USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                    About FHWAFHWA Organization
                Headquarters Offices
                Field Offices
                Strategic Plan
                Business Opportunities
                Staff Directories
                Careers
                Highway History
                Contact UsProgramsAcquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                Safety
                Browse by TopicsResourcesCore Highway Topics
                Federal Aid Essentials
                Automation
                Complete Streets
                Laws and Regulations
                Policy & Guidance Center
                Section 508
                Publications and Statistics
                Professional Development
                National Highway Institute
                Resource Center
                Accessibility Resource Library
                FHWA Research LibraryNewsroomPress Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Photos
                Videos
                Media ContactsMenu OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY AT THE TURNER-FAIRBANK HIGHWAY RESEARCH CENTER Home
                        Research
                        Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
                        Research and Technology Portfolio


            
            In This Section
        Explore Research and Technology
                About Research and Technology
                Research and Technology Program Portfolio
                Corporate Research and Partnerships
                                Corporate Research and Partnerships Overview
                Exploratory Advanced Research
                Small Business Innovation Research
                Federal Lands Highway
                                Federal Lands Highway Overview
                Federal Lands Highway Research
                Infrastructure Research and Development
                                Infrastructure R&D Overview
                Construction and Project Management
                Structures
                Pavement and Materials
                Deployment of Pavement Technologies
                Transportation Performance Management
                Geotechnical and Hydraulics
                Long-Term Infrastructure Performance
                Innovative Program Delivery
                                Innovative Program Delivery Overview
                Every Day Counts
                State Transportation Innovation Councils
                Innovative Finance and Delivery
                Accelerating Market Readiness
                Accelerated Innovation Deployment
                Operations Research and Development
                                Operations R&D Overview
                Connected and Automated Vehicles
                Traffic Systems Management and Operations
                Freight
                Truck Size and Weight
                Disruptions
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                                Planning, Environment, and Realty Overview
                Performance-Based Planning
                Resiliency
                Project Delivery
                Modeling and Analysis
                Multimodal Planning and Underserved Communities
                Policy
                                Policy Overview
                Policy Analysis
                Global Outreach
                Transportation Data
                Safety Research and Development
                                Safety R&D Overview
                Program Delivery
                Safety Design and Operations
                Human Factors
                Safety Data and Analysis
                
                R&T Portfolio: Small Business Innovation Research
    

    
    
    
      The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a multiphased, competitive, awards-based program that encourages small businesses to engage in research and development to address high priority research areas identified by FHWA.

Each year, FHWA staff identify several research and development topics for proposal solicitation. The SBIR program offers a Commercialization Assistance Program to consult with participants about market research, commercialization plans, and other activities.

Program Objective:

Encourage small businesses to engage in research or research and development that has the potential for commercialization and support the strategic goals of the USDOT.

FHWA SBIR Success Stories:

            Expand All
      Collapse All
        **Artificial Intelligence (AI)**
        Though traffic management centers (TMCs) are essential to the operation of the current transportation environment, the introduction of connected and automated vehicles and smart sensors increases the amount of data that TMCs need to process. AI presents an opportunity to address some of the challenges that large influxes of data could bring.

Spotlight Project: AI Applications for TMCs

Through the SBIR program, FHWA worked with a private vendor and Delaware DOT to develop innovative traffic management systems using AI. One such system relies on real-time data from thousands of sensors along Interstate 95 and surrounding arterials to make operational recommendations to staff. The system tracks the incoming data and resulting operational outcomes to improve the system’s operational recommendations.
  


      **Mini-Roundabouts Materials**
        Mini-roundabouts are the small-scale versions of the modern roundabout traffic control system that directs vehicles circularly through an intersection. Mini-roundabouts eliminate the need to widen roads or relocate utilities, but, to compensate for their small size, the central islands and splitters are made traversable for trucks and large vehicles unable to complete the tight turns.

Spotlight Project: Recycled Plastic Mini-Roundabouts as a Traffic Control Solution

"Illustrated, overhead view of a roundabout."

Through the SBIR program, FHWA worked with a private vendor to develop a mini-roundabout design that provides low-cost, easily installed, mini-roundabouts made from recycled plastic. While conventional methods require cutting the pavement and filling it with reinforced concrete, this new technology can be directly installed onto existing pavement in good condition.

Image source: FHWA.Contact Us

**Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and Innovation Management**
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101
United States

Related Links

Office of Corporate Research, Technology, and Innovation Management home
	Volpe Center SBIR home
	"Everybody Wins: The FHWA Small Business Innovation Research Program" in Public Roads magazine

    
          Last updated: Wednesday, June 8, 2022 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About
  

        
              About FHWA
                Careers
                Org Chart
                Staff Directories
                Work with UsPrograms
  

        
              Acquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                SafetyPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Accessibility
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web StandardsNews & Events
  

        
              Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Media Contacts
                Connect with Us