NASA iTech Finalists to Present Innovations at 2020 Cycle I Forum
Artificial intelligence augmented reality, smart sensors, and pathogen identifiers are just a few of the technologies selected by NASA center chief technologists to present at NASA iTech’s 2020 Cycle I forum. Nine finalist entrepreneurs will present their ideas to NASA leadership, space industry leaders, and potential investors at the virtual event Oct. 1-2.
An initiative by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, iTech engages entrepreneurs and fosters innovative ideas that could be applicable to future exploration missions and here on Earth. Engaging innovators from outside the agency provides an opportunity for real-time feedback on commercial technologies.
For this NASA iTechcycle, innovators worldwide submitted entries relating to the following technology areas: artificial intelligence and machine learning, biotechnology, system autonomy, and advanced manufacturing. A fifth area, X-factor innovations, drew entries for other technologies that could impact space exploration, even if the idea does not fall neatly into another category.
The NASA iTech 2020 Cycle I finalists and a description of the technologies they will present at the forum are:
Amalgamated Vision – Brentwood, Tennessee
A laser-based virtual retinal display, with technology that could allow for the emergence of extended reality and spatial computing
Aperiomics Inc. – Ashburn, Virginia
A technology that could identify every known microorganism, even if you don’t know what you are looking to find
Mojo Vision – Saratoga, California
Augmented reality contact lenses that could overlay images, symbols, and text on the wearer’s natural field of vision without restricting mobility or obstructing their view
NeuroFlow – Philadelphia
Automated digital health tools to give employees more efficient access to and engagement with behavioral health resources
Orbitless Drives Inc. – Vancouver, Canada
A compact fundamental gearing technology platform offering reduced gear noise and vibration, improved system efficiency, and higher motor input speed
Otolith Labs – Washington, D.C. (Winner of a NASA iTech Ignite the Night)
Wearable biotechnology to reduce motion sickness and mitigate vertigo both in space and on Earth
Sixdof Space – Jerusalem, Israel
An optical positional tracking approach for virtual reality and other systems
Skyrora – Edinburgh, United Kingdom
An eco-aviation fuel that could minimize the environmental impact of rocket launches
Tevosol – Edmonton, Canada (Winner of a NASA iTech Ignite the Night)
A portable and affordable warm perfusion machine to enables the presentation of naturally functioning organs to improve transplantation
During the two-day online forum, the finalists will engage with NASA, innovators, investors, and industry leaders. NASA iTech will announce three winners at the end of the forum, on Oct. 2.
To view the presentations Oct. 1-2, visit: