AI and Robotics Research is a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR program that funds small businesses developing innovative robotics and artificial intelligence technologies with significant commercial potential. Funded areas include robot intelligence and experiential learning, human assistive technologies, human-machine interfaces, robotics for agile manufacturing, and underwater or underground robotics.

NSF invests up to $2 million in seed funding with zero equity. Eligible applicants are U.S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, majority U.S. citizen or permanent resident ownership, and a principal investigator committed at least 20 hours per week. Proposals must not be majority-owned by multiple venture capital, private equity, or hedge fund firms.

All funded work must take place in the United States.

Robotics Grant – Apply Today | NSF SBIR Check recent critical alerts! (Last updated 4/16/2026) NSF will resume the submission of new Project Pitches to the SBIR/STTR programs in the coming weeks. Program Directors will continue to process Project Pitches that were previously received.

Please direct any questions to sbir@nsf. gov . SynTouch LLC BioTac Toccare provides tactile evaluations that are consistent, quantifiable, and reflective of human perceptions.

The Robotics topic covers robot intelligence and experiential learning, particularly in the areas of high-performance processors or hardware that provides situational awareness and improved artificial intelligence. Innovations in voice, obstacle and image recognition, emotional response and hand-eye coordination are encouraged.

We encourage proposals describing projects that borrow features from other animal nervous systems and include biologists, neuroscientists and psychologists on their team to exploit new knowledge in the study of the brain and behavior.

NSF also seeks proposals that address next-generation automation; the flexible and rapid reconfiguration of assembly lines allowing mass customization; the use of advanced control, scheduling, modularization, and decentralization with agile, mobile robotic systems that can enable the cost-effective manufacture of small lot-size products; and on-demand parts manufacturing.

Proposals to support the physical and educational needs of individuals with disabilities (e.g., vision, hearing, cognitive, motor related) are sought. Robotic applications in healthcare, smart drones and drone networks are appropriate.

Medical devices focused on providing new capabilities to doctors including surgery; robotic exoskeletons to enhance human strength; personal robots with an emphasis on human-centered end use and interaction, personal caregiving and increased autonomy; future of work; flying taxis; reverse engineering the human brain; robot sense, motion, thought, and emotion; human-robot art; and robots of augmentation are welcome.

Subtopics are not aimed at supporting or conducting clinical trials, clinical efficacy or safety studies, the development pre-clinical or clinical-stage drug candidates or medical devices, or work performed primarily for regulatory purposes. Limited studies with human subjects may be acceptable to the extent that they are performed in support of feasibility, such as proof-of-concept studies of early-stage technologies.

Proposals that request support for clinical studies will be deemed noncompliant with the SBIR/STTR solicitations and returned without review. R1. Human Assistive Technologies and Bio-related Robotics R2.

Human-Machine Interfaces and Control/Architecture R4. Robotics in Agile Manufacturing, and Co-Robots R5. Underground or Underwater Robotics for Low-Visibility, Poor-Connectivity or Hidden Topography R6.

Other Robotics Technologies Application process for Robotics (R) funding Eligibility for Robotics (R) funding + Your company must be a small business (fewer than 500 employees) located in the United States. At least 50% of your company’s equity must be owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

NSF does not fund companies that are majority-owned by multiple venture capital firms, private equity firms, or hedge funds, to participate in SBIR and STTR. All funded work, including work done by consultants and contractors, needs to take place in the United States. The project’s principal investigator (tech lead) must be legally employed at least 20 hours a week by the company seeking funding.

The principal investigator doesn’t need any advanced degrees. The principal investigator needs to commit to at least one month (173 hours) of work on a funded project per six months of project duration. Evaluation Criteria: What We Look for When Evaluating Robotics (R) proposals + Take our project assessment to see if your work might be a good fit for NSF funding.

Robot quickly picks and places orders Righthand Robotics, a small business funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is developing a robot that can pick and place thousands of products. To learn more visit: https://www. righthandrobotics.

com/ Blue River Technology Inc We invest up to $2 million in seed funding and take zero equity. We’re looking for companies that are transformative, high-risk, have a market pull, and are scaleable.