2423352
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
SBIR Phase I: Long-term railcar-mounted wheel bearing monitors
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project is in improving the efficiency and safety of railroads by accelerating the commercialization of long-term railcar-mounted wheel bearing monitors.
These devices can provide live temperature monitoring of railcar wheel bearings in transit, enabling railroads to proactively prevent derailments caused by overheating of bearings.
This technology could dramatically reduce the economic impact of damaged equipment and infrastructure: the 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio which inspired this innovation resulted in over $2 billion in damages.
Furthermore, these devices can be deployed at a cost of at least two orders of magnitude lower than the cost of existing track-based defect detectors, providing railroads with a far better solution at a lower cost.
The potential benefits of this technology extend beyond railroad finances: many trains carry hazardous materials, and derailments run the risk of spilling carcinogens and other toxic substances, damaging ecosystems and harming nearby communities.
This innovation can drastically lower the risk of these catastrophes.
The intellectual merit of this project stems from its goal of ascertaining the effectiveness of wheel bearing monitors deployed on railcars long-term.
The primary innovation inherent in this project is the monitoring device, which will be designed to withstand the harsh environment of railroad use, update sensor readings over a cellular connection, and recharge in transit via a novel axial flux generator harvesting energy from the rotation of the railcar’s axle.
The research objectives revolve around quantifying sensor durability on a railcar truck, axial flux generator feasibility in railroad IoT devices, wireless sensor network reliability in a railroad environment, and digital temperature sensor accuracy and response time on a railcar wheel bearing.
It is anticipated that the technical results of this research will conclusively demonstrate that wheel bearing monitors of this type are suitable for long-term deployment in a railroad environment.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project is in improving the efficiency and safety of railroads by accelerating the commercialization of long-term railcar-mounted wheel bearing monitors.
These devices can provide live temperature monitoring of railcar wheel bearings in transit, enabling railroads to proactively prevent derailments caused by overheating of bearings.
This technology could dramatically reduce the economic impact of damaged equipment and infrastructure: the 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio which inspired this innovation resulted in over $2 billion in damages.
Furthermore, these devices can be deployed at a cost of at least two orders of magnitude lower than the cost of existing track-based defect detectors, providing railroads with a far better solution at a lower cost.
The potential benefits of this technology extend beyond railroad finances: many trains carry hazardous materials, and derailments run the risk of spilling carcinogens and other toxic substances, damaging ecosystems and harming nearby communities.
This innovation can drastically lower the risk of these catastrophes.
The intellectual merit of this project stems from its goal of ascertaining the effectiveness of wheel bearing monitors deployed on railcars long-term.
The primary innovation inherent in this project is the monitoring device, which will be designed to withstand the harsh environment of railroad use, update sensor readings over a cellular connection, and recharge in transit via a novel axial flux generator harvesting energy from the rotation of the railcar’s axle.
The research objectives revolve around quantifying sensor durability on a railcar truck, axial flux generator feasibility in railroad IoT devices, wireless sensor network reliability in a railroad environment, and digital temperature sensor accuracy and response time on a railcar wheel bearing.
It is anticipated that the technical results of this research will conclusively demonstrate that wheel bearing monitors of this type are suitable for long-term deployment in a railroad environment.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR)/ SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS PHASE I", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF23515
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Rogersville,
Missouri
65742-6200
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Bass Agritech was awarded
Project Grant 2423352
worth $269,642
from National Science Foundation in September 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Rogersville Missouri United States.
The grant
has a duration of 1 year and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
SBIR Phase I: Long-Term Railcar-Mounted Wheel Bearing Monitors
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this SBIR Phase I project is in improving the efficiency and safety of railroads by accelerating the commercialization of long-term railcar-mounted wheel bearing monitors. These devices can provide live temperature monitoring of railcar wheel bearings in transit, enabling railroads to proactively prevent derailments caused by overheating of bearings. This technology could dramatically reduce the economic impact of damaged equipment and infrastructure: the 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio which inspired this innovation resulted in over $2 billion in damages. Furthermore, these devices can be deployed at a cost of at least two orders of magnitude lower than the cost of existing track-based defect detectors, providing railroads with a far better solution at a lower cost. The potential benefits of this technology extend beyond railroad finances: many trains carry hazardous materials, and derailments run the risk of spilling carcinogens and other toxic substances, damaging ecosystems and harming nearby communities. This innovation can drastically lower the risk of these catastrophes.
The intellectual merit of this project stems from its goal of ascertaining the effectiveness of wheel bearing monitors deployed on railcars long-term. The primary innovation inherent in this project is the monitoring device, which will be designed to withstand the harsh environment of railroad use, update sensor readings over a cellular connection, and recharge in transit via a novel axial flux generator harvesting energy from the rotation of the railcar’s axle. The research objectives revolve around quantifying sensor durability on a railcar truck, axial flux generator feasibility in railroad IoT devices, wireless sensor network reliability in a railroad environment, and digital temperature sensor accuracy and response time on a railcar wheel bearing. It is anticipated that the technical results of this research will conclusively demonstrate that wheel bearing monitors of this type are suitable for long-term deployment in a railroad environment.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Topic Code
I
Solicitation Number
NSF 23-515
Status
(Complete)
Last Modified 9/17/24
Period of Performance
9/1/24
Start Date
8/31/25
End Date
Funding Split
$269.6K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$269.6K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2423352
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
HYYQJKRBTDD8
Awardee CAGE
None
Performance District
MO-07
Senators
Joshua Hawley
Eric Schmitt
Eric Schmitt
Modified: 9/17/24