1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
This listing may be outdated. Verify details at the official source before applying.
Find similar grantsAutonomous Internal Exploration and Inspection of Confined Spaces (SBIR) is sponsored by U.S. Air Force (via SBIR). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.
Get a weekly digest of new grants like this
A free weekly digest of new foundation and federal funding opportunities as they're added to Granted. Unsubscribe anytime.
Or search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Autonomous Internal Exploration and Inspection of Confined Spaces PITTSBURGH, PA, 15222-5621 Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No Congressional District: 14 Total Award Amount: $1,249,832 Contract Number: FA8571-26-C-0010 Agency Tracking Number: F2D-19389 Solicitation Topic Code: AF254-D0824 Solicitation Number: 25.
4 Edge Case Research proposes the development of an Autonomous Confined Space Inspection Platform (ACSIP) to address the U.S. Air Force’s critical need for safe, efficient, and reliable inspection of aircraft fuel tanks and other confined spaces.
Leveraging the proven DARPA Subterranean (SubT) robotics stack and Edge Case’s proprietary Safety of the Intended Functionality (SOTIF) Meta-Algorithm, this Phase II SBIR effort will deliver a fully autonomous, safety-assured robotic system capable of navigating and inspecting complex, GPS-denied, and hazardous environments without human entry.
The proposed system integrates advanced perception, planning, and control algorithms with real-time safety monitoring to ensure dependable operation in safety-critical conditions. The perception module adapts LiDAR and camera-based SLAM for low-light, feature-sparse environments, enabling high-resolution 3D mapping and defect detection.
The navigation system employs adaptive path planning and obstacle avoidance tailored to the unique geometries of aircraft fuel tanks, while the control system ensures precise maneuvering in confined spaces. A key innovation is the integration of runtime safety assurance using statistical anomaly detection techniques, including KL divergence and Wasserstein distance, to monitor deviations from expected operational behavior.
This enables the system to detect and respond to unknown hazards in real time, enhancing reliability and trustworthiness. The project also includes a robust simulation-to-reality validation pipeline, ensuring that safety metrics derived in simulation accurately predict real-world performance. The work plan follows a structured, milestone-driven approach aligned with ISO 21448 and MIL-STD-882E standards.
It includes hazard analysis, fault tree modeling, SPI instrumentation, simulation-based risk validation, real-world testing, and final system demonstration. The dual-site validation strategy—at Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex and the 171st Air Refueling Wing—ensures scalability and operational relevance across the Air Force enterprise.
Commercial applications span aviation, oil and gas, chemical processing, and maritime industries, where confined space inspections are costly, dangerous, and labor-intensive. ACSIP offers a transformative solution, reducing inspection time and cost while eliminating human exposure to hazardous environments.
With strong commercial traction, strategic defense partnerships, and a scalable architecture, Edge Case is positioned to lead the market in autonomous inspection systems.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Small businesses in the United States. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
This listing does not include a published deadline, but it is an annual program. Check the official notice for the current cycle's exact dates.
Autonomous Internal Exploration and Inspection of Confined Spaces (SBIR) is funded by U.S. Air Force (via SBIR). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
The DSO DPA26BZ03 drop pairs a wearable closed-loop sleep system and a host-pathogen interactome predictor with a brutal Rydberg-sensor manufacturing topic and air-independent high-density batteries. All four open June 24 and close July 22, 2026. Here is what each topic is really asking for, and which small businesses are positioned to win.
Read articleThe Department of the Navy pre-released FY26 Release 3 SBIR/STTR on June 3, 2026 — 12 BAA topics and one Commercial Solutions Opening for Counter-Unmanned Air Systems. Topics span adaptive sensor management, anomalous behavior detection, satellite imagery optimization, real-time zero-trust data for combat systems, and gun weapon systems modernization. Technical questions cut off June 23. Proposals open June 24 and close July 22. NAVAIR and NAVSEA co-host a Counter-UAS webinar June 16. Phase I funding tops out at $315,000. The CSO open topic for AI-powered drone defense is the structural news: it's the first time NAVAIR has used a CSO vehicle to fund counter-drone work outside the conventional Phase I/II structure, and it changes how small businesses can engage with the Navy's most urgent capability gap.
Read articleOn June 3, the Department of the Navy pre-released FY26 Release 3 SBIR/STTR — 12 conventional BAA topics and a Counter-Unmanned Air Systems Commercial Solutions Opening. Topics span adaptive sensor management, anomalous behavior detection, satellite imagery optimization, real-time zero-trust data for combat systems, and gun weapon systems modernization. The proposal window runs June 24 to July 22, 2026. The technical questions cutoff is June 23. NAVAIR and NAVSEA are hosting a Counter-UAS webinar on June 16. Here is what the topic mix actually signals about Navy priorities and how small businesses should position.
Read article