robotic vehicles to assist with urban tasks, Gen Auto AI is at the forefront of transforming urban landscapes. We are excited about the future and are diligently working to bring our services to you soon. Stay tuned for groundbreaking advancements in general autonomy from Gen Auto Ai, where safety leads and innovation transforms urban living.

Gen Auto AI

Pre Seed Round in 2023
At General Autonomy Inc. (Gen Auto AI), we are dedicated to pioneering safe, explainable AI technologies to foster trustworthy general autonomy, aimed at enhancing urban living through the use of robots. Our commitment to safety is the cornerstone of our approach, ensuring that every solution we develop meets the highest standards of reliability and security. Our innovative autonomy solutions are designed to seamlessly integrate into urban environments, offering advanced capabilities for autonomous robotic vehicles, connected and autonomous vehicles, and industrial mobile robots. Understanding the critical importance of trust in the adoption of autonomous technologies, we leverage explainable AI to ensure our systems are not only effective but also transparent and understandable. This approach empowers us to build confidence in our technologies, paving the way for a future where urban life is significantly improved through intelligent, autonomous assistance. With a focus on enhancing safety and operational efficiency, our solutions are tailored to meet the diverse needs of urban settings. Whether it’s improving transportation with connected and autonomous vehicles, optimizing logistics with industrial mobile robots, or introducing autonomous robotic vehicles to assist with urban tasks, Gen Auto AI is at the forefront of transforming urban landscapes. We are excited about the future and are diligently working to bring our services to you soon. Stay tuned for groundbreaking advancements in general autonomy from Gen Auto Ai, where safety leads and innovation transforms urban living.

MCity

Grant in 2022
Mcity is an autonomous vehicle research center located on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It serves as a unique urban test facility that facilitates collaboration among industry, government, and academia to enhance transportation safety, sustainability, and accessibility. Mcity combines early-stage research with real-world testing and on-road vehicle deployments to validate and advance new technologies in the mobility sector. The center is staffed by renowned researchers and aims to contribute to the development of safer and more efficient transportation systems for the benefit of society.

Aura Intelligent Systems

Grant in 2021
Aura Intelligent Systems specializes in advanced solutions within the domains of radio technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence. The company has developed patented digital imaging radar technology that offers high-resolution spatial sensing, addressing issues of interference and latency commonly faced by existing radar systems. Their innovative approach combines a 5G hardware architecture with intelligent, programmable software, facilitating 5D situational awareness while minimizing harmful effects such as jamming and multipath interference. This software-defined radar not only achieves longer operational ranges but also maintains low power consumption, providing a cost-effective solution for automotive and robotics applications.

Mapless AI

Grant in 2020
Mapless AI is a research company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, focused on developing safe alternatives for transportation systems. The company has created a remote vehicle operations platform tailored for autonomous driving applications. This platform features a proprietary fail-operational safety system and optimized low-latency connectivity, allowing for safe and scalable solutions. Additionally, it offers a fleet-friendly retrofit that can be easily installed on existing vehicles, enabling customers to deploy and operate autonomous vehicles efficiently and cost-effectively. Through its innovations, Mapless AI aims to accelerate the adoption of autonomous vehicles without the necessity of human drivers.

Berkeley Marine Robotics

Grant in 2020
Berkeley Marine Robotics specializes in the development of autonomous underwater swarm robotic systems aimed at enhancing ocean exploration and conservation. The company has created unmanned underwater vehicles that enable efficient inspections of ships entering ports, facilitating fast and cost-effective evaluations through underwater wireless communication. Its technology measures hull-fouling levels, allowing for optimized cleaning schedules and improved coating performance. By leveraging swarm robotics, underwater laser communication, and machine learning for vision models, Berkeley Marine Robotics addresses challenges in GPS-denied and degraded marine environments. This innovation helps shipping operators lower fuel costs and minimize emissions related to biofouling, while also contributing to the protection of marine ecosystems.

Akrobotix

Grant in 2019
Akrobotix is a research and product development startup that specializes in autonomous systems and robotics technology across various domains, including space, air, land, and sea. The company has developed an autopilot system tailored for fully autonomous unmanned aerial, ground, and marine vehicles. By integrating multi-modal situational awareness information, Akrobotix creates reliable and reproducible mission plans specific to various applications. This technology aims to enhance operational safety and efficiency, providing businesses with mission planning software that is focused on industry-specific needs.

Mirada

Grant in 2019
Mirada Technologies Inc., established in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, specializes in developing and selling LiDAR sensor components. These components are integral to advanced driver safety systems and autonomous vehicles, primarily serving automotive suppliers. Mirada's core offerings include innovative laser scanning and detector technology, with its flagship product being a state-of-the-art laser scanner that ensures accurate ranging distance, wide field of view, reliability, and scalable volume production.

Enertia Micro

Grant in 2018
Enertia Micro, established in 2014 and based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, specializes in manufacturing micro inertial sensors. These sensors, based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, are designed to provide precise motion detection for autonomous vehicles. The company's focus is on developing miniature gyroscopes that outperform conventional MEMS sensors, catering to the evolving needs of the mobility industry and ensuring safe, reliable navigation in autonomous vehicles.

Apollo AI

Grant in 2018
Apollo AI builds super-safe self-driving systems and HD maps. They offer mapping, object detection, tracking, and classification, as well as decision-making and path optimization. They also offer information theory, control systems, detection and estimation, machine learning, neural networks, communication and signal processing systems, systems design, and navigation.

AutoModality

Grant in 2017
AutoModality Inc. is a company that specializes in developing flight control software for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), enabling them to operate autonomously in environments where GPS signals are unavailable. Founded in 2014 and based in Syracuse, New York, AutoModality manufactures drone platforms that utilize off-the-shelf components to facilitate automated inspections. Their technology is particularly focused on the agriculture and infrastructure sectors, allowing for close-up inspections of structures such as bridges, culverts, rolling stock, and cell towers. The company's advanced navigation software and integrated sensors enable drones to approach inspection sites closely, providing real-time quality streaming from onboard cameras to handheld devices. This capability allows users to gather critical data in challenging locations that are often difficult to access. AutoModality is also recognized for its innovative contributions to the drone industry, exemplified by Team Autero, which won the 2016 DJI SDK Challenge.

Mirada

Grant in 2017
Mirada Technologies Inc., established in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, specializes in developing and selling LiDAR sensor components. These components are integral to advanced driver safety systems and autonomous vehicles, primarily serving automotive suppliers. Mirada's core offerings include innovative laser scanning and detector technology, with its flagship product being a state-of-the-art laser scanner that ensures accurate ranging distance, wide field of view, reliability, and scalable volume production.

Perceptive Automata

Grant in 2017
Perceptive Automata, Inc. specializes in developing machine learning and computer vision solutions focused on human behavior prediction for automated vehicles. Founded in 2014 and based in Somerville, Massachusetts, the company addresses critical challenges in the safe deployment of highly automated and fully autonomous vehicles, particularly in urban settings. Its technology enables these vehicles to anticipate the actions of pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers, allowing for safe navigation in human-dominated environments. By employing advanced AI inference models, Perceptive Automata enhances the driving experience, facilitating smoother and more natural interactions between autonomous vehicles and their surroundings. The company collaborates with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers, and technology firms in the development of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies, leveraging expertise from leading institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.

Z-senz

Grant in 2017
Z-senz develops the next leap in LIDAR to enable safety and reliability in autonomous vehicles. The company's headquarters are in Washington, D.C. Founded in 2015 by a group of scientists with expertise in optics, lasers, material science, physics, and manufacturing,

Perceptive Automata

Grant in 2016
Perceptive Automata, Inc. specializes in developing machine learning and computer vision solutions focused on human behavior prediction for automated vehicles. Founded in 2014 and based in Somerville, Massachusetts, the company addresses critical challenges in the safe deployment of highly automated and fully autonomous vehicles, particularly in urban settings. Its technology enables these vehicles to anticipate the actions of pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers, allowing for safe navigation in human-dominated environments. By employing advanced AI inference models, Perceptive Automata enhances the driving experience, facilitating smoother and more natural interactions between autonomous vehicles and their surroundings. The company collaborates with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers, and technology firms in the development of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies, leveraging expertise from leading institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.

Z-senz

Grant in 2015
Z-senz develops the next leap in LIDAR to enable safety and reliability in autonomous vehicles. The company's headquarters are in Washington, D.C. Founded in 2015 by a group of scientists with expertise in optics, lasers, material science, physics, and manufacturing,

MAVRIC

Grant in 2013
MAVRIC is a cross-campus multidisciplinary collaboration to study Autonomous Vehicles at the University of Michigan. MAVRIC represents a truly multidisciplinary approach to studying Autonomous Vehicles. Members of MAVRIC are from the School of Information, Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering and the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute. MAVRIC's research has been sponsored by the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), Toyota Research Institute (TRI), MCity/Mobility Transformation Center.
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