SBIR & STTR
Elevate Systems: SBIR/STTR Program Participant
Elevate Systems brings cutting edge innovation for warfighter support challenges. These programs enable us to bridge R&D and real-world application, advancing technology that supports national priorities.
Research-Driven Innovation
Focused on high-impact R&D that addresses critical government needs through scientific and technical excellence.
Small Business Collaboration
Enables partnerships with research institutions (STTR) and leverages agile small business capabilities (SBIR).
Phase-Based Development
Structured in phases to progress from feasability to prototype to commercialization ensuring innovative technical solutions.
Key Benefits of Working with an SBIR / STTR Contract Holder
Early Access to Emerging Tech
Tap into breakthrough technologies before they reach the commercial market.Tailored R&D Solutions
Projects are designed around your specific mission needs and technical challenges.Agile Problem Solving
Small business structure means faster iterations, fewer bureaucratic delays, and more responsive innovation.Reduced Risk, High Potential
Phase-based funding allows you to evaluate feasibility before committing to larger investments.Sole Source Capabilities
The SBIR Phased Approach allows for direct sole source awards helping the client solve their problems faster and easierMission-Aligned Commercialization
Supports tech that not only works in the lab, but is built for field deployment and real-world impact.Commercial Comparisons STTR Phase I
AFWERX/Tinker AFMC 422 SCMS/GUEA
Commercial Comparisons STTR Phase I
AFWERX/Tinker AFMC 422 SCMS/GUEA
Using 2D-to-2D to find parts that are similar — Elevate’s innovative solution streamlines this process with software that uses advanced computer vision and AI/ML systems to analyze both 2D drawings and 3D models of parts, pulling out all the important details. Then, with the help of natural language processing models, 3D Convolutional Neural Networks, and 2D data, it fuels the Similarity Analysis Engine with rich information about the parts, looking at their shape, material, structure, function, and other attributes. This technology quickly opens the aperture to use commercial parts, which are often less expensive and more easily available to source.
Navy: STTR Phase I
United States Navy
Navy: STTR Phase I
United States Navy
Using 2D-to-2D to process TDPs to identify components for AM develop a proof-of-concept system that will maximize system readiness by enabling the rapid identification of candidate parts for AM. This tool would operate by extracting component data such as geometry, material properties, tolerances, and performance requirements from technical data.
US Army Letterkenny Army Depot Phase I
US Army
US Army Letterkenny Army Depot Phase I
US Army
Elevate Systems is pioneering an AI-powered reverse engineering technology platform to address the U.S. Army's urgent need for modernizing sustainment practices across its vast inventory of legacy systems. By transforming outdated 2D technical data—including mylar, sepia, and scanned PDFs—into searchable, machine-readable, and manipulatable digital files, Elevate’s solution dramatically improves access to engineering data critical for parts replacement and manufacturing. Utilizing computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing, the platform reduces the cognitive and manual burden on Army personnel, while laying the foundation for future conversion to 3D CAD models for both additive and traditional manufacturing. This approach enhances readiness, reduces costs, and improves operational resilience. Building on past successes with the Air Force and Navy, Elevate Systems will demonstrate feasibility through a user-focused, human-in-the-loop framework and deliver a scalable tool to strengthen the Army's digital sustainment infrastructure.
2D to 2D: 848th SCMG (Phase I)
AFWERX/Tinker
2D to 2D: 848th SCMG (Phase I)
AFWERX/Tinker
In our SBIR Phase I effort, Elevate Systems developed and demonstrated a proof-of-concept tool to convert legacy 2D technical drawings into clean, searchable 2D digital files. Using AI/ML and computer vision technologies, we processed degraded or blotched scanned drawings and restored them into usable formats, enabling the rapid digitization of legacy assets. This early success validated the need for automated technical data modernization to support sustainment and reverse engineering initiatives across the Department of Defense.
2D to 2D: 848th SCMG (Phase II)
AFWERX/Tinker
2D to 2D: 848th SCMG (Phase II)
AFWERX/Tinker
During the Direct-to-Phase II (D2P2) award, Elevate Systems expanded the tool’s capability to handle large volumes of technical data across multiple formats and levels of degradation. We focused on scalability, integration with Air Force engineering workflows, and automation of metadata extraction to improve traceability, compliance, and reusability. The resulting system, now branded as OPTIX™, demonstrated significant reductions in time and effort required to digitize and structure complex legacy drawings, directly supporting Air Force sustainment missions.
2D to 2D (TACFI)
AFWERX / Tinker 848th SCMG
2D to 2D (TACFI)
AFWERX / Tinker 848th SCMG
Under our ongoing TACFI effort, Elevate Systems is deploying OPTIX™ across enterprise-level environments to support mass ingestion and transformation of legacy technical data. This phase includes enhancements for bulk processing, secure data handling, and advanced analytics that allow engineering teams to prioritize, sort, and search through technical drawings efficiently. OPTIX™ is currently being validated with Air Force partners to support legacy weapon systems, improve supply chain responsiveness, and enable downstream applications such as 3D conversion, reverse engineering, and digital twin development.
REACT: Reverse Engineering and Critical Tooling Group (Phase I)
AFWERX
REACT: Reverse Engineering and Critical Tooling Group (Phase I)
AFWERX
Elevate Systems addresses the lack of vectorized 2D drawings and searchable drawing data through a 2D to 2D design system for digital manipulation. Our solution provides a way to convert drawings and technical data using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and human intervention into a readable 2D file with associated metadata. This capability enables a path towards a centralized and coherent data management system that addresses many supply chain management issues such as cross-referencing part numbers to assemblies and searching for specific material specifications, part numbers, national stock numbers, CAGE codes, contract numbers, and processes. In Phase I, Elevate Systems further refined its technology by implementing and demonstrating the feasibility of the technology using flat 2D drawings created by Elevate Systems in support of US Air Force and US Navy weapon systems. We performed a great deal of research to further enhance the technology with drawing relationship mapping, drawing vectorization, and handwritten data extraction. These efforts can provide a process for eventually converting 2D digital data into manipulatable 3D CAD files for additive manufacturing and 3D models for traditional manufacturing in future efforts. These benefits can provide the DoD the capability to maintain their aging fleets, a significant reduction in sustainment costs, an increase in process efficiencies, and improved weapon systems and aircraft readiness.
DMEA: STTR Phase I
DMEA
DMEA: STTR Phase I
DMEA
2D-to-2D for PCBs — Elevate Systems evaluated the feasibility of adapting their technology for use in microelectronics sustainment workflows to address challenges related to visual recognition and inspection, bill of materials construction, design extraction, and layer extraction of warped PCB boards with reconstruction artifacts.
B-1 Landing Gear: AFB (D2P2)
AFWERX / Landing Gear Program Office at Hill
B-1 Landing Gear: AFB (D2P2)
AFWERX / Landing Gear Program Office at Hill
Elevate Systems supported the B-1 Bomber by converting 22 lubrication pin part numbers into fully validated 3D digital files, enabling organic additive manufacturing through the RAPID Center at Hill Air Force Base. By reverse engineering and developing precise 3D models, we helped the Air Force rapidly qualify the assets for on-demand 3D printing. This effort significantly streamlined the acquisition process—reducing procurement lead times from months to a single day—and delivered cost savings exceeding 80% per asset, while enhancing fleet readiness and self-sustainment capabilities.
E-3 AWACS EFB
AFWERX/Tinker E-3 SPO
E-3 AWACS EFB
AFWERX/Tinker E-3 SPO
Elevate Systems supported the E-3 AWACS program by reverse engineering and redesigning components of the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) mounting system using advanced additive manufacturing techniques. Our team delivered a rugged, lightweight solution tailored to the unique operational demands of the platform, improving usability and reducing part lead times. This effort enabled the Air Force to modernize cockpit equipment integration while maintaining full airworthiness and mission readiness.
F-16 TANG D2P2
AFWERX / 149th Fighter Wing
F-16 TANG D2P2
AFWERX / 149th Fighter Wing
Elevate Systems is executing a D2P2 effort for the F-16 platform focused on increasing aircraft parts availability by leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline the additive manufacturing approval process. Our team is developing an AI-based tool that generates engineering substantiation packages for plastic 3D printed components, automating the creation of technical documentation needed to support airworthiness and sustainment approval. This solution reduces the time and effort required to evaluate and approve parts for flight use, accelerating readiness, improving maintainability, and enabling rapid response to part shortages across the F-16 fleet.
Spacewerx OSAM (Phase I)
AFWERX / Spaceforce
Spacewerx OSAM (Phase I)
AFWERX / Spaceforce
The proposed SBIR Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) effort focused on designing a conceptual metal recycling spacecraft, the Orbital Recycling Spacecraft (ORS), that would leverage Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence(ML/AI) to quantify and sort space debris to manufacture billets of aluminum in space.