The U.S. DOT's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program seeks innovative research proposals from small businesses to address specific research challenges facing the modal administrations. The SBIR Program Office at the Volpe Center has posted the first of two SBIR Program solicitations for fiscal year 2013, inviting small businesses to submit research proposals that address high priority goals within the U.S. DOT.
The first solicitation of the year requests proposals in three topic areas: 1. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Low Ground Clearance Vehicle Detection and Warning System, 2. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Transit Safety, and 3. FTA Decision Support Tools for State of Good Repair. See the following topic summaries.
1. FRA Low Ground Clearance Vehicle Detection and Warning System: High profile highway-rail grade crossings present a severe risk to low ground clearance vehicles in the U.S. When such a vehicle traverses a high-profile roadway section, such as a high-profile grade crossing, the vehicle may become stuck on the hump of the crossing and then be struck by a train.
One of the ways to reduce the risk is to provide advance warning regarding the existence of high-profile crossings ahead. Passive signage already exists; however, research is needed into the development of a reliable active system, such as the ones used to detect over-height vehicles before tunnels, that would detect a low ground clearance vehicle on approach to a high-profile crossing and trigger a wayside active warning message that would be visible to the motorist.
2. FTA Transit Safety: The FTA is seeking exploratory proposals that will demonstrate innovative, economical, and durable technologies and devices or solutions that will improve and revolutionize the safety of public transportation and the riding public. The innovations in public transportation or transit must pertain to and be adaptable to existing heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, buses, ferries, and streetcars. Project proposals must include a methodology on how it will use data to quantitatively demonstrate that their recommended technology innovations can truly improve or provide confidence for commuters and operators to trust and use a safe transit system.
3. FTA Decision Support Tools for State of Good Repair: The new authorization, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), gives FTA authority to establish a State of Good Repair grant program to strengthen the state of public transportation infrastructure throughout the U.S. The FTA is seeking exploratory proposals that will demonstrate innovative, economical, and durable technologies and devices or solutions that will improve the transit infrastructure. Improved decision support tools give transit agencies the ability to prioritize capital budgets for the benefit of public transportation and the riding public. The innovations in public transportation or transit must pertain to and be adaptable to existing heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, buses, ferries, and streetcars. Project proposals must include a methodology on how they will use data to quantitatively demonstrate that their recommended technology innovations can truly improve a transit agency's ability to properly maintain its transit infrastructure.
The FY 13.1 DOT SBIR Program Solicitation opened on December 10, 2012 and closes March 4, 2013.
Read more about a previous SBIR success story that was funded through this program.