SBIR 

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION

RESEARCH PROGRAM

PHASE I and PHASE II 

AWARDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology

Department of Commerce
INTRODUCTION

Abstracts of Awards for Fiscal Year 2018 SBIR Program

Note: Certain non-ASCII characters may not be represented accurately in this 

document. In cases where there may be doubt, please direct your questions 

to sbir@nist.gov. 
Fiscal Year 2018 List of Awardees

Award Number Company Name Open Topics/Topic Areas Phase 

70NANB18H190 Advanced Silicon Group Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Measurements Phase I

70NANB18H185 Alphacore, Inc. Exploratory Measurement Science Phase I

70NANB18H187 Applied NanoFluorescence, LLC Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Measurements Phase I

70NANB18H184 CyberPoint International, LLC Cybersecurity and Privacy Phase I

70NANB18H189 H3D, Inc. Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Measurements Phase I

70NANB18H173 InfoBeyond Technology, LLC Cybersecurity and Privacy Phase I

70NANB18H172 Nikira Labs, Inc. Exploratory Measurement Science Phase I

70NANB18H183 OG Technologies Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Measurements Phase I

70NANB18H186 Pollere, Inc. Advanced Communications, Network, and Scientific Data Systems Phase I

70NANB18H188 Senvol, LLC Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Measurements Phase I

70NANB18H178 Steve Winter Associates, Inc. Physical Infrastructure and Resilience Phase I

70NANB18H176 Cadre Research Labs, LLC Systems Phase II

70NANB18H179 ColdQuanta, Inc. Precision Measurements Phase II

70NANB18H182 En’Urga, Inc. Collaboration and Partnership Phase II

70NANB18H175 Low Thermal Electronics, Inc. Precision Measurements Phase II

70NANB18H181 MBSE Tools, Inc. Data and Modeling Phase II

70NANB18H171 MetroSage, LLC Data and Modeling Phase II

70NANB18H170 Nikira Labs, Inc. Systems Phase II

70NANB18H169 Smart Information Flow Technologies (SIFT), LLC Systems Phase II

70NANB18H174 Tetramer Technologies, LLC Precision Measurements Phase II

70NANB18H180 XpressRules, LLC Systems Phase II

 
FY 2018 PHASE I AWARD

Topic: Advanced Manufacturing and Material Measurements

Subtopic: Biomanufacturing

Title: Measuring the Concentration of Host-cell Proteins in Biomanufacturing Using 

Silicon Nanowire Array Sensors

OU: Material Measurement Laboratory

Firm: Advanced Silicon Group

173 Bedford Rd.

Lincoln, MA 01773

Principal Investigator: Marcie Black

Phone: (954) 471-1357

Email: marcie@advancedsilicongroup.com

Award Amount: $100,000

Abstract: Advanced Silicon Group’s innovation is a low cost, sensitive, quantitative 

biosensor that can detect many biomarkers on the same chip. The sensor consists of 

vertically aligned silicon nanowires. The silicon nanowires’ high surface area to volume 

ratio makes them sensitive to the environment around them and can thus lead to high 

sensitivity detection. Each of the nanowires can be functionalized to be sensitive to 

either specific DNA or proteins. For Phase 1 of this SBIR, Advanced

Silicon Group will apply their already demonstrated biosensor to monitoring HCPs in 

biomanufacturing. In particular, they will functionalize their silicon nanowires to be 

sensitive to Escherichia coli (E. coli) HCPs. As a first step they will measure a 

conglomerate of HCPs that are present in potential product, but eventually will separate 

the antibodies and measure each protein in a separate sub-sensor.

Commercial Applications: The sensor will measure the concentration of host cell 

proteins rapidly and with minimal hands-on time and do so at a low cost. The sensor will 

allow manufacturers to test at multiple points in their manufacturing process (inline 

utility) and to focus on reducing harmful HCPs by modifying the manufacturing process 

or improving the purification process. The improved manufacturing of 

biopharmaceuticals as a result of a rapid quantifiable measurement of HCPs in the 

manufacturing process will result in safer therapies for patients.

Topic: Exploratory Measurement Science
Subtopic: Intermediate Frequency Conversion System for High-Bandwidth Multiplexed 

Sensors Arrays

Title: IF Conversion System for High-Bandwidth Multiplexed Sensors Arrays

OU: Physical Measurement Laboratory

Firm: Alphacore, Inc.

398 South Mill Ave.

Tempe, AZ 85281

Principal Investigator: Esko Mikkola

Phone: (520) 647-4445

Email: esko.mikkola@alphacoreinc.com

Award Amount: $99,942

Abstract: Alphacore will develop an Intermediate Frequency (IF) Conversion System 

for High-Bandwidth Multiplexed Sensors Arrays. Alphcore has already successfully 

developed and evaluated a similar printed-circuit board (PCB)-based system for NIST 

(ROACH2 BLAST-TNG, refer section 1.2). The goal in Phase I is therefore to achieve 

two primary main objectives: 1) Optimize a system architecture for a single-board 

Intermediate Frequency Conversion System 2) Design, fabricate and test the individual 

components that comprise the Intermediate Frequency Conversion System. The final 

single-board design will be evaluated and optimized in the Phase II program.

Commercial Applications: Readout systems for MKID arrays developed by NIST for 

homeland security, medical imaging, radio telescopy, nuclear non-proliferation detection 

systems. 

Topic: Advanced Manufacturing and Material Measurements

Subtopic: Measuring Handedness by Fluorescence

Title: Multimode Chiroptical Spectrometer for Nanoparticle Characterization

OU: Material Measurement Laboratory

Firm: Applied NanoFluorescence, LLC

3701 Kirby Drive

Houston, TX 77098

Principal Investigator: Tonya Cherukuri

Phone: (713) 521-1450

Email: kc@appliednano.com
Award Amount: $99,970

Abstract: This project will develop a new scientific instrument optimized for the 

advanced characterization of near-infrared fluorescent nanoparticles that can exist as 

left- or right-handed structures (enantiomers). Single-walled carbon nanotubes 

(SWCNTs) are currently the leading example of such nanomaterials. Applied 

NanoFluorescence, LLC (ANF) proposes a novel multi-mode chiroptical spectrometer 

that can distinguish left and right enantiomers through their differing interactions with 

circularly polarized light. The instrument will offer four complementary measurement 

modes. These modes are (1) fluorescence-detected circular dichroism (FDCD) spectra 

with visible excitation (400-700 nm) and near-infrared emission (900-1600 nm); (2) rapid 

excitation-emission fluorimetry covering the same visible excitation and near-infrared 

emission ranges; (3) direct near infrared circular dichroism absorption spectra; and (4) 

normal near-infrared absorption spectra. Unlike existing FDCD instruments, mode (1) 

will offer spectral selection of the emission wavelength, thus allowing structure specific 

measurements of CD spectra in unsorted SWCNT samples. Mode (2) will measure full 

excitation-emission maps with peak signal-to-noise ratios above 100 in less than 2 

minutes. All four measurement modes will be performed under computer control. The 

combined results will offer powerful analyses of complex nanoparticle samples and their 

coatings, guiding production, processing, and application development.

Commercial Applications: Nanomaterials have substantial potential for electronic and 

biomedical applications. Controlling enantiomeric content of these nanomaterials may 

be critical in pharmaceutical applications, where molecular handedness is known to 

have dramatic biological effects. However, there are currently inadequate analytical 

tools for distinguishing handedness of nanoparticles. The project will develop a novel 

instrument to address this unmet need. It will enable fast, sensitive, and quantitative 

analysis of complex nanoparticle samples, including their handedness. The outcome of 

this project (following Phase II) will be a new type of commercial instrument to support 

nanoparticle separation and quality control in manufacturing.

Topic: Cybersecurity and Privacy

Subtopic: Digital Forensics

Title: TheSieve

OU: Information Technology Laboratory

Firm: CyberPoint International, LLC

621 E. Pratt St.

Baltimore, MD 21202
Principal Investigator: Mark McLarnon

Phone: (410) 779-6700

Email: mmclarnon@cyberpointllc.com

Award Amount: $81740.49

Abstract: CyberPoint will create an advanced forensic analysis tool called TheSieve. 

This tool will use machine learning techniques that can classify files as malicious or 

benign as well as suggesting files for closer inspection. Built upon custom 

enhancements to the National Software Reference Library (NSRL), TheSieve will allow 

forensic investigators to spend their valuable time examining the most significant files. 

An important application of data repositories, like those in the NSRL, is a system that 

associates NSRL hash values with additional information derived through static and 

dynamic analysis. Phase I will yield a prototype web service and application delivered 

with integrations into at least one forensic analysis software package. TheSieve will be 

used in a controlled case study to determine if searching and provided suggestions can 

reduce the amount of time spent identifying files. Time permitting, the prototype will 

improve file suggestions using machine learning. TheSieve will not replace endpoint 

detection and response products (EDR), instead it will augment them by applying Big 

Data analysis techniques. Finally, CyberPoint will develop a process by which TheSieve 

database can be improved with an analyst feedback loop to enhance previously seen 

queries.

Commercial Applications: TheSieve has commercial benefit for forensic analysts as a 

web service or REST API that can be queried through an integration script or tool. 

CyberPoint envisions a freemium model where users can perform a set number of basic 

queries and subscribers can use an access token or key to perform more advanced 

analysis queries. This website will be designed to function offline for parties where 

analysis is performed on air-gapped networks. TheSieve will provide client API 

examples for scripting languages (e.g. Python) for simplicity.

Topic: Advanced Manufacturing and Material Measurements

Subtopic: Compton Scattering Tomography System with Sub-keV Energy Resolution 

for Gamma Ray Energy at 1-10 MeV Range

Title: Dual Plane 3D Compton Scattering Imager with Pixelated CZT Detectors for 1-

10MeV Gamma Ray

OU: Material Measurement Laboratory
Firm: H3D, Inc.

812 Avis Dr.

Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Principal Investigator: Hao Yang

Phone: (734) 661-6416

Email: hao@h3dgamma.com

Award Amount: $100,000

Abstract: A dual plane Compton imager prototype system with large volume pixelated 

CZT detectors will be built for spectrally resolved MeV gamma ray tomographic 

applications. These two planes will be operated at independent clocks and they will be 

synchronized via a common periodical pulse. The common periodical pulse is selfgenerated so it does not rely on external pulse generator. Each detector will be coupled 

with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC will convert the gamma 

ray energy detected by the CZT detectors to a voltage signal. An in-house developed 

readout and processing electronics will translate the voltage signal to corresponding 

location and energy deposition information of each gamma ray interaction. This 

information will be used by 3D Compton imaging reconstruction algorithm to create a 3D 

map of the material of interest inside the under-test object. In order to achieve the best 

imaging performance for this application, various detector position configurations and 

reconstruction algorithms will be evaluated. The final prototype system with optimal 

reconstruction algorithm will be tested by resolving phantoms with different hydrogen 

mass concentration.

Commercial Applications: Prompt gamma activation analysis has been used both in 

industrial application and medical applications. H3D’s CZT detector technology 

inherently provides better energy resolution so the material analysis industries and nondestructive testing industries may use H3D’S technology to enhance their capability of 

resolving gamma ray emissions from various elements. Prompt gamma activation 

analysis has also been adopted in the medical application, such as the proton beam 

range verification in proton therapy. The CZT detector technology will provide high 

resolution energy and position information of the MeV gamma rays to calculate the 

proton beam range in-vivo. 

Topic: Cybersecurity and Privacy

Subtopic: Leveraging Cyber Security Framework to Identify the SP 800 53 Security 

and Privacy Controls for Cloud-based Information Systems

Title: Leveraging Cyber Security Framework to Identify the SP 800 53 Security and 

Privacy Controls for Cloud‐based Information Systems
OU: Information Technology Laboratory

Firm: InfoBeyond Technology, LLC

320 Whittington Pkwy.

Louisville, KY 40222

Principal Investigator: Bin Xie

Phone: (502) 371-0907

Email: Bin.Xie@InfoBeyondtech.com

Award Amount: $99,999.65

Abstract: NIST developed information system risk management and guidelines that 

assist agencies in implementing integrated, organization‐wide programs to manage 

information security risk. However, further improvement and implementation of new 

functions are needed such that it can be commercialized as an enterprise tool. In this 

project, InfoBeyond advocates the development of a user‐friendly, efficient, reliable, and 

generic tool. InfoBeyond Technology’s tool: (i) an Enterprise CSAT standalone version 

(Phase I), and (ii) a cloud version (Phase II). Specifically, the tool overcomes the NIST’s 

tool limitations such as failing FIPS policy due to outdated MS internal configuration, 

insecure software architecture, requiring MS Excel for report generation and database 

repopulation, and running single operating platform. Further, the tool implements new 

features, such as additional SP 800 series data for risk management, technical user 

credential management service, and built‐in database editor. All these improvements or 

new features facilitate government agencies’ adoption of secure cloud solution 

effectively through friendly GUI. For efficiency, the tool is implemented in an MVC 

software framework to achieve enterprise‐level runtime performance with scalability for 

many users.

Commercial Applications: InfoBeyond’s tool falls in the cloud security market which 

has grown by more than 19.29% yearly. The tool offers the value propositions to 

enhance and facilitate Federal and local government agencies’ adoption of secure cloud 

solution in order to meet the FISMA requirements. This protects the information in the 

clouds or information systems to ensure that these systems operate securely and 

reliably. In addition to the market of the government agencies, the tool can be used for 

enterprises to achieve NIST‐graded privacy and security protection in their information 

systems, e.g., Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), Healthcare, 

Pharmaceutical, and Chemical, etc.

Topic: Exploratory Measurement Science

Subtopic: In-line Spectral Filtering for Integrated Raman Fiber Optic Probes
Title: Compact Raman Fiber Optic Probe with Inline Spectral Filtering

OU: Material Measurement Laboratory

Firm: Nikira Labs, Inc.

1931 Old Middlefield Way

Mountain View, CA 94043

Principal Investigator: Manish Gupta

Phone: (650) 906-0274

Email: manish.gupta@nikiralabs.com

Award Amount: $99,962

Abstract: In this SBIR effort, Nikira Labs Inc. will develop a compact Raman fiber optic 

probe with inline spectral filtering that improves fiber-coupled Raman measurements by 

filtering out Raman scattering from the excitation fiber and elastically scattered laser 

light from the collection fibers. The technology will enable compact fiber probes for 

Raman studies and complement existing NIST Raman spectroscopy efforts including 

tissue studies and broadband coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering. In Phase I, Nikira 

Labs will demonstrate technical feasibility by fabricating a set of Raman probes that 

include a central excitation fiber surrounded by collection fibers. A custom, dielectric 

coating will be deposited on the face of the excitation fiber to serve as a bandpass filter 

and remove wavelengths generated by inelastic Raman scattering within the fiber. 

Likewise, dielectric coatings will be deposited on the collection fiber faces to reject 

elastically scattered laser light and only pass Raman signal. The fibers will be integrated 

into a probe assembly and extensively tested on Raman standards, highly scattering 

compounds, and a phantom tissue sample. Finally, the Phase I results will be used to 

design a Phase II system.

Commercial Applications: In Phase III, Nikira Labs Inc. will commercialize the Raman 

fiber optic probes for numerous markets including research and development 

laboratories, in vivo medical procedures, and non-invasive blood glucose monitoring. A 

preliminary market estimate suggests 5-year global revenues of $2.2 – $7.7M and $8M 

for the former two market segments alone. Moreover, these attractive markets are 

expected to continue to grow, with the in vivo market having a predicted compound 

annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3 % through 2022. Contingent upon the SBIR funding, 

Nikira Labs Inc. is poised to take advantage of this growth.

Topic: Advanced Manufacturing and Material Measurements

Subtopic: Smart Visualization for Smart Manufacturing
Title: Manufacturing Data Compiler for Visualization Based on Engineering-Driven 

Machine Learning

OU: Engineering Laboratory

Firm: OG Technologies

4480 Varsity Dr.

Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Principal Investigator: Tzyy-Shuh Chang

Phone: (734) 973‐7500

Email: chang@ogtechnologies.com

Award Amount: $100,000

Abstract: There has been substantial development in data analytics. However, the 

complex mathematical formulation of “big data analytics” is difficult to populate in 

general manufacturing plants. There is a need for an SPC-like tool to enable the 

acceptance of the advanced data analytics and its visualization. The MD Compiler, a 

tool to bridge the gap between data available and the information demanded by the 

users, is proposed. It will employ a hierarchical approach along with machine learning to 

complement the knowledge of the process so that the manufacturing data streams 

generate the informative process indexes that can be formulated quickly and presented 

to the operators for the illustration of the intended process attribute(s) and/or causal 

relations. The innovation of this SBIR project consists of the integration of the industrial 

process/product states into the data pipeline and applying unsupervised machine 

learning to automate the “mapping” processes in the analytics along with the concept of 

process snapshots. The MD Compiler, once developed, is expected to be a software 

package with functional modules that can take in the source data and automatically 

compile the data into informative process indexes for presentation with computing and 

data acquisition hardware support.

Commercial Applications: The intended SBIR product is targeting those users with 

complex enough manufacturing processes but lack of resources to employ a team of 

data experts. There is still a substantial room to improve in process efficiency, from a 

garage-sized shop making diamond pad conditioners for CMP to as large as a steel mill. 

The advancement of data analytics and visualization could make a major contribution as 

there is still a huge room to Theoretical Optimal Practices for the manufacturers. The 

potential customer base for the MDC product is in the order of tens of thousands of 

plants.

Topic: Advanced Communications, Networks, and Scientific Data Systems
Subtopic: Secure and Distributed Network Measurement

Title: Secure Role-Based System for Distributed Network Measurement

OU: Information Technology Laboratory

Firm: Pollere, Inc.

1213 Alamo St.

Montara, CA 94037

Principal Investigator: Kathleen Nichols

Phone: (650) 529-0231

Email: nichols@pollere.net

Award Amount: $99,697

Abstract: Network measurement is a critical element in networks but it has largely been 

an afterthought and inadequately secured. With the emergence of Information-Centric 

Networking technologies, specifically the popular open source Named-Data Networking 

(NDN), there is the early stage opportunity to create a useful and flexible network 

measurement system that can accommodate a range of network probes. This project’s 

objective is development of a prototype distributed Network Measurement System 

(NMS) that leverages the NDN architecture to ensure privacy of data and role-based 

authorization of entities in the NMS. The NMS can be deployed in devices with an NDN 

Forwarding Daemon (NFD) within an all-NDN network or as an overlay measurement 

system in an IP network. NDN-specific performance probes will be developed.

Commercial Applications: Whether the future of the Internet is Information-Centric 

Networking or not, ICN is already making an impact in specialized areas, particularly 

Internet of Things, which is projected by Forbes to grow to $8.9T in 2020, and in 

government networking where it is at the heart of new DARPA program. Network 

measurement has proven to be critical in networking as a way to prevent and quickly 

recover from costly downtime. Development of a flexible network measurement system 

for ICN can be used by companies deploying ICN and is expected to bring consulting 

revenue to Pollere in its application and development of new probes.

Topic: Advanced Manufacturing and Material Measurements

Subtopic: Continuous Learning for Additive Manufacturing Processes Through 

Advanced Data Analytics

Title: Continuous Learning for Additive Manufacturing Processes Through Advanced 

Data Analytics
OU: Engineering Laboratory

Firm: Senvol, LLC

335 Madison Ave.

New York, NY 10017

Principal Investigator: Annie Wang

Phone: (267) 241-1119

Email: annie.wang@senvol.com

Award Amount: $99,946

Abstract: Additive manufacturing (AM) is a promising manufacturing technique for enduse parts that can solve challenges for American manufacturers in many industries, e.g. 

aerospace, defense, automotive, energy, and healthcare. However, despite the 

potential that AM offers, the rate of AM adoption in industry is very slow. This is 

because AM suffers from low repeatability and quality consistency issues, which lead to 

high cost and time requirements in AM qualification. Conventional manufacturing is 

mature enough such that there are commercially available engineering software and 

data analytics tools (e.g. injection molding simulation, casting simulation, finite element 

analysis) that elucidate Parameter-Structure-Property (PSP) relationships. 

Unfortunately, in the AM industry, these engineering software tools are barely nascent 

and not fully validated for AM, and appropriate data analytics tools for understanding 

PSP relationships do not exist. Furthermore, the database schema that holds and 

structures the data upon which AM engineering software tools draw is not standardized 

for AM data. Senvol will develop a robust AM data schema that will be able to structure 

multiple types of AM data, including in-situ monitoring data, microstructure data and 

non-destructive testing (NDT) data; and to further develop a data analytics software tool 

that will analyze AM’s PSP relationships.

Commercial Applications: Senvol’s revised AM data schema and AM data analytics 

tools will help American manufacturers increase their rate of adoption of AM, and thus 

improve their global competitiveness. Manufacturers will be able to leverage the 

updated schema to structure their AM data, which, in turn, will make it easier for them to 

analyze the AM data that they have already collected. Manufacturers will be able to use 

Senvol’s data analytics tool to quantify AM PSP relationships. Overall, the work being 

done in this project will help American manufacturers increase the speed of and 

improve the effectiveness of their AM qualification efforts.

Topic: Physical Infrastructure and Resilience

Subtopic: Self Configuring Residential Conditioned Air Zoning System for Low Energy 

Homes
Title: Self-Configuring Residential Conditioned Air Zoning System for Low Energy 

Homes

OU: Engineering Laboratory

Firm: Steve Winter Associates, Inc.

61 Washington Street

Norwalk, CT 06854

Principal Investigator: Srikanth Puttagunta

Phone: (203) 857-0200

Email: sputtagunta@swinter.com

Award Amount: $97,883

Abstract: Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA) will undertake research to develop a 

self-configuring residential conditioned air zoning system for low load energy homes. 

The Phase I prototype will feature zone nodes and a master controller. The zone nodes 

will measure and wirelessly report environmental conditions to the central controller, 

and modulate a damper based on commands received from the master controller. The 

master controller will be capable of receiving information from the zone nodes, 

interpreting said information via on board logic and control loops, wirelessly issuing 

commands to individual zone nodes, and interfacing with an installed HVAC system. 

The master controller will feature a graphical user interface which will provide the user 

with a visual representation of zone node sensor readings. The master controller will 

also feature a commissioning and installation feature which will allow the installer to 

name zones and configure system settings per ACCA Manual J room-by-room 

calculations.

Commercial Applications: The need for HVAC comfort solutions is evidenced in the 

popularity in smart thermostats (7 million smart thermostats out of 29 million 

thermostats sold worldwide in 2016). Still, these don’t get to the main issue of improper 

air flows that is being addressed under this research effort. While SWA is not a 

manufacturer, they would seek partnerships with their connections in the HVAC 

industry. To get the desired scale for launching such a product, the best approach is to 

sell the product thru existing HVAC sales channels (rather than a consumer approach of 

online sales and DIY).
FY 2018 PHASE II AWARD

Topic: Systems 

Subtopic: An Automated System for Firearm Evidence Identifications

Title: Development, Validation, and Implementation of CMC Algorithm into a Software 

Platform for Firearm Analysis

OU: Laboratory Programs

Firm: Cadre Research Labs, LLC

363 W Erie St.

Chicago, IL 60654

Principal Investigator: Ryan Lilien

Phone: (508) 443-1275

Email: Ryan.Lilien@CadreResearch.com

Award Amount: $299,400

Abstract: The research involves implementation of a comparison algorithm for firearm 

forensics. The Congruent Matching Cells (CMC) algorithm and its associated CMF, 

CMPS, and CMX methods have been developed by NIST yet do not appear in any 

commercially available software. Cadre Research Labs will implement the algorithms in 

the C++ programming language, will validate their performance, will develop similarity 

visualization modes, and will develop a statistical scoring model. Across all aims they 

will evaluate performance using what is to their knowledge the largest set of 3D surface 

topography data of firearms evidence. The result of this Phase II work will be a great 

enhancement of the TopMatch software which implements import, visualization, 

masking, database, and search functionality. Most importantly the TopMatch software is 

already deployed and in use at a number of crime labs. Therefore, the NIST methods 

would get immediate distribution. Overall, Cadre Research will advance the NIST 

developed CMC-Family of methods with real world testing and will incorporate these 

methods into TopMatch, a fully functional software application that has already been 

deployed to crime labs.

Commercial Applications: The research involves implementation of several 

comparison algorithms for firearm forensics. These methods have been developed by 

NIST yet they do not appear in any commercially available software. The methods 

facilitate forensic examination and allow connections to be made between criminal 

cases. Cadre Research Labs will implement and validate these methods as well as 

develop a statistical scoring model. They will incorporate the methods into their already 

commercially available software for firearm analysis. Their software implements import, 
visualization, masking, database, and search functionality. Therefore, the NIST methods 

will join a fully functional software application and will be ready for commercialization.

Topic: Precision Measurements

Subtopic: Atomic Vapor Cell Technology for Electric-Field Metrology

Title: Compact Vapor Cell Technology for Rydberg‐Atom RF Metrology

OU: Communications Technology Laboratory

Firm: ColdQuanta, Inc.

3030 Sterling Cir.

Boulder, CO 80301

Principal Investigator: Steven Hughes

Phone: (303) 440-1284

Email: steven.hughes@coldquanta.com

Award Amount: $300,000

Abstract: ColdQuanta seeks to develop compact, stemless vapor cells designed 

specifically for high-accuracy RF electric field (E-field) metrology with Rydberg atoms. 

Sensors utilizing these vapor cells can take advantage of Rydberg atoms’ exceptional 

sensitivity to RF, microwave, and millimeter radiation between 1 and 1000 GHz. 

Featuring resolutions down to the uV/cm level, the accuracy of these devices will be at 

least ten times better than existing technologies (e.g. dipole probes). In addition, these 

sensors will be self-calibrating, allowing their accuracy to be attained in the field without 

relative standards or external calibration sources.

In Phase II, ColdQuanta will construct stemless, all-glass vapor cells that minimize 

perturbations in electric fields. ColdQuanta will construct the cells using contact 

bonding, removing the need for stems left from glass blowing. The cells are designed to 

be capable of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), and to achieve 40% 

absorption at room temperature. Additionally, the cells will undergo a detailed 3D 

simulation to determine the effect of the cell on external E-fields. ColdQuanta will also 

design a fiber-coupled system that incorporates the compact vapor cells.

Commercial Applications: RF electrometry with Rydberg atoms offers the potential of 

superior resolution, bandwidth, and accuracy to all current technologies. However, 

these precision measurements are often limited by the quality of the vapor cell. The 

unique, optically contacted vapor cells developed in this work are designed to reduce 

measurement uncertainties, allowing Rydberg-atom based E-field sensors to realize 
their full capabilities. In this way, Rydberg-atom based E-field sensors threaten to 

replace antennas as the leading commercial E-field sensor technology.

Topic: Collaboration and Partnership

Subtopic: NIST Technology Transfer

Title: Optical Device for Sorting Particles by Size

OU: Innovation and Industry Services

Firm: En’Urga, Inc.

1201 Cumberland Avenue

West Lafayette, IN 47906

Principal Investigator: Yudaya Sivathanu

Phone: (765) 497-3269

Email: sivathan@enurga.com

Award Amount: $300,000

Abstract: This Phase II SBIR project will continue the development of an optical sorter 

that will be used to estimate drop sizes in sprays. The optical sorter will determine the 

size of drops in the 0.1 to 10 microns range. Drops in this size range are prevalent in 

the automobile industry, where the fuel injection pressures have increased 

tremendously over the past two decades. These newer injectors provide higher fuel 

efficiency and lower pollutant emissions. However, their continued development is 

hampered by the lack of a drop sizer to validate numerical models of the spray 

generation.

The feasibility of estimating drop sizes using the optical sorter was demonstrated during 

the Phase I project. The primary objective of the Phase II work is to develop a prototype 

drop sizer for the automotive industry. The four tasks that are required to achieve this 

objective are: 1) determine the optimal configuration for the optical sorter, 2) design and 

fabricate a drop sizing instrument based on the optimal configuration, 3) develop a 

Graphical User Interface for the prototype instrument, and 4) evaluate the prototype 

system under laboratory conditions. The prototype system will be provided to NIST after 

the validation is complete.

Commercial Applications: The primary commercial application for the drop sizer is in 

the quality audit of spray nozzles and fuel injectors used in automotive and aerospace 

applications. Conventional diffraction based drop sizers and phase Doppler 

anemometers cannot provide accurate drop size estimates in sprays that have very 
small drops. Many of the newer fuel injectors and spray nozzles are producing very 

small drops since they increase the fuel mixing and efficiency of the engines. The sizer 

will enable injector and nozzle manufacturers to evaluate the drop size distribution in 

their very fine sprays ensuring rapid commercialization.

Topic: Precision Measurements

Subtopic: Precision 10 kV Programmable Voltage Source

Title: Precision 10 kV Programmable Voltage Source

OU: Physical Measurement Laboratory

Firm: Low Thermal Electronics, Inc.

PO Box 210

Itasca, TX 76055

Principal Investigator: David Fitzgerald

Phone: (254) 687-9700

Email: dave@lowthermal.com

Award Amount: $298,499

Abstract: Low Thermal Electronics, Inc. will design a stand-alone, programmable 

voltage source capable of supplying precision voltages in the range of zero to 1,000 

volts direct current (DC), with options for scaling up to 10,000 volts, and with a total 

expanded uncertainty (k=2) of less than 10uV/V for the 10,000 volts version. This 

instrument will improve state-of-the-art measurements in high resistance, high voltage, 

and potentially other research and metrology applications that require precision voltages 

between 1,000 and 10,000 volts. It will also provide improved performance and cost 

savings when compared to currently available commercial multi-function calibrators in 

the range of zero to 1,000 volts DC.

Commercial Applications: A stand-alone, programmable 1,000 volt DC voltage source 

with uncertainties in the single digit ppm range is not commercially available today. A 

stand-alone, programmable 10,000 volt source of sufficiently low uncertainty to advance 

state-of-the-art measurement is also not commercially available. A cost effective, single 

instrument that can satisfy both of these requirements is needed to improve 

measurements and high voltage sourcing in the areas of precision high voltage and high 

resistance measurements. Low Thermal Electronics intends to manufacture a 

commercially available instrument in the United States that satisfies these requirements.
Topic: Data and Modeling

Subtopic: Modeling and Simulation Analysis for Manufacturing Systems

Title: Developing Model-Based Tools for the Design and Improvement of Manufacturing 

Systems 

OU: Engineering Laboratory

Firm: MBSE Tools, Inc.

5120 Oakwood Circle

Cumming, GA 30028

Principal Investigator: George Thiers

Phone: (770) 312-7812

Email: george.thiers@modgeno.com

Award Amount: $300,000

Abstract: The vision is to create enterprise-grade software tools supporting the design 

and improvement of manufacturing systems, tools that can provide answers to 

fundamental business questions about product selection, resource planning, 

scheduling, and logistical control – quickly, accurately, and with adequate consideration 

of risk. Objectives accomplished in Phase I included adding formality and rigor to a 

widely-adopted manufacturing system modeling language, delineating scope and 

boundary limitations for language extensions, and demonstrating automated formulation 

of computational analysis to answer routine questions about expected cycle time, 

throughput, capacity, and inventory levels. Phase II objectives include maturing 

behavioral and control definitions in reference models, integrating SysML-language 

reference models with software implementations, formalizing system – analysis 

integration, and extending the manufacturing system modeling language to express 

components of resource planning and scheduling problems. At the conclusion of the 

work MBSE Tools will have a software tool that can demonstrate to potential customers 

and test within their production environments.

Commercial Applications: Potential commercial applications include solving concrete 

problems that arise in the design, diagnosis, and continuous improvement of 

manufacturing systems. In the initial target market, the problem is poor tool support for 

answering questions about resource usage, including sequencing order releases to the 

manufacturing floor, calendar-scheduling those releases, when and how to dynamically 

re-sequence (e.g. expedite), dynamic decisions about movement and storage, and 

other logistical-control questions. These types of questions cannot be quickly and 

accurately answered today, and consequences include a barely controlled chaos 

induced by order expediting, the inflexibility of long lead times, and poor on-time 

customer deliveries.
Topic: Data and Modeling

Subtopic: Interactive Software Tools for Processing QIF-formatted Part Models to 

Generate Realistic and Accurate Measurement Plans and Programs in Standard Digital 

Languages

Title: Interactive Software Tools for Processing QIF Formatted Part Models to Generate 

Realistic and Accurate Measurement Plans and Programs in Standard Digital 

Languages

OU: Engineering Laboratory

Firm: MetroSage, LLC

26896 Shake Ridge Road

Volcano, CA 95689

Principal Investigator: Jon Baldwin

Phone: (415) 336-2244

Email: jmbaldwin@metrosage.com

Award Amount: $300,000

Abstract: The QIF standard shows the promise of offering an environment where bestin-class metrology applications can be linked to yield solutions that are automated, 

optimized, adaptive, and traceable, maintaining the agility required to ensure U. S. 

global competitiveness. While the QIF standard has reached a substantial level of 

comprehensiveness and maturity, the embodiment of the standard in actual, 

commercial-grade software applications remains in its beginning stage because many 

developers of metrology applications software are waiting to see whether the QIF 

standard is sufficiently mature to warrant adoption. MetroSage will demonstrate QIF 

maturity and to facilitate future development of commercial applications of QIF by 

means of a three-faceted program: (1) Development and commercialization of a QIFbased software application that will enable the automated generation of optimized CMM 

inspection plans and programs. (2) Development and dissemination to the user and 

developer communities of free, open source tools for QIF instance file generation and 

maintenance. (3) Production of a report of recommendation of extension of the QIF 

Rules schema in future editions.

Commercial Applications: The project will find valuable commercial application in the 

manufacturing industries primarily by promoting the application of the QIF standard to 

provide a means for automated production of known-good, economically optimum 

measurement plans for CMM based measurement, thereby improving the profitability 

and competitive posture of U.S. manufacturing companies. Additionally, it will promote 

the further use and development of QIF-based software tools by providing end users 
and developers with a suite of free, open source tools for creating, maintaining and 

validation of QIF instance files.

Topic: Systems 

Subtopic: High Speed Large Field-of-View Optical Microscope

Title: Large Field of View Microscope for Rapid, High- Resolution Imaging

OU: Information Technology Laboratory

Firm: Nikira Labs, Inc.

1931 Old Middlefield Way

Mountain View, CA 94043

Principal Investigator: Manish Gupta

Phone: (650) 906-0274

Email: manish.gupta@nikiralabs.com

Award Amount: $299,424

Abstract: In this SBIR effort, Nikira Labs Inc. will develop a high-resolution (< 1.2 

micron) microscope that can rapidly (< 60 seconds) image a large field of view (> 1 

cm2). The instrument will provide a wide array of imaging modalities, including 

brightfield, darkfield, fluorescence, quantitative phase, and Rheinberg imaging. In Phase 

II, Nikira Labs will fabricate and test a turnkey microscope system that provides all the 

aforementioned imaging modalities. The system will include the hardware (microscope, 

incubator, motorized XY stage...), electronics (LED array, LED driver, computing...), 

and software (data control/acquisition/analysis/reporting and user-interface) necessary 

to take periodic images of live cell cultures. It will enable researchers to scan 12 well 

plates in under 15 minutes. Additionally, it will allow for higher power objectives to 

provide imaging of individual cells without being limited by the working distance of the 

objective.

Commercial Applications: In Phase III, Nikira Labs Inc. will commercialize the product 

for research institutions, educational applications, and medical diagnostics. As detailed 

in the Commercialization Plan, the product resulting from the SBIR is expected to yield 

a total 5-year revenue in excess of $9.5M for the latter two markets alone. These 

attractive markets are expected to continue to grow with a predicted compound annual 

growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% through 2021. Contingent upon the SBIR funding, Nikira 

Labs Inc. is poised to take advantage of this growth. Furthermore, the work also has a 

very significant societal impact, by enabling the development of low-cost medical 

diagnostics for tuberculosis, urinalysis, and cancer detection.
Topic: Systems 

Subtopic: Sources of and Triggers for Cybersecurity Failures

Title: ISABEL - Integrated Secure Automated Bug Extraction List

OU: Information Technology Laboratory

Firm: Smart Information Flow Technologies (SIFT), LLC 

319 1st Ave N.

Minneapolis, MN 55401

Principal Investigator: David Musliner

Phone: (612) 325-9314

Email: musliner@sift.net

Award Amount: $299,928

Abstract: To automatically detect software bugs, understand their characteristics, and 

categorize them according to the evolving NIST Bugs Framework (BF), SIFT is 

developing ISABEL: Integrated Secure Automated Bug Extraction List. ISABEL will 

provide three key functions:

- Using symbolic analysis and fuzz-testing tools to find inputs that trigger vulnerabilities 

(bugs).

- Using fuzz-testing, delta-debugging, and other analyses to refine the triggering inputs.

- Analyzing fault information and related code to characterize the bug and output a 

descriptive BF report.

The Phase I research developed a proof of concept implementation, identifying and 

addressing several key technical risks. SIFT tested the robustness of the approach on 

thousands of test cases from NIST’s Juliet test suite. In Phase II, SIFT will extend the 

approach to a broader set of bug classes and improve the bug characterization 

methods, leading towards a commercially viable tool for automatically understanding 

and characterizing software vulnerabilities. By automatically finding software flaws and 

characterizing them within the BF, ISABEL will help organizations improve their 

software quality, detecting flaws before they are deployed, and helping rapidly prioritize 

them for remediation.

Commercial Applications: SIFT has identified a key commercialization partner to help 

transition the ISABEL technology into practical applications. Their software analysis tool 

is widely used in critical software development. The partner has invited SIFT to help 

create new features for their upcoming new product that will evaluate and prioritize 

vulnerabilities, which is directly aligned with the ISABEL project. This will make the 

benefits of the ISABEL research available to a wide audience of software developers, 

including both professionals and students.
Topic: Precision Measurements

Subtopic: Innovative Manufacturing of Nanoscale Calibration Spheres

Title: Rational Design of sub-100 nm Polystyrene Particles with a Low Coefficient of 

Variation in Size

OU: Physical Measurement Laboratory

Firm: Tetramer Technologies, LLC

657 S. Mechanic St.

Pendleton, SC 29670

Principal Investigator: Michael Schreuder

Phone: (864) 646-6282

Email: Michael.schreuder@tetramertechnologies.com

Award Amount: $299,951

Abstract: During this Phase II SBIR development program, Tetramer Technologies will 

develop highly monodisperse 100-nm and sub-100-nm diameter nanoparticles for use 

as latex size standards. Highly monodisperse nanoparticle latexes are needed for 

improved calibration of electron microscopes, light scattering particle sizing instruments, 

atomic force microscopes, and particle counters/contamination monitors used in the 

semiconductor industry. Current commercial latex standard size distributions are too 

broad to provide the required resolution for the calibration of these systems. During 

Phase I, Tetramer synthesized highly-monodisperse 100-nm nanoparticles with less 

than 2 nm size variation and demonstrated the ability to tune the size below 100 nm, 

however, the sub-100-nm syntheses were not optimized. Building on the Phase I 

success, Tetramer will develop reproducible synthetic methods to produce highlymonodisperse sub-100-nm nanoparticles, study the stability of the produced latexes, 

and scale-up the process to commercially viable levels. Initially, Tetramer will develop a 

synthetic method to reproducibly deliver sub-100-nm nanoparticles with controlled sizes. 

Subsequently, Tetramer will investigate methods to produce narrower size distributions, 

analyzing the samples with both dynamic light scattering and scanning electron 

microscopy. Nanoparticles will be analyzed to determine their long-term stability as latex 

solutions. Finally, Tetramer will scale-up the synthetic and purification procedures and 

begin sampling materials to commercial partners.

Commercial Applications: The market potential for highly-monodisperse nanoparticle 

standards is modest but significant. The total market size for particle size analysis was 

more than $300MM in 2017. Size standards are an enabling technology for this 

industry; more narrow size standards will allow for improved particle analysis, and 

subsequently improved manufacturing in the semiconductor industry. In addition to 

sales to NIST, Tetramer will sell highly-monodisperse nanoparticle latex size standards 
directly to instrument manufacturers, instrument users, and individual academic 

researchers.

Topic: Systems 

Subtopic Policy Machine/Next Generation Access Control Implementation

Title: XpressRules-PM: Commercial Implementation of PM/NGAC

OU: Information Technology Laboratory

Firm: XpressRules, LLC

9515 North Wieber Dr.

Spokane, WA 99208

Principal Investigator: Ron.Turner@XpressRules.com

Phone: (509) 467-0668 

Email: Ron.Turner@XpressRules.com

Award Amount: $300,000

Abstract: New Generation Access Control (NGAC)—because of its “neutrality by 

design”—represents the most effective and scalable approach for deploying “smart” 

access control and consent solutions in large dynamic scenarios. NGAC however 

presents with its own problems: (1) it has miniscule recognition and uptake in the 

workplace, (2) it is unusable by non-technical policy officers and (3) its documentation 

and wider “infosphere” are very early-stage. XpressRules-PM is a natural languagebased NGAC toolkit for (1) equipping non-technical stakeholders—in their own words—

to deploy privacy and consent policies, (2) enabling an organization to configure the 

product to fit their environment instantly, repeatedly and without IT assistance, (3) 

exposing its policy store to logic checking and analytics, and (4) applying NGAC’s 

Decision Algorithm to perform real-time “dispute resolution” in an IoT information 

blockchain. For healthcare XpressRules-PM facilitates a “longitudinal patient consentTM” 

to accompany a longitudinal patient health record through its migration. NGAC retains 

the rich semantics of relationships between entities. The NGAC “family of standards” 

expresses this semantics abstractly with a directed acyclic graph (DAG). Therefore the 

most appropriate implementation of NGAC is graph-based, running on a NoSQL 

platform. Phase II specifies Neo4j initially, but its design will support any NoSQL 

database product.

Commercial Applications: XpressRules-PM’s neutrality, scalability and bandwidth 

enable it to support massive markets in governance, risk management and compliance 

(GRC), which spans every information-critical sector: banking, healthcare, pharma, 

telecom, insurance, law enforcement, manufacturing, government business, and 
defense. And because the technology already demonstrates resolution of pervasive and 

persistent cybersecurity challenges, it is positioned to become a dominant enterprise 

solution. The market size for enterprise GRC (eGRC) is expected to grow from USD 

22.14 Billion in 2017 to USD 43.87 Billion by 2022. The most efficient market 

penetration strategy is to embed the product as a security layer within large B2B 

vendor’s solutions.