SBIR

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION

RESEARCH PROGRAM

ABSTRACTS OF PHASE I and PHASE II 

AWARDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016
INTRODUCTION

Abstracts of Awards for Fiscal Year 2016 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 2016 List of Awardees

Award Number Company Name Open Topics/Topic Areas Phase

70NANB16H177 Automated Precision, Inc. Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing Phase I

70NANB16H185 AxNano, LLC Lab to Market Phase I

70NANB16H182 Bridger Photonics, Inc. Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing Phase I

70NANB16H186 Innoveering, LLC Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing Phase I

70NANB16H180 MicroXact Inc. Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing Phase I

70NANB16H183 Omega Optics Inc. Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing Phase I

70NANB16H181 Optofluidics, Inc. Biomanufacturing Phase I

70NANB16H184 Quantum Diamond Technologies Inc. Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing Phase I

70NANB16H189 Symbio Robotics, Inc. Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing Phase I

70NANB16H179 Vermont Photonics Technologies Corp. Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing Phase I

70NANB16H188 XCSpec, Inc. Cyber-Physical Systems Phase I

70NANB16H187 XploSafe Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing Phase I

70NANB16H191 3DSIM LLC Advanced Manufacturing Phase II

70NANB16H195 AdSem, Inc. Advanced Manufacturing Phase II

70NANB16H178 Categorical Informatics, Inc. Advanced Manufacturing Phase II

70NANB16H190 InfoBeyond Technology LLC Cybersecurity Phase II

70NANB16H192 Object Security LLC Cybersecurity Phase II

70NANB16H193 Weinberg Medical Physics LLC Advanced Manufacturing Phase II

70NANB16H194 Z-senz LLC Technology Transfer Phase II

 
FY 2016 PHASE I AWARD

Topic: Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing 

Subtopic: Absolute Interferometry with Nanometer Precision 

Title: Nanometer Precision Absolute Linear Interferometer

Firm: Automated Precision, Inc. 

15000 John Hopkins Dr. 

Rockville, MD 20850 

Principal Investigator: Yongwoo Park 

Phone: (240) 269-0400 

Email: Yongwoo.park@apisensor.com

Award Amount: $98,750.00 

Abstract: The goal of this Phase I project is to develop an affordable, accurate, and rapid 

absolute interferometric length measurement technique with improved repeatability and 

accuracy. API has a patent-pending technology, Frequency-Modulated Time-to-Frequency 

Mapping Interferometer (FM-TFMI), that is an absolute interferometer capable of measuring at 

high speed and with exceptionally high accuracy. The TFMI uses a fiber Bragg grating to 

provide great system design flexibility in terms of scalability of measurement range that no other 

methods can possibly afford without compromising measurement accuracy or speed. In Phase I, 

we demonstrate its capability in terms of range, accuracy, repeatability and speed.

Commercial Applications: Modern industrial manufacturing in defense, energy, aerospace, 

automobile, etc. employs more and more additive manufacturing methods where sustainability 

and reusability of parts are emphasized for improved durability and reduced cost. The ability to 

perform highly accurate and time efficient non-contact part inspection on site is becoming 

increasingly important for the advanced manufacturing. Combined with high speed scanning 

capability, this proposed technique can be used for a high speed 3D surface scanner with ultra –

high resolution and high sensitivity. It will allow to perform time-efficient ad accurate surface 

inspection by imaging and detecting defect, crack, corrosion, and wear on part. 

Topic: Lab to Market

Subtopic: NIST Technology Transfer 

Title: Bimetallic Zero Valent Iron-Carbon Composites for In Situ Remediation: Improving 

Particle Lifetime, Reactivity and Transport
Firm: AxNano, LLC 

527 Bridge Street, Suite 301 

Danville, VA 24051-1405 

Principal Investigator: Alexis Wells Carpenter

Phone: (540) 818-2000 

Email: alexis.carpenter@triadgrowthpartners.com

Award Amount: $99,275.00 

Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that one out of every four 

Americans lives within three miles of a hazardous waste site. Recent developments in advanced 

treatment materials has led to improvements driving increased use of In Situ Chemical Reduction 

(ISCR) at Superfund sites in the US and other contaminated zones around the world. Nanoscale 

Zero Valent Iron (NZVI) holds great potential for ISCR due to its low cost and high reactivity 

towards degrading halogenated and heavy metal contaminants. However, two major technical 

challenges prevent wide-spread NZVI adoption: 1) agglomeration, which prevents transport in 

the subsurface; and 2) passivation, which decreases reactivity to contaminants. AxNano, in 

collaboration with University of Arkansas, has developed a novel, three-component composite 

composed of bimetallic NZVI on a carbon-based substrate. This innovative composite design 

simultaneously addresses both technical challenges by preventing aggregation and slowing 

passivation, all while promoting reductive degradation of contaminants. This Phase I SBIR work 

effort will evaluate the ability of the AxNano composites to degrade trichloroethylene (TCE), 

transport through porous media, and to maintain composite stability under various environmental 

conditions. The result of this SBIR program will be a novel, low-cost remediation technology 

with broad-spectrum efficacy to meet market and society needs.

Commercial Applications: The global environmental remediation technology market was 

valued at $61.7 billion in 2014 and is forecasted to expand to $80.5 billion in 2019. In Situ 

Chemical Oxidation/Reduction are the fastest growing areas in the remediation. While nanoscale 

zero valent iron (NZVI) is recognized as the most promising material for In Situ Chemical 

Reduction, the market does not currently have a viable NZVI product. AxNano is developing an 

NZVI-based composite that is safer to handle, easier to deploy, and is expected to exhibit 

superior performance in contaminated zones for longer treatment periods with a single 

application. 

Topic: Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing 

Subtopic: Absolute Interferometry with Nanometer Precision 

Title: Absolute Distance Interferometer for Manufacturing Metrology Applications 

Firm: Bridger Photonics, Inc. 

2310 University Way, Bldg. 4-4 

Bozeman, MT 59715-6504 
Principal Investigator: Michael J. Thorpe 

Phone: (406) 585-2774 

Email: thorpe@bridgerphotonics.com

Award Amount: $99,732.00 

Abstract: Bridger Photonics, Inc. will develop an absolute length metrology sensor that will 

simultaneously provide >1,000 measurements per second, <10 nm precision, and >0.5 m 

maximum measurement distance. Bridger’s solution is will fill a gap in precision measurement 

technology for applications that require rapid monitoring of macroscopic distances such as 

positioning and calibration of surface metrology systems (CMM, AFM, SEM), aspheric and 

freeform optics manufacturing, wafer positioning and optic alignment for the semiconductor 

industry, and part mapping and positioning for laser materials processing applications. Bridger’s 

solution will enable several measurement scenarios that are not possible using traditional 

interferometry such as resolving reflections from multiple surfaces, performing thickness 

measurements, tracking discontinuous steps, and measuring high-relief or rough surfaces.

Commercial Applications: The proposed distance measurement technology has several 

commercial applications in precision manufacturing. Bridger anticipates the initial applications 

will be surface characterization for improved manufacturing of aspheric and freeform optics, and 

closed-loop process control and rapid part mapping for the laser materials processing industry. 

Other applications include alignment, and calibration of advanced optical assemblies for the 

semiconductor manufacturers and manufacturers of imaging interferometers. Other potential 

applications involve providing calibrated and traceable positioning for advanced manufacturing 

and research activities that use coordinate measurement machines, atomic force microscopes, 

and scanning electron microscopes. 

Topic: Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing 

Subtopic: High Temperature In Situ Pressure Sensor

Title: High Temperature High Resolution in-situ Differential Pressure Sensor

Firm: Innoveering, LLC 

100 Remington Boulevard 

Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-6910 

Principal Investigator: Nicholas Tiliakos

Phone: (631) 219-3483 

Email: nick.tiliakos@innoveering.net

Award Amount: $99,692.29 

Abstract: Chemical manufacturers require high accuracy and high sensitivity pressure sensors to 

efficiently monitor the various manufacturing systems and processes in the chemical plant, to 
ensure any changes proceed in a safe and reliable manner, adhering to expected standards and 

practices. In addition, NIST has a need for highly accurate absolute and differential pressure 

measurements, especially for determining the thermo-physical properties of fluids. Such 

measurements must be made at the highest standard possible. Since the market is currently 

limited in the availability of such pressure sensors, i.e. possessing a combination of high 

accuracy/high temperature capability with excellent accuracy, NIST is seeking a high 

temperature, in situ, pressure sensor that can achieve better performance than the current stateof-the-art. Innoveering will develop an innovative, compact High Temperature High Resolution 

(HTHR) in-situ differential pressure (DP) sensor that leverages our team’s MEMs pressure die 

technology, which utilizes piezo-resistive elements to sense differential pressure as well as an 

over-pressure protection feature to ensure reliable and safe operation to meet NIST’s 

requirements. Our team brings together experts in the design/fabrication/testing and application 

of harsh environment pressure sensors, MEMS microfabrication techniques as well as 

packaging/welding techniques for these types of high pressure high temperature sensors. 

Commercial Applications: The potential commercial applications for the solution we are 

proposing are numerous, with applications from machinery health monitoring, smart process 

plan control/monitoring, monitoring of processes in chemical plants, oil refineries/petrochemical 

sector, to power plant monitoring. Our HTHR DP sensor will be at the cutting edge of CSOTA 

pressure sensing capabilities, providing a need not currently available, meeting all of NIST’s 

requirements while also accomplishing this in a very small factor and in a cost effective product. 

Our HTHR sensor also has the ability to behave like a smart transmitter by not requiring pressure 

compensation with extraneous electronics. 

Topic: Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing 

Subtopic: High-Density Cryogenic Probe Station 

Title: High Density Semi-Auto Closed Cycle Cryoprober 

Firm: MicroXact Inc.

1750 Kraft Drive, Suite 1007 

Blacksburg, VA 24060-6375 

Principal Investigator: Vladimir Kochergin

Phone: (540) 394-4040 

Email: vkochergin@microxact.com

Award Amount: $99,978.98 

Abstract: High density wafer scale cryogenic probing solution for testing at 4.5K temperatures 

or below is needed for testing and characterization of devices and circuits employing 

superconducting electronic components (such as used for quantum processing, high speed 

classical processing, magnetic field sensors, etc.) as well as for testing of various particle and 

light detectors for astronomy, aerospace, defense and homeland security applications. MicroXact 
Inc. will develop a semi-automated, closed cycle, wafer scale high density cryogenic probe 

station for testing at below 4.5K to 300K or higher. In Phase I MicroXact will finalize the 

performance specifications, will develop mechanical model and design, and will verify system 

performance via simulations.

Commercial Applications: Due to the unique technical advantages over competing 

technologies, the proposed high density cryogenic probe station is expected to find a number of 

applications in NIST testing sensors and electronic components for industrial materials analysis, 

nuclear security, concealed weapons detection, astrophysics as well as for testing classical and 

quantum processors employing superconducting elements. A similar need for such a solution 

exists at DoD, where a number of DoD laboratories and OEMs are using various sensors 

operating at cold temperatures as well as developing signal processing hardware employing 

superconducting elements. 

Topic: Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing 

Subtopic: Design of Fiber-coupled Waveguide Difference Frequency Generation Devices

Title: Fiber Pigtailed On-Chip Mid-infrared Difference Frequency Generation in Silicon

Firm: Omega Optics Inc.

8500 Shoal Creek Blvd. 

Austin, TX 78757-6856 

Principal Investigator: Swapnajit Chakravarty

Phone: (512) 996-8833 

Email: swapnajit.chakravarty@omegaoptics.com

Award Amount: $100,000.00 

Abstract: Omega Optics will develop a fiber-coupled platform in strained silicon-on-sapphire 

(SoS) for tunable difference frequency generation in midwave infrared (MIR) with tunable 

continuous wave sources in the near-infrared (NIR). Stress exerted by silicon nitride on 

underlying silicon induces second-order nonlinear susceptibility. NIR light is coupled into silicon 

and MWIR light is coupled out of silicon using extensively demonstrated sub-wavelength grating 

couplers in both NIR and MWIR. Preliminary modal phase matched designs between pump, 

signal and idler indicates the potential to achieve conversion efficiency greater than 0.1W-1 with 

second-order nonlinear susceptibility ~10pm/V in a 1cm long silicon waveguide on sapphire. 

Experimentally demonstrated sub-1dB/cm propagation loss at NIR pump and signal 

wavelengths, ~2dB/cm propagation losses in MWIR idler wavelengths in silicon waveguides, 

together with less than 2.5dB insertion loss in fiber-chip polarization selective grating coupling 

allow high efficiency power conversion. Two-photon absorption (TPA) and in particular, TPA 

induced free carrier absorption (FCA), significant at MWIR will be controlled by experimentally 

demonstrated p-i-n geometries that reduce the silicon free carrier lifetime from nano-seconds to 

pico-seconds. Fabrication induced effects on coherence and geometries to achieve quasi phase 
matching will also be investigated, relative merits and demerits compared for implementation in 

Phase II.

Commercial Applications: Frequency-mixed MWIR can be generated over a much wider 

wavelength range than that possible from a single quantum cascade (QCL) or interband cascade 

laser (ICL). QCLs/ICLs are expensive and require dependence on expensive epitaxial growth 

techniques. Tunable silicon chip integrated MWIR sources are very desirable for Omega Optics’ 

on-chip absorption spectroscopy applications by slow light enhanced chemical warfare simulant 

sensing. The generalized design of the proposed versatile technology implies possible 

implementation in multiple areas and markets such as food, air and water quality, health, 

environment and national security via integration with demonstrated silicon passive sensors. 

Topic: Biomanufacturing 

Subtopic: Measurement Tools to Advance the Development and Manufacturing of Biologic 

Medicines

Title: Protein Qspec: An Improved Method for Rapid Characterization of Protein Aggregates in 

Biologic Drugs for Increased Quality and Safety 

Firm: Optofluidics, Inc.

3711 Market Street, Suite 970 

Philadelphia, PA 19104-5504 

Principal Investigator: Robert Hart

Phone: (215) 970-2685 

Email: hart@opfluid.com

Award Amount: $99,993.18 

Abstract: Optofluidics will develop Protein Qspec, a new particle analysis QC instrument 

designed to characterize protein aggregates in biologic drugs. The primary concern for this class 

of therapeutics is that they can elicit an immune response from patients who develop anti-drug 

antibodies which can eliminate the therapeutic benefit. The presence of particulate matter, in 

these therapeutics (e.g. shed glass from a syringe or a protein aggregate) enhances this immune 

response and the FDA therefore regulates the amount of particles that can be present. Although 

these particles can be counted scientists rarely know what the particles actually are due to lack of 

effective analysis equipment. The proposed Qspec will fill this need by rapidly capturing 

particles on a microfabricated sieve followed by rapid FTIR microscopy. Early proof of concept 

work shows analysis to be about an order of magnitude faster than existing forensic instruments. 

A QA/QC tool that can identity particles and, if they’re proteins, thoroughly characterize them 

with spectroscopy, would help pharma companies make better decisions to make stable and safe 

formulations of biologic drugs as well as detect problems earlier on and forestall manufacturing 

or safety issues.
Commercial Applications: Optofluidics will develop Protein Qspec, a new particle analysis 

instrument with associated consumables. The target application and benefits were discussed with 

biologic formulation and manufacturing experts who offered guidance on important features, 

system specifications and identification of the most pressing issues. The consensus is that Protein 

Qspec will have the biggest impact and adoption in the formulation stage of biologic product life 

cycle. Following commercial success there, the instrument would ultimately reach manufacturing 

“fill and finish” sites as a quality control tool.

Topic: Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing 

Subtopic: Quantitative Magnetometry of Single Nanoparticles with High Throughput 

Title: High-Throughput Single-Nanoparticle Magnetic Analysis Platform Using Diamond 

Magnetic Imaging

Firm: Quantum Diamond Technologies Inc. 

28 Dane St. 

Somerville, MA 02143-3748 

Principal Investigator: Colin Connolly 

Phone: (617) 440-4484 

Email: cconnolly@quantumdiamondtech.com

Award Amount: $81,000.00 

Abstract: Magnetic nanoparticles are powerful tools over a wide range of industries, but have 

particularly powerful biomedical applications for clinical and research diagnostics, clinical 

therapy, and basic life science research. These applications require consistent sources for 

magnetic nanoparticles with narrow distributions of magnetic properties, but no technology is 

now commercially available for manufacturers or users to quantify single-particle magnetic 

properties with sufficient throughput to provide cost-effective, efficient quality control. Some 

particle uses, including magnetic separation and magnetic diagnostics, rely on 

superparamagnetism and suffer reduced performance, such as unwanted particle interactions and 

aggregation, due to ferromagnetic behavior in a subset of particles. However, this ferromagnetic 

particle subset can be obscured by ensemble measurements.

Quantum Diamond Technologies has developed a high-throughput magnetic particle analysis 

platform using magnetic imaging with quantum defects in diamond. Our system can 

quantitatively analyze, with high sensitivity and precision, thousands of magnetic particles in 

parallel in a matter of minutes with a simple benchtop system. We will adapt this system in 

Phase I to measure ferromagnetic nanoparticles smaller than 100 nm with similar high 

throughput. With further development, our underlying magnetic sensing technology can 

additionally provide vector magnetometry, time-resolved magnetic response, and measurement 

of particle magnetic anisotrophy. 
Commercial Applications: Magnetic bead products for immunoassays comprise a $1 billion 

market. A lack of cost-effective commercial technology for high-throughput single-particle 

analysis impedes robust quality control, which hinders reproducibility and stymies novel 

innovative uses for magnetic particles. A benchtop particle analysis system with low cost and 

high throughput will enable particle manufacturers to perform needed testing and reporting of 

magnetic particle uniformity and monitor lot-to-lot variation, adding value to their particle 

product offerings and providing a means for competitive differentiation. Particle users will 

benefit from a low-cost means to directly probe distributions of particle parameters critical to 

application performance.

Topic: Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing 

Subtopic: Object Identification and Localization via Non-Contact Sensing for Enhancing 

Robotic Systems in Manufacturing Operations 

Title: Part Identification and Localization via Deep Neural Networks 

Firm: Symbio Robotics, Inc. 

2150 Shattuck Ave. 

Berkeley, CA 94704-1345 

Principal Investigator: Mitchell Adler

Phone: (248) 225-7710 

Email: mitch@symbiorobotics.com

Award Amount: $99,991.56 

Abstract: Symbio Robotics is developing a robust, fast, and low-cost perception engine for 

identifying parts and detecting their six degree of freedom pose. Our perception engine is driven 

by deep convolutional neural networks and draws upon recent advances in computer vision and 

deep learning. Current automation systems largely run blind, without perception driven feedback. 

Our proposed system seeks to close that feedback loop and unlock new levels of performance in 

industrial automation at this time of rapid change in the domain of manufacturing. 

Commercial Applications: Rising global labor costs have spurred a new wave of interest in 

industrial automation. The future generation of industrial automation systems will be highly 

flexible and adaptable to greater variability and faster product cycles. To meet these new 

demands, manufacturers and systems integrators systems must acquire robust, fast, and low-cost 

perception systems to serve as a core part of their factory automation.
Topic: Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing 

Subtopic: High-Accuracy Angle Generator for Precision Measurements

Title: High-Accuracy Angle Generator for Precision Measurements

Firm: Vermont Photonics Technologies Corp. 

22 Browne Court 

Brattleboro, VT 05301-4428 

Principal Investigator: Christian Guertin

Phone: (802) 275-5210 

Email: cguertin@vermontphotonics.com

Award Amount: $97,023.00 

Abstract: A lack of extreme angular metrology accuracy better than 50 nrad is limiting progress 

in molecular characterization by x-ray diffraction for important industrial fields such as material 

science and biotechnology. If we want to advance these fields, a high-accuracy angle generator 

for characterizing the metrology device across its entire measuring range must be a part of the 

national metrology tool set. At present, no such tool exists at the 50 nrad accuracy level. Using 

an established calibration technique, we will use an optimized arrangement of the minimum 

necessary number of angle encoder read heads optimally positioned around a rotary table 

encoder ring to minimize calibration error propagation. An arrangement that, thus far, has not 

been realized by any other group. The removal of the graduation errors of the encoder ring has 

been shown to improve the angular position uncertainty by a factor of approximately 800 and we 

will compare our results to these prior results. This work will enable us to make additional 

improvements and extensions for a full realization of a prototype high-accuracy angle generator.

Commercial Applications: An extreme high-precision angle generator will fill a gap in 

metrology capabilities of the United States. It will enhance our existing calibration services and 

enable better characterization of off-the-shelf autocollimators. Better characterization will 

expand potential markets for autocollimators in general. The angle generator itself will also be 

attractive as a commercially available product to government and industrial laboratories. 

Topic: Cyber Physical Systems 

Subtopic: Novel Methods for Determining Commercial Building Envelope Airtightness 

Title: Air Movement Efficiency Monitor 

Firm: XCSpec, Inc.

300 Riviera Circle 

Larkspur, CA 94939-1544 
Principal Investigator: Jeff Aalfs

Phone: (650) 575-4238 

Email: jeff@xcspec.com

Award Amount: $95,925.00 

Abstract: The Air Movement Efficiency Monitor is composed of small, inexpensive Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors, connected wirelessly to the Internet, and distributed 

through a building to measure pressure readings at key points. We consider this a “FitBit” for a 

building’s air-movement efficiency, employing many of the sensors used by a fitbit – 

temperature, humidity, acceleration. We expand on that concept and incorporate new emerging 

sensors from the drone and wearables industries, allowing our system to capture high-resolution 

absolute and differential pressure data, along with information from the fan shaft speed. These 

various sensors are deployed on a multi-sensor module and connected wirelessly to the system – 

exposing this previously hidden information at an affordable cost, with a small form factor and 

low power profile. This information is continuously monitored and can be used for a number of 

applications including: duct leakage, air balancing and fan efficiency measurement. The 

aggregated data is curated using flow network model simulations to calculate envelope leakage 

and duct leakage for the building, along with alerts or alarms to maintenance, building occupants 

or building managers. This “Performance” based approach to building efficiency provides a 

EM&V basis for more sustainable energy savings. 

Commercial Applications: Commercial buildings are plagued by uncontrolled air movement 

and leakage through the buildings shell and air distribution ducts. Uncontrolled airflow leads to 

major increases in energy and operating costs. Existing methods to determine duct leakage are 

expensive and disruptive to the occupants. The Air Movement Efficiency Monitor is an in-situ 

monitor that can be installed with minimal disruption to the building occupants and left to collect 

continuous time-series data on building and duct leakage. This information is used to determine 

the ROI for energy upgrades to existing buildings, leading to improved energy performance and 

lower operating costs. 

Topic: Advanced Sensing for Manufacturing 

Subtopic: Pre-Concentration Technology for Analysis of Halocarbon Gases at Trace Levels 

Title: Pre-concentrator for Capture of Trace Fluorocarbons 

Firm: XploSafe 

3514 N Park Drive 

Stillwater, OK 74075-2505 

Principal Investigator: Evgueni Kadossov 

Phone: (400) 533-45720 

Email: evgueni@xplosafe.com
Award Amount: $100,000.00 

Abstract: While fluorocarbons are released in relatively small amounts, they can have half-lives 

in the atmosphere as long as 50,000 years. However, they have extremely high global warming 

potential relative to other greenhouse gases, so that even small atmospheric concentrations can 

have large effect on global temperatures. For this reason, monitoring atmospheric concentrations 

of these compounds, identifying the sources of their emission, and estimating the quantities 

released is extremely important. Due to their very low atmospheric concentrations, a method to 

pre-concentrate the gases to significantly improve detection limits and quantification capabilities 

is necessary. The proposed research will aim to demonstrate the technical feasibility of novel 

sorbents that have very high affinity and selectivity for sorption of fluorocarbons due to 

nanoconfinement and fluorous phase molecular interactions. The sorbent will be used to produce 

and test a pre-concentrator for these target compounds. 

Commercial Applications: XploSafe envisions the successful implementation of the proposed 

technology as a leading innovation that can enable field analysis of air samples in atmospheric 

monitoring applications. The need for the proposed portable technology specifically in the preconcentration and sampling of fluorinated gases arises from personnel engaged in the 

installation, servicing, charging and leak testing of chillers, refrgeration systems and airconditioning systems. The proposed field deployable pre-concentrator has the potential to expand 

the application of advanced analytical measurement and quantification devices by facilitating an 

active, in-situ approach towards emission source identification and estimation of the quantity 

released.

Topic: Advanced Manufacturing 

Subtopic: Predictive Modeling Tools for Metal-Based Additive Manufacturing 

Title: Predictive Modeling Tools for Metal-Based Additive Manufacturing: A Composable 

Simulation Model for Metal Powder-bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing Processes

Firm: 3DSIM LLC

1794 Olympic Pkwy. 

Park City, UT 84098-6388 

Principal Investigator: Nachiket Patil

Phone: (502) 619-4035 

Email: nachiket.patil@3dsim.com

Award Amount: $300,000.00 

Abstract: Additive manufacturing lacks efficient, composable physics-based computational 

frameworks to predict quality and performance for arbitrary geometry, orientation, location and 

process parameter combinations. A new set of composable computational tools capable of 

accurately predicting the geometrical accuracy, residual stress and microstructure of the parts 
made using metal based AM has been developed. The tool(s) demonstrate scaling and 

composability of models to support geometry-independent reusability while providing a range of 

parameter values (e.g. user-defined build orientation, laser power, scan speed, hatch pattern, 

recoat time, material properties, powder layer thickness, choice of mesh motifs, and more) 

supporting reliability and accuracy. 

Commercial Applications: It is estimated that tens of thousands of dollars are wasted per 

machine per year in unnecessary support material costs, post manufacturing labor part finishing, 

and material lost due to failed builds. A composable set of simulation tools would help predict 

residual stress and strain data to identify the minimum amount per part. There is a significant 

demand for software simulation tools to optimize the economics of Additive Manufacturing. 

FY 2016 PHASE II AWARD

Topic: Advanced Manufacturing 

Subtopic: Tuning Germanium Crystal Reflectivity and Mosaic 

Title: Tuning Germanium Reflectivity and Mosaic 

Firm: AdSem, Inc.

855 Sevely Dr. 

Mountain View, CA 94041-1601 

Principal Investigator: Michael Kozhukh 

Phone: (650) 625-0642 

Email: mkozhuhk@sbcglobal.net

Award Amount: $300,000.00 

Abstract: Mosaic crystalline monochromators define performance of neutron scattering devices 

employed in condensed matter research on research nuclear reactors. This project is devoted to 

development of a manufacturing technique for slow neutron Germanium mosaic 

monochromators with reflectivity exceeding reflectivity of pyrolytic graphite crystals. 

Germanium has small slow neutron absorption; its diamond crystal structure has a many more 

crystallographic orientations useful for neutron and x-ray scattering than pyrolytic graphite and 

for many orientations second orders of reflections in Germanium are prohibited. The proposed 

manufacturing technique utilizes optimized high temperature plastic deformation of large single 

Germanium crystals to produce mosaic monochromators. 

Commercial Applications: Large size Ge mosaic slow neutron monochromators with high 

neutron reflectivity will significantly increase efficiency of the U.S. research nuclear reactors for 

condensed matter research, improve quality of diffraction experiments and extend flexibility of 

neutron scattering measurements. Such mosaic Ge crystals also are highly reflective for x-rays 

and ү-rays. They are well suited for x-ray and ү-ray focusing systems in astrophysics and for 
medical applications, where they can improve quality of x-ray images. In x-ray microanalysis 

mosaic Ge monochromators can increase sensitivity of the method. These are the markets with 

potential need for the Ge mosaic monochromators. 

Topic: Advanced Manufacturing 

Subtopic: Category-Theoretic Tools to Support Manufacturing Information Integration 

Title: A Category-theoretic Tool for Manufacturing Information Integration

Firm: Categorical Informatics, Inc.

250 Main St. 

Cambridge, MA 02142-9998 

Principal Investigator: Ryan Wisenesky

Phone: (650) 387-9782 

Email: ryan@catinf.com

Award Amount: $300,000.00 

Abstract: Category theory has recently been successfully applied to translate information from 

one computer system to another. Researchers at MIT have developed a prototype software tool 

based on category theory for solving information-integration programs. The tool has successfully 

solved small-scale information-integration problems including a problem identified by NIST 

about enriching the manufacturing service capability of a distributed supply chain with additional 

3rd party information. The goal of this Phase II effort is to build the core of an industrial-strength 

categorical data integration tool capable of solving manufacturing-related informationintegration problems identified by NIST. 

Commercial Applications: Existing tools for information integration do not adequately solve 

next-generation data integration problems such as those encountered by NIST in its standard 

mission in manufacturing. An information integration tool based on category theory has the 

potential to solve such previously intractable problems as well as compete with existing 

information integration tools on the basis of data quality. The total market for information 

integration software is $4.7B annually. 

Topic: Cybersecurity

Subtopic: Access Control Policy Tool 

Title: Access Control Policy Tool 
Firm: InfoBeyond Technology LLC 

320 Whittington Pkwy. 

Louisville, KY 40222-4917 

Principal Investigator: Bin Xie

Phone: (502) 371-0907 

Email: Bin.Xie@InfoBeyondtech.com

Award Amount: $300,000.00 

Abstract: Access Control (AC) determines the permission of a request in attempt to access 

certain resources in a software system. It has been greatly used for financial, security, privacy, 

safety, defense, and many other applications. However, there is no commercial‐ready tool to 

conveniently and thoroughly compose, test, and verify the policies against potential 

vulnerabilities. In this project, InfoBeyond advocates the development of a user‐friendly, 

efficient, reliable, and generic Access Control Policy modeling, verification, and Testing (ACPT) 

Tool. Our ACPT enhances the NIST’s ACPT design and add several advanced features for 

achieving high security confidence AC levels such that it can be commercialized. It provides 

user‐friendly GUI templates for user to compose attributes, enable property tests by a model 

checker, perform combinatorial tests, and generate XACMAL policies. It specifically improves 

the NIST’s ACPT design to provide a robust, unified, and generic model checker in an ABAC 

(Attributed‐based Access Control) framework. Our ACPT will be developed as a standalone 

software package and web‐based services. The standalone software package can be run in a 

private server for government and enterprise customers. The web service design facilitates the 

ACPT webification and evolution in a distributed computing environment for a large number of 

customers.

Commercial Applications: Access Control (AC) is to ensure that the unexpected (i.e., 

unauthorized or unintended authorized) parties cannot get into a security system. Our ACPT is a 

user‐friendly, efficient, and reliable AC tool to verify and test if the AC policies will be correctly 

enforced as the intention in a system, eliminating the potential security leakages. It can be used 

for federal and state agencies to provide high security confidence levels for the national critical 

IT resources. It can also be widely used for commercial resource protection in the financial and 

stock companies, enterprises, hospitals, insurances, organizations, and other business domains. 

Topic: Cybersecurity

Subtopic: Access Control Policy Tool 

Title: Automated Access Control Policy Testing System (A-ACPTS)

Firm: Object Security LLC

1855 First Ave Ste 103 

San Diego, CA 92101-2650 
Principal Investigator: Ulrich Lang

Phone: (650) 515-3391 

Email: ulrich.lang@objectsecurity.com

Award Amount: $299,969.00 

Abstract: A-ACPTS Phase 2 transitions NIST Access Control Policy Tool (ACPT) R&D with 

innovative enhancements into commercialization, developing a commercially successful access 

control policy testing product that improves access control policy testing (minimizes error 

potential, faster, more usable, more efficient). A-ACPTS Phase 2 extends ACPT through a 

number of innovations that improve testing beyond the state of the art, including: (1) A-ACPTS 

supports the specification of testing properties and policies at a generic, intuitive “high level” of 

abstraction. With A-ACPTS, testing properties can be automatically verified against the policy 

even if they are authored using differing attributes. (2) A-ACPTS ingests, analyzes, merges, and 

normalizes information about the functional environment and flexibly relates access policy 

testing closer to the actual access control policy implementation on the functional environment. 

(3) A-ACPTS automatically ingests many information sources required for testing with semantic 

consistency, so that the policy testing becomes more automated, fast, easy, and correct. (4) AACPTS can automatically re-test when the ingested information changes, minimizing re-testing 

efforts. A-ACPTS has already been partly implemented during Phase 1, and will be rapidly 

developed towards commercial viability during Phase 2 as both a cloud service (SaaS) and an 

on-premises installed product based on the Eclipse/OpenPMF platform. 

Commercial Applications: Today usable access control policy testing tools are commercially 

unavailable, making AC policy implementation and testing error-prone, costly and difficult. AACPTS addresses a significant gap in the fast-growing cyber security market: Conventional 

reactive cyber defenses are failing. Preventive AC policy implementation improves protection, 

but is often too complex, time-consuming and expensive to implement. A-ACPTS enables 

manageable, easy-to-use, advanced AC policy testing. A-ACPTS can be flexibly bought (SaaS + 

on-premises) and used by most organizations. It is most useful for organizations that operate 

large, interconnected IT landscapes, critically rely on IT for their operation, process confidential 

information, are critical/safety-critical or regulated.

Topic: Advanced Manufacturing 

Subtopic: High-Throughput Manufacturing Methods for Engineered MRI Contrast Agents 

Title: High-Throughput Low-Cost Manufacturing of Engineered MRI Contrast Agents 

Firm: Weinberg Medical Physics LLC

5611 Roosevelt Street 

Bethesda, MD 20817-6739 
Principal Investigator: Lamar Mair

Phone: (202) 568-1608 

Email: Lamar.Mair@gmail.com

Award Amount: $298,706.00 

Abstract: New shape-engineered iron-based microscopic contrast agents (MCAs) for magnetic 

resonance imaging promise to increase diagnostic accuracy while reducing side effects, and 

enhance scientists’ ability to track stem cells. Currently, techniques used for making 

multispectral microscale contrast agent particles are cost prohibitive. In Phase I, an innovative 

technique (employing template-guided electroplating in a roll-to-roll construct) which combines 

the low cost of chemical synthesis methods, the high uniformity of template-based methods, and 

the high throughput of automated manufacturing methods to deliver a process for large-scale, 

cost-effective manufacturing of the new MCAs was described. In Phase II, the Phase I prototype 

process will be upgraded to include a section that will metallize PCTE reel stock in order to 

reduce costs, and another section which will measure the NMR resonance shift properties of the 

particles in situ in order to achieve high particle uniformity. Low-cost production and 

development of standard operating procedures that will assist in Phase III migration to contract 

manufacturing facilities will be demonstrated.

Commercial Applications: Products manufactured with the new manufacturing process address 

the needs of bioscience and clinical markets and suppliers of components for consumer 

electronics, with markets totaling over $9 billion including: MRI contrast agents to improve 

diagnostic imaging and drug development, cell tracking particles for regenerative medicine, 

therapeutic particles for hyperthermia, and conductive nanowires for computer tablets and smart 

phones. Strategic partners and investors have been identified who are willing to leverage future 

SBIR funding in this project. 

Topic: Technology Transfer 

Subtopic: NIST Tech Transfer

Title: Resonant Scan Lens for Scanning Beam LIDAR 

Firm: Z-senz LLC

67 Oak shade Rd. 

Gaithersburg, MD 20878-1049 

Principal Investigator: Christopher Brown 

Phone: (206) 963-7522 

Email: seebrown@gmail.com

Award Amount: $300,000.00 
Abstract: The objective of this Phase II project is to research, develop, and commercialize a 

resonant scan lens (RSL) for use in a resonant light detection and ranging (R-LIDAR) distance 

sensor. R-LIDAR uses a resonant optomechanical system to generate a beam scan. While 

resonant optomechanical systems produce high-speed and large field-of-view (FOV) scans from 

a miniature form factor, the beam scans lack uniformity across the FOV. Poor scan uniformity is 

typically addressed by clipping the scan periphery to remove the most non-uniform regions. Zsenz proposes to research and develop an RSL to linearize a resonant scan thereby increasing the 

FOV and duty-cycle of an R-LIDAR sensor. This project builds upon the NIST Phase I SBIR 

effort that demonstrated a 25% average improvement in linearity from a 90% duty-cycle scan 

compared to an unmodified resonant beam scan. This project proposes to iterate the RSL design 

to achieve a 75% average improvement in linearity from a 90% duty-cycle scan and develop this 

technology for use in an R-LIDAR sensor. While the RSL research improves the performance of 

the R-LIDAR system, this technology has utility to a large number of high speed imaging and 

display applications, including: microscopy, endoscopy, ophthalmology, scanning displays, and 

laser machining.

Commercial Applications: Customer interviews indicate a significant unmet near-term need for 

high-accuracy distance sensors for use in small unmanned aerial system (S-UAS) surveying. RLIDAR sensors enabled by RSL technology offer a solution for S-UAS surveying in 

construction, mineral extraction, ecological surveying, and defense industries. This commercial 

opportunity is significant as the S-UAS light detection and ranging market is estimated to reach 

$100 million with a 51% CAGR in 2019 when the R-LIDAR sensor reaches market. 

Commercialization of RLIDAR technology for the S-UAS market will support subsequent R&D 

and commercialization activities in large future markets such as driver assist and automation.