SBIR-STTR Award

Applying Machine Learning Techniques for Sensitive Spectral Identification and Detection of Hazardous Target Molecules
Award last edited on: 7/16/2022

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DHS
Total Award Amount
$1,149,979
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
DHS221-005
Principal Investigator
Eamon Dimilano

Company Information

Caelum Research Corporation

30 West Gude Drive Suite 200
Rockville, MD 20850
   (301) 424-8205
   jahlberg@caelum.com
   www.caelum.com
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 08
County: Montgomery

Phase I

Contract Number: 70RSAT22C00000042
Start Date: 5/13/2022    Completed: 10/12/2022
Phase I year
2022
Phase I Amount
$150,000
Natural, extreme climate change, and human-induced disasters bring together teams of scientists and practitioners supported by several agencies, such as NOAA, NASA, EPA, and FEMA. These scientists and practitioners work at monitoring for conditions leading to, working through, and recovering from disastrous events. They currently use state-of-the-art sensors capable of detecting hazardous gases and chemical hazardous materials, which these sensors are individually calibrated for.Such sensor devices are in effect mobile lab stations, miniaturized, and target specific chemical toxin detectors.For the phase 1 study, Caelum has assembled a team of physicists and data scientists with experience in spectrometry and full-stack AI solutions development. Caelum Research Corporation has selected Spectromatics, LLC for its specific expertise as a subcontractor. We will develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform to augment and integrate into currently existing commercial chemical detectors produced by such firms as Honeywell, Ventis and ALTAIR. Our goal is to significantly increase the capacity and proficiency of these devices by adding AI capabilities through computational spectral analysis. We have aligned our vision with SBIR’s three phases. Phase 1: feasibility of spectral data and AI algorithms, Phase 2: functional prototype, and Phase 3: operational commercialization. Such computational analysis using AI increases the flexibility, capability and adaptability of toxin detection, as new toxins are discovered throughout the platform’s lifecycle. Our comprehensive and versatile AI algorithm, once implemented, will help multiple agencies and many of their commercial partners in the field of detection and mitigation of chemical hazards.

Phase II

Contract Number: 70RSAT23C00000014
Start Date: 4/6/2023    Completed: 4/5/2025
Phase II year
2023
Phase II Amount
$999,979
Our team has conducted a Phase 1 feasibility analysis of developing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform to augment and integrate into currently available biological aerosolized detectors in support of DHS and its BioWatchProgram.The BioWatch program was stood up in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003.The program currently operates in more than 30 metropolitan jurisdictions and provides early warning of a bioterrorist attack.Our goal is to significantly increase the capacity and proficiency of these devices by adding AI capabilities through computational spectral analysis.We have aligned our vision with SBIR's three phases.Phase 1 is feasibility, Phase 2 is a functional prototype, and Phase 3 is operational commercialization.Caelum Research Corporation has selected Spectromatics, LLC as a subcontractor for its specific expertise in this research and development effort.