TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Computer Vision Lends Precision to Robotic Grappling (MSC-TOPS-114)
ID: T2P-JSC-00055Type: Special Notice
Overview

Buyer

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATIONNATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATIONNASA HEADQUARTERSWASHINGTON, DC, 20546, USA

NAICS

Space Research and Technology (927110)

PSC

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS (9999)
Timeline
    Description

    NASA's Technology Transfer Program is seeking companies interested in obtaining license rights to a newly developed computer vision software designed to enhance robotic grappling operations. This technology, created by innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center, enables operators to quickly determine target postures and align robotic end-effectors with precision, significantly reducing the time lost in iterative realignment procedures during grapple operations aboard the International Space Station. Interested parties can submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) and should direct any inquiries to NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov. Please note that no funding is provided in conjunction with these licenses, and responses will be used for market research purposes.

    Point(s) of Contact
    NASA’s Technology Transfer Program
    Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov
    Files
    No associated files provided.
    Similar Opportunities
    TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Robotic Inspection System for Fluid Infrastructures (MSC-TOPS-70)
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    NASA's Technology Transfer Program is seeking companies interested in licensing a Robotic Inspection System designed for surveying deep-sea structures, such as oil platform storage tanks and pipelines. This innovative technology, developed by NASA Johnson Space Center, enables the assessment of material volume, structural integrity, and provides real-time video and sonar capabilities, potentially reducing inspection costs significantly. The licensing opportunity is available on both exclusive and nonexclusive bases, and interested parties can submit their applications through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) at the provided link. For further inquiries, companies may contact NASA’s Technology Transfer Program via email at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov.
    TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Computational Visual Servo (LAR-TOPS-61)
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    Special Notice NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION is soliciting inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market a computational visual servo technology. This technology, developed by NASA's Langley Research Center, offers a new approach to image processing and is expected to benefit pilots, doctors, and photographers. It improves upon the performance of automatic image enhancement methods and can enhance digital images in various conditions, including low light, poor clarity, and fog-like conditions. NASA is seeking market insights on the commercialization of this technology and welcomes interest from potential producers, users, and licensees. No funding will be provided by NASA in conjunction with these potential licenses.
    TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Photogrammetric Method for Calculating Relative Orientation (LAR-TOPS-38)
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    Special Notice NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION is seeking inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market a photogrammetric method for calculating relative orientation. This technology, developed by NASA's Langley Research Center, uses a simplified photogrammetric technique to quantitatively capture the relative orientation of objects in six degrees of freedom (6-DOF). It utilizes one or more cameras with non-overlapping fields of view (FOV) to record strategically placed photogrammetric targets. Originally developed for evaluating spacecraft crew modules and trajectory analysis of military aircraft, this technology has various applications where detecting relative positioning is important. The equipment requirements include cameras, photogrammetric targets, a data storage device, and a processing PC. Interested parties can submit a license application through NASA's Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS). No follow-on procurement is expected from this notice. For more information, visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal.
    TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: More Reliable Doppler Lidar for Autonomous Navigation (LAR-TOPS-351)
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    Special Notice: NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) is seeking inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market a more reliable Doppler Lidar for autonomous navigation. This technology, known as Navigation Doppler Lidar (NDL), was pioneered by NASA for precision navigation and executing well-controlled landings on surfaces like the moon. The NDL utilizes the Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technique to determine the distance to the target and the velocity between the sensor and target. However, the current sensor cannot determine the sign (+/-) of the signal frequencies, resulting in false measurements of range and velocity. NASA has developed an operational prototype of a method and algorithm that works with the receiver to correct this problem. The technology is available for license rights on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. Interested parties can submit a license application through NASA's Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS). For more information and to express interest, please visit the provided links. No follow-on procurement is expected from responses to this notice.
    TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: High Accurate Position Detection and Shape Sensing with Fiber Optics (LAR-TOPS-79)
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    Special Notice: NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION is seeking inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market a high accurate position detection and shape sensing technology using fiber optics. This technology, developed by NASA's Langley Research Center, offers 10 times greater positional accuracy than comparable optical techniques. It uses low reflectance Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) strain sensors in a multi-core fiber to determine the three-dimensional position of any point along the fiber. This method can be used in monitoring applications such as structures, medical devices, or robotics to determine precise deflection, end position, and location in near real time. Interested parties can submit a license application through NASA's Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS). No funding will be provided by NASA in conjunction with these potential licenses.
    TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Smart Optics Material Characterization System (LAR-TOPS-76)
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    Special Notice NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION is soliciting inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market a Smart Optics Material Characterization System. This system, developed by NASA's Langley Research Center, is a wireless, open-circuit SansEC sensor that can detect the presence of chemicals without being in contact with them. It uses a unique thin-film design and a chemical reactant to detect specific chemicals in caustic or harsh environments. The sensors are cost-effective and environmentally friendly to manufacture and use. Interested parties can submit a license application through NASA's Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS). No funding is provided with these potential licenses. For more information, visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal.
    TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Control and Tracking for Tethered Airborne Vehicles (LAR-TOPS-40)
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    Special Notice NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION is seeking companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market a technology for control and tracking of tethered airborne vehicles. The technology consists of a hardware and software control system that tracks the flight of kite-like tethered vehicles using a pan-tilt platform, a visible-spectrum digital camera, and tracking control software. The system controls the flight of the vehicle to keep its position on a Figure-8 trajectory, maximizing velocity. NASA is looking for development partners to make the system more robust and user-friendly by testing it in real-world systems. Interested parties can submit a license application through NASA's Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS). For more information, contact Langley Research Center. No follow-on procurement is expected from this notice.
    TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Amorphous Surface Robots (LAR-TOPS-156)
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    Special Notice NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION is soliciting inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market amorphous surface robots. These robots are designed to autonomously move across surfaces without conventional wheels or legs. They are particularly useful in dusty and sandy environments where mobility, shape changing, and immunity to dust and contamination are important. Amorphous robots have applications in both surface and subsurface robotic exploration, as well as in emergency and industrial activities such as search and rescue and inspection of oil pipelines or sewage systems. Multiple locomotion techniques are proposed, including the Bladder Bot, Inchworm Robot, Electromagnetic Sphere Robot, and Polymer Cell Robot. Interested parties can submit a license application through NASA's Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS). For more information, visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal. No follow-on procurement is expected from this notice.
    TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: In-situ Characterization and Inspection of Additive Manufacturing Deposits using Transient Infrared Thermography (LAR-TOPS-265)
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    Special Notice: NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION is seeking inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market a technology related to in-situ characterization and inspection of additive manufacturing deposits using transient infrared thermography. This technology provides a more reliable non-destructive evaluation method for measuring material properties and detecting defects during the additive manufacturing process. It has applications in various industries including industrial manufacturing, medical, architecture, aerospace, and automotive. Interested parties can submit a license application through NASA's Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS). For more information, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal. No follow-on procurement is expected from this notice.
    TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Circumferential Scissor Spring Enhances Precision in Hand Controllers (MSC-TOPS-113)
    Active
    National Aeronautics And Space Administration
    Special Notice: NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION is seeking inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market a circumferential scissor spring mechanism. This mechanism enhances precision in hand controllers by improving the restorative force and providing better feedback to the user. The technology is currently implemented on NASAs Orion Spacecraft training simulators and can be used in various applications such as drive systems, industrial automation, measuring technology, mobile machinery, and gaming systems. Interested parties can submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS). For more information, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal. No follow-on procurement is expected from this notice.