StarNav Awarded National Science Foundation Grant
Small Business Innovation Research Program Provides Seed Funding for R&D
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Riverside, CA, 01/04/2021 – StarNav LLC has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for $256,000 to conduct research and development on a network of receiver ground stations that will be deployed around the globe to extract position, navigation, and timing (PNT) information from low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite signals. The information extracted from these signals will support LEO satellite signal-based PNT for mobile vehicles, handheld devices, and stationary infrastructure, creating a global alternative to GPS. GPS signals, which are used in state-of-the-art navigation devices, can become unreliable when vehicles move under dense foliage or between tall buildings and compromised by malicious jamming or spoofing attacks. The work performed under this grant will have wide impacting implications in transportation, search and rescue, weather monitoring, climate research, emergency-911 caller locating abilities, and more.
“The rate that LEO satellites are being launched is higher than we have ever seen before. Thousands of signals are being transmitted towards the Earth. The system that StarNav is deploying will effectively create a massive PNT system consisting of 1000s of LEO satellites by various providers, whether they were launched for PNT or not.”
Joshua Morales, CEO of StarNav.
Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant (up to $256,000), it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II (up to $1,000,000). Small businesses with Phase II funding are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in additional matching funds with qualifying third-party investment or sales.
“NSF is proud to support the technology of the future by thinking beyond incremental developments and funding the most creative, impactful ideas across all markets and areas of science and engineering. With the support of our research funds, any deep technology startup or small business can guide basic science into meaningful solutions that address tremendous needs.”
Andrea Belz, Division Director of the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships at NSF.
Startups or entrepreneurs who submit a three-page Project Pitch will know within one month if they meet the program’s objectives to support innovative technologies that show promise of commercial and/or societal impact and involve a level of technical risk. Small businesses with innovative science and technology solutions, and commercial potential are encouraged to apply. All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program, also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, undergo a rigorous merit-based review process. To learn more about America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, visit: https://seedfund.nsf.gov/
About the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Programs
America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $2 million to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $8.5 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering.
About StarNav LLC
StarNav develops specialized front ends and receivers that convert ambient radio signals into PNT information to enhance intelligent system reliability. Whether a radio signal was transmitted for communication, internet, or PNT, StarNav’s products can leverage them using a single patent-pending product to provide PNT redundancy for safe system operation. Learn more at www.starnav.io or follow StarNav on LinkedIn @StarNav.
