January 11, 2024
Recommended:
Related Phase I SBIR Research - Artificially Intelligent RAMAN Spectrometer to Detect Chemical and Biological Pathogens in a Field Setting
Forward Edge-AI, Inc. is leading the way in advanced, field-deployable fuel quality testing with its AI-Powered Raman Spectrometer (Blaise™)—a breakthrough solution that aligns with Government Efficiency initiatives. By integrating artificial intelligence, federated learning, and cutting-edge spectroscopic analysis, this low-cost, portable device significantly enhances the speed, accuracy, and affordability of fuel testing for military and commercial applications.
Blaise Prototype (Patent Pending)
Key Benefits and Efficiencies
Cost Reduction: At under $800, Blaise™ delivers precise fuel analysis at a fraction of the cost of traditional laboratory-based methods, which can exceed $30,000 per system.
Operational Efficiency: The compact and ruggedized Blaise™ replaces bulky, inaccurate field kits and eliminates 30–45-day mission delays caused by PAO contamination in fifth-generation aircraft.
Federated Learning Integration: Enables real-time adaptation to evolving fuel contaminants without compromising security, reducing reliance on expensive and time-consuming central laboratory testing.
Predictive Maintenance: Blaise™ identifies contaminants like Polyalphaolefin (PAO), microbial growth, and potentially in the near future - thermal degradation indicators, preventing costly engine wear and reducing sustainment costs in high-performance aircraft.
Expedited Decision-Making: Field-ready fuel analysis enhances Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations, ensuring mission readiness and reducing fuel-related downtime.
Strategic Military and Commercial Impact
Military Applications: Supports expeditionary fuel testing, jet fuel analysis, and missile propellant verification, directly improving F-35 fleet readiness and eliminating $81,000 per-unit defuel cart costs.
Commercial Adoption: Streamlines on-site fuel verification for refineries, aviation, and petrochemical industries, ensuring compliance with ASTM, DEF STAN, and MIL-DTL standards.
Sustainability and Compliance: Reduces waste and environmental impact by enhancing fuel efficiency and contamination prevention, aligning with cost-effective, sustainable operation requirements.
By leveraging AI-driven automation and federated learning, Forward Edge-AI’s Blaise™enhances mission readiness, cuts costs, and modernizes fuel testing to meet government efficiency mandates. This innovative solution ensures greater security, rapid decision-making, and long-term operational savings, reinforcing national defense and commercial aviation sustainability.
The potential commercial payoff of an affordable, intelligent, and networked micro Raman system capable of determining aviation fuel quality is profound in that it can ultimately prevent aircraft catastrophes. The proposed solution extends to a wide range of related use cases including: 1) Security - identifying/analyzing trace explosives, narcotics, chemical warfare agents, and other toxic chemicals, 2) Consumer – low cost capability to scan common goods for dangerous pathogens, pesticides and other chemicals, 3) Water – similar to fuel, testing water quality in expeditionary environments can be expensive requiring lab-based testing supply chains that include refrigeration, 4) Life Sciences - single cells drug interactions, disease diagnosis, and 5) Pharmaceutics - uniformity and component distribution.
For further details on how Blaise™ can transform your fuel testing operations, contact Forward Edge-AI, Inc. today.
Stakeholders
Award a Phase III Sole Source Contract
A Federal Agency may enter into a Phase III SBIR/STTR agreement at any time with a Phase I OR II Awardee. A subcontract to a Federally funded prime contract may be a Phase III award.
Step 1 Requirements Document: Prepare a Statement of Work (SOW), Statement of Objectives (SOO), or Performance Work Statement (PWS), or use our automated tool to generate a document
Step 2 Market Research: Use this page as your market research, or view a list of other eligible projects, then request a Rough Order Magnitude (ROM) from Forward Edge-AI
Step 3 Funding: Performed by the government
Step 4 Sole Source Justification: A Memorandum for the Record is required in lieu of a J&A or SSJ
Step 5 Provide Requirements Package to Contracting Officer: Performed by the government
Step 6 Solicitation: Performed by the government
Step 7 Pre-Negotiation Memorandum: Use GSA CALC as a benchmark to determine fair and reasonableness of our ROM
Step 8: Contract Award: Performed by the government
Language for Step 4 (Determination and Finding):
Artificial Intelligence (CNN/RNN), Android ATAK, Federated Learning Marketplace, Machine Learning, Microsoft Azure, signal processing (Wavelet and Fourier transformation), Raman Spectroscopy
Contested logistics (fuel and water quality testing), Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) detection, explosives detection, Expeditionary Environments
List of Phase III contracts awarded so far
Come back soon
SBIR DATA RIGHTS:
Awarding Agency: US Air Force
Contract Number: FA810024C0003
Contractor Name: Forward Edge-AI, Inc.
Contractor Address: 10108 Carter Canyon, San Antonio, TX 78255
Expiration of SBIR Data: March 08, 2044
Protection Period: 20 years from award of contract on March 08, 2024
The Government's rights to use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or disclose technical data or computer software marked with this legend are restricted during the period shown as provided in paragraph (b)(5) of the Rights In Other Than Commercial Technical Data and Computer Software–Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program clause contained in the above identified contract. After the expiration date shown above, the Government has perpetual government purpose rights as provided in paragraph (b)(5) of that clause. Any reproduction of technical data, computer software, or portions thereof marked with this legend must also reproduce the markings.
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