E-mail: erik@cislune.com

Address: 301 N Almansor St, CA 91801 - 2644
Phone: (661) 390-1060

Name: Erik Franks

E-mail: erik@cislune.com

Address: 301 N Almansor St, CA 91801 - 2644
Phone: (661) 390-1060

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :

Begin: 2
End: 4
Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters):

Cislune and UCF propose to develop anti-slip algorithms to identify wheel slip
autonomously to avoid getting stuck, a potentially mission ending danger that if you can
lower the risk of, allows faster traverse and more productive missions. The algorithms
will also be optimized to create continuous recompaction of lunar roads and landing
zones, avoiding the wheel-churn of driving.

Using some of the same data and rover parts, we will develop algorithms and testing to
generate normal and axial shear stress geotechnical data using un-modified rover
wheels, Cislune and UCF will develop proof of concept algorithms in lab and field testing.
Based upon this data, we will create an architecture and ConOps for preparing a lunar
landing site with pads, berms, and pathways.

These innovations together will enable effective construction of bulk regolith
infrastructure that is then tested to verify the as-built characteristics to meet the civil
engineering requirements that will be developed.

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 550 characters):

Refuse-to-get-stuck and wheel geotechnical data gathering directly map to NASA STMD’s
Strategic Framework thrusts of Live - ISRU, advanced construction, and advanced
habitation systems as well as Explore - advanced robotics, autonomous systems, and
advanced manufacturing. These technologies can be applied to existing rovers enabling
greater autonomy and efficiency.

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 400 characters):
Lunar commercial rovers and excavation companies will benefit from these algorithms to
avoid getting stuck and having greater autonomy. Particularly as rovers and excavators

begin to operate in PSR and during both lunar day and night periods when surface visual
conditions are significantly different.

Duration: 13



code, and test cases across many different system domains. These links are then used to
support requirements analysis tasks such as safety analysis, requirements satisfaction analysis,
and to support requirements reuse. However, automated traceability underperforms in highly
technical domains with terminology that differs significantly from the publicly available training
data. The aim of this project is to address this problem by delivering a reliable and fully-
automated solution for constructing, training, and validating a domain-specific language model
that performs automated software and systems traceability tasks at high degrees of accuracy for
the targeted domain. The language model is used to perform and augment a variety of
requirements analysis tasks including change impact analysis, safety analysis, requirements
reuse, and requirements analysis in order to design and deploy more reliable software systems.
The approach will be applied to complex, mission-critical robotics problems in order to increase
the rigor of developing robotics systems, especially those where achieving trustworthy and
trusted autonomy is paramount. The traceability and requirements analysis solutions will be
delivered through the highly interactive and visual SAFA tool.

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 550 characters):

SAFA would be directly applicable to the Space Technology Mission Directorate, Science
Mission Directorate, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, Space Operations
Mission Directorate, and Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, in addition to ARMD
missions and goals for projects such as the Airspace Operations and Safety Program/ Advanced
Air Mobility, Air Traffic Management-eXploration, and the National Airspace System.

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 400 characters):
Within Non-NASA Applications, SAFA applies to safety-critical and mission-critical systems within
aerospace/defense, automotive, robotics, medical devices, and drones. These industries are

experiencing very similar difficulties as NASA regarding managing increasingly complex software
with manual requirements tools.

Duration: 12

PROPOSAL 23-1- T8.06-1595
NUMBER:

SUBTOPIC TITLE: Quantum Sensing/Measurement and Communciation

PROPOSAL TITLE: Robust and deterministic source of photon number states

Small Business Concern

Firm: Physical Sciences, Inc.
Address: 20 New England Business Center , Andover, MA 01810 - 1077
Phone: (978) 689-0003

Research Institution:

Name: Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois (at Urbana-Champaign)
Address: SPA, 1901 South First Street, Suite A, IL 61820 - 7406



We propose to improve, refine and mature Nexus proprietary heterogeneous SiN based platform
to improve the short-wavelength propagation losses, and integrate high-responsivity/high-
quantum efficiency photodetectors in visible in a wafer-scale process for NASA needs and
infusion into existing and upcoming instruments.

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 550 characters):

We are specifically addressing existing need at NASA for PIC technologies: "On-chip detectors
with high responsivity/quantum efficiency from 300 to 800 nm. Additionally, approaches
demonstrated in, or compatible with, commercial foundries are of particular interest."

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 400 characters):

The proposed platform is applicable to multiple market verticals including augmented
reality/virtual reality, healthcare, quantum enabling us to leverage all these markets to push for

commercialization while supporting NASA programmatic needs

Duration: 13

PROPOSAL 23-1- T12.08-1046
NUMBER:

SUBTOPIC TITLE: Manufacturing and Construction of Lunar Landing Pads Research

PROPOSAL TITLE: Novel Construction of Lunar Landing Pad Reinforcement Structures

Small Business Concern

Firm: Linc Research, Inc.
Address: 1000 Meridian Street, Hunstville, AL 35801 - 4661
Phone: (256) 426-5742

Research Institution:

Name: The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Address: 301 Sparkman Drive, VBRH E26, AL 35899 -
Phone: (256) 824-5186

Principal Investigator:

Name: Mrs. Hannah Kish
E-mail: hannah.kish@lincresearchinc.com
Address: 1000 Meridian St, AL 35801 - 4661

Phone: (904) 518-1340



PROPOSAL 23-1- T8.07-1101
NUMBER:

SUBTOPIC TITLE: Photonic Integrated Circuits

PROPOSAL TITLE: Heterogeneously integrated visible photonic integrated circuit platform with high
responsivity photodetectors

Small Business Concern

Firm: Nexus Photonics, LLC
Address: 6500 Hollister Avenue, Suite 140 , Goleta, CA 93117 - 3011
Phone: (805) 895-4733

Research Institution:

Name: Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia
Address: PO Box 400195, VA 22904 - 4195
Phone: (434) 924-6267

Principal Investigator:

Name: Chong Zhang

E-mail: ezhang@nexusphotonics.com

Address: 6500 Hollister Ave, Ste. 140 , CA 93117 - 3011
Phone: (805) 886-6378

Business Official:

Name: Tin Komljenovic

E-mail: komljenovic@nexusphotonics.com
Address: 2320 De La Vina St, No. 12, CA 93105 - 3852
Phone: (805) 895-4733

Summary Details:

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :

Begin: 2
End: 4
Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters):



PROPOSAL TITLE: _ Intelligent Automation of Trace Identification Processes for Complex Mission Critical
Robotics Systems

Small Business Concern

Firm: SAFA.ALINC
Address: 1400 East Angela Boulevard Rm 361, South Bend, IN 46617 - 1364
Phone: (623) 340-4520

Research Institution:

Name: University of Notre Dame
Address: 400 Main Building, IN -
Phone: (708) 207-2712

Principal Investigator:

Name: Jane Cleland-Huang
E-mail: janeclelandhuang@nd.edu
Address: 940 Grace Hall, IN 46556 -
Phone: (708) 207-2712

Business Official:

Name: Aarik Gulaya

E-mail: aarik@safa.ai

Address: 252 Bonito Ave Apt.C, CA 90802 - 3358
Phone: (623) 340-4520

Summary Details:

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :

Begin: 3
End: 5
Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters):

Achieving trustworthy and trusted autonomy starts early in the development process through
performing hazard analysis, fault analysis, identifying mitigating requirements, and carefully and
rigorously tracing those requirements all the way into design, models, implementation, and tests.
However, traceability can be time-consuming, costly, and error-prone. To address these
challenges, significant advances in automated traceability have used deep learning technologies
to generate highly accurate trace links between software artifacts such as requirements, design,



STTR Phase | Solicitation Abstract Archives

NASA STTR 2023-1 Solicitation

PROPOSAL 23-1- T9.02-1099
NUMBER:

SUBTOPIC TITLE: Rapid Development of Advanced High-Speed Aerosciences Simulation Capability

PROPOSAL TITLE: Anisotropic Metric-Based Mesh Adaption for Hypersonic Flow

Small Business Concern

Firm: ATA Engineering, Inc.
Address: 13290 Evening Creek Drive South, San Diego, CA 92128 - 4695
Phone: (858) 480-2000

Research Institution:

Name: Mississippi State University
Address: Lee Boulevard, MS -
Phone: (662) 325-2346

Principal Investigator:

Name: Azariah Cornish

E-mail: azariah.cornish@ata-e.com

Address: 308 Voyager Way NW, Suite 102, AL 35806 - 3207
Phone: (256) 258-8410

Business Official:

Name: Dr. Daniele Gallardo

E-mail: daniele.gallardo@ata-e.com

Address: 308 Voyager Way NW, Suite 102, AL 35806 - 3207
Phone: (256) 850-3855

Summary Details:



elements for improving the precision of optical metrology, e.g., light-wave interferometry, which in
turn has myriad applications in device and materials characterization, studying biological
systems, etc.

Duration: 13

PROPOSAL 23-1- T12.01-1570
NUMBER:

SUBTOPIC TITLE: —Additively Manufactured Electronics for Severe Volume Constrained Applications

PROPOSAL TITLE: — High Reliability Interconnects for Advanced Integrated Circuits in Additive Manufactured
Electronics

Small Business Concern

Firm: Sciperio, Inc.
Address: 12151 Research Parkway, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32826 - 2920



Phone: (217) 333-2187

Principal Investigator:

Name: Dr. Viladyslav Ivanov

E-mail: vivanov@psicorp.com

Address: 20 New England Business Center , MA 01810 - 1077
Phone: (978) 738-2281

Business Official:

Name: Dr. William Marinelli

E-mail: marinelli@psicorp.com

Address: 20 New England Business Center , MA 01810 - 1077
Phone: (978) 738-8226

Summary Details:

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :

Begin: 2
End: 4
Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters):

Quantum Sensors have use in a wide variety of applications including microscopy, positioning
systems, communication technology, electric and magnetic field sensors, as well as geophysical
areas. Significant gains from Quantum Sensors include technologies important for a range of
NASA missions including efficient photon detection, optical clocks, gravimetry, gravitational wave
sensing, ranging, and optical interferometry. Entangled multi-particle states used for precision
measurements provide tools to reach the so-called Heisenberg limit and thus, overcome the
shot-noise limit (fundamental noise limit for classical systems) and hence perform
measurements at a precision unachievable for classical sensors. Quantum photon-number
states, also known as Fock states, are the key ingredient to realizing the most useful entangled
multi-particle states. Furthermore, photon-number states have applications in quantum
communication and quantum information sciences as well. Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and the
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will develop a robust and deterministic source of
photon-number states. The source is based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion inside
a low-loss optical loop — a switchable quantum ‘buffer’ — and will produce quantum photon-
number states on demand at the telecommunications wavelength, thus providing a key resource
for advanced quantum sensors.

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 550 characters):

Exotic quantum states — including squeezed states, entangled states, and photon-number states
— have a range of applications for multiple NASA missions and programmatic needs. For
example, photon-number states are directly relevant for characterizing energy-resolving single-
photon detectors, and as a resource to create optimal states for optical metrology, such as NOON
states. Controllable production of fixed photon numbers in multiple spatial modes is also an
assumed resource for advanced optical quantum processing, e.g., boson sampling.

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 400 characters):

As highlighted by the National Quantum Initiative (NQI), quantum technologies are critical to our
national security and competitiveness. Photon-number states and their derivatives are key



Business Official:

Name: Ashton Colon

E-mail: ashton.colon@lincresearchinc.com
Address: 1000 Meridian St, AL 35801 - 4661
Phone: (256) 536-5157

Summary Details:

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :

Begin: 2
End: 4
Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters):

Early Apollo-era landings indicated a variety of hazards including obstruction of visibility, high-
velocity ejecta, and plume cratering. These problems resulted in damaging the lander itself and
nearby equipment. In order to safely complete landing and launch sequences, lunar landing pad
designs are required to mitigate plume effects, redirect and/or capture exhaust flow, and
dissipate the kinetic energy of debris and ejecta. The Lunar Plume Alleviation Device
(LunarPAD) concept developed by the Lunar PAD team delivered several high-level 3D printed
ISRU pad designs that were able to fulfill the required criteria through high level evaluations,
design iterations and CFD simulations. However, the pad designs themselves had a heavy
reliance on overhang features which current printing technology is unable to complete.

The research proposed in this project is to develop viable construction geometries and
techniques relevant to the overhang areas of the lunar landing pads. Designs will be judged
based on performance in appropriate software analysis. Completing this work addresses the
technology needs identified in the Artemis mission plan and objectives.

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 550 characters):

As NASA looks to explore and settle on the moon and Mars, the utilization of in-situ resources
will be necessary to reduce risk and cost while increasing versatility and potential for growth. A
robust in-situ construction technology is capable of producing a variety of critical infrastructure.
Among the most important pieces of lunar or Martian infrastructure to prioritize first is a landing
and launch pad. The goal of landing and launch pads is to enable repeated land and launch
cycles without damages due to high-speed ejecta.

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 400 characters):

With advanced construction techniques capable of utilizing in-situ resources, government and
commercial organizations are able create affordable housing for low-income families, build
shelters to mitigate homelessness, and repair remote structures. The ability to additively
construct landing pads on-site also enables the creation of emergency landing zones for
humanitarian or military supplies.

Duration: 13

PROPOSAL 23-1- T10.05-1114
NUMBER:

SUBTOPIC TITLE: Integrated Data Uncertainty Management and Representation for Trustworthy and
Trusted Autonomy in Space



be developed for FEMIS to achieve fully automated real-time sorting/mapping of lunar/Martian
regolith resource with minimum maintenance.

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 550 characters):

The particularly superior sensitivity of the LWIR LIBS on carbon and oxygen-rich material
identification will find great applications in water and organic materials signatures detection and
identification in NASA missions.

NASA applications include: In-situ composition analysis in small bodies explorations, Organic
materials and life signatures detection and identification, Resource identification and water-
hydroxyl differentiation, In-situ fabrication and repair feasibility study.

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 400 characters):

In addition to NASA applications, the proposed method and instrument can be used for: chemical
and explosive detection, identification for security/military applications, Qazi-nondestructive
detection/evaluation in manufacturing industry, composition analysis and counterfeit detection in
pharmaceutical products.

Duration: 13

PROPOSAL 23-1- T7.04-1097
NUMBER:

SUBTOPIC TITLE: Lunar Surface Site Preparation

PROPOSAL TITLE: Refuse-to-get-stuck Rovers

Small Business Concern

Firm: Cislune Company
Address: 301 North Almansor Street, Alhambra, CA 91801 - 2622
Phone: (661) 390-1060

Research Institution:

Name: The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees
Address: 70 Washington Square South, FL 32826 - 3231
Phone: (407) 882-1138

Principal Investigator:

Name: Erik Franks



Small Business Concern

Firm: Brimrose Technology Corporation
Address: 19 Loveton Circle, P.O. Box 616, Sparks, MD 21152 - 9201
Phone: (410) 472-2600

Research Institution:

Name: University of Georgia
Address: Administration Building, GA -
Phone: (706) 363-0590

Principal Investigator:

Name: Dr. Clayton Yang Ph.D.

E-mail: cyang@brimrose.com

Address: P.O. Box 616, 19 Loveton Circle, MD 21152 - 9201
Phone: (410) 472-2600

Business Official:

Name: Diane Murray

E-mail: dmurray@brimrosetechnology.com

Address: P.O. Box 616, 19 Loveton Circle, MD 21152 - 9201
Phone: (936) 588-6901

Summary Details:

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :

Begin: 3
End: 4
Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters):

For lunar (expandable to Martian) ISRU applications, a novel small SWaP LIBS suite, Fast
Elemental and Molecular Interrogation Sensor (FEMIS), is designed to provide real-time
identification of geochemical composition of lunar regolith using an innovative elemental +
molecular LIBS technology. Having rapid and intense signal responses, obviating the need to
physically touch the surface in order to collect a sample for analysis, and affected very little by
the surface shape, roughness, and composition irregularity, this proposed FEMIS instrument will
be an integrated system with a small SWaP UV/Visible/NIR + LWIR LIBS laser detector suite to
collect the broadband (both UV-Visible-NIR and long-wave IR) signals from the operational
surface. FEMIS offers real-time identifications of elemental abundances, REEs, and regolith
mineral/chemical composition within seconds without the need of preparing the abrasive
lunar/Martian regolith samples. Spectral data processing algorithms and prediction models will



Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :

Begin: 2
End: 3
Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters):

Design of reentry vehicles is driven by aeroheating concerns at elevated flow enthalpies. As
such, accurate simulation of hypersonic flow phenomena such as detached bow shocks is of
critical importance for reducing conservatism in design and unlocking improved performance.
Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) is an enabling technology to efficiently reduce numerical error
in hypersonic reacting flow simulations by providing mesh resolution only where it is needed,
based on flow phenomena or an engineering quantity of interest. ATA Engineering, Inc.,
proposes to develop, in collaboration with Mississippi State University, a toolset for Hypersonic
Anisotropic Adaptive Mesh Refinement (HAAMR). HAAMR will offer anisotropic AMR, the
efficiency of which improves as the square of anisotropy when compared to an isotropic
approach. Furthermore, its metric-based adaptation will align the mesh faces to the underlying
metric field. This approach will align the adapted mesh to a hypersonic bow shock, greatly
reducing the numerical error associated with prediction of key figures of merit such as surface
heat flux in unstructured grids.

In addition to the HAAMR framework, the team will make improvements to the analysis workflow
components. The metric-based anisotropic adaptation algorithms within the Advancing-
Front/Local-Reconnection (AFLR) suite of meshing tools will be enhanced to enable higher-
quality 3D grids, and robust numerical methods for gradient calculations will be implemented into
the Loci/CHEM computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver, enabling stable simulation on highly
anisotropic adapted meshes. The team will leverage several decades of experience developing
the underpinning CFD algorithms and AMR approaches. Phase | will conclude with a quantitative
assessment of the value added by the envisioned toolset: comparisons of time to solution and
accuracy for a reentry heatshield problem will be made using HAAMR, current AMR approaches,
and legacy NASA tools.

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 550 characters):

HAAMR will address a critical NASA bottleneck—mesh generation and adaption—across all
atmospheric entry missions, such as high-speed crew return, high-mass Mars landers, and
Venus and gas/ice giant probes. The unstructured AMR capability, targeted for hypersonic
reacting flow solvers, will focus on the well-known spurious heat flux prediction problem intrinsic
to steady-state simulation of hypersonic bow shocks, with modular design for future
enhancements like unsteady flow.

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 400 characters):

Potential applications of HAAMR include improving the workflow for analysis and optimization of
DoD and prime contractor hypersonic vehicles. The toolset could also prove useful to industry
developing future supersonic and hypersonic commercial transport aircraft. Aside from
hypersonics, any commercial CFD analysis could benefit from a more efficient mesh adaptation
process.

Duration: 13

PROPOSAL 23-1- T14.01-1133
NUMBER:

SUBTOPIC TITLE: Advanced Concepts for Lunar and Martian Propellant Production, Storage, and Usage

PROPOSAL TITLE: Fast Elemental and Molecular Interrogation Sensor (FEMIS) for In-Situ Lunar and
Martian Resource Utilization