Sparta Science Awarded Two AFWERX Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Contracts

Menlo Park, CA – Sparta Science, a scalable, machine learning-based movement health platform, has been awarded two AFWERX Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contracts by the United States Air Force. In addition to the two Phase II SBIRs awarded earlier this year, these Phase II SBIR contracts build on the success of AFWERX SBIR Phase I contracts awarded in 2021.

Sparta Science is actively collaborating with the Department of Defense on multiple SBIR projects to improve warfighter readiness by utilizing Sparta Science’s movement health intelligence platform. These initiatives will aim to enhance clinicians’ and practitioners’ abilities to identify individuals who are at heightened risk of injury at a scale relevant to the USAF. They also seek to help airmen optimize their physical fitness training.

Under one contract, the 59th Trainee Health Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base will collaborate with Sparta Science in the development of an artificial intelligence/machine learning-based (AI/ML) Injury Risk Identification capability for Basic Military Training. During the program, Sparta Science will closely assess trainees’ musculoskeletal health throughout the rigorous BMT program via force plate analysis and, along with associated diagnosis data from injured trainees, train Injury Risk Identification ML models to recognize the underlying patterns of risk. These models will aim to help BMT care teams identify injury risk early enough to address it, reducing BMT attrition and delayed graduation due to musculoskeletal injuries.

Under a second contract, the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base will collaborate with Sparta Science to establish an AI/ML-based platform that enables human performance SMEs to reach more airmen and facilitate their ability to intelligently and safely enhance their physical fitness test (PFT) scores. In this program, airmen will be assessed throughout their training regimen to collect data for a population-specific machine learning (ML) model. The resulting model will enable HP SMEs to have large scale oversight of individual airmen executing safe, self-adapting, merit-based progressions through fitness plans prescribed using objective assessments. Additionally, commanders and practitioners will be able to monitor unit-level status through aggregation dashboards.

“The breadth of actionable insights these USAF-sponsored research and development projects generate continues to grow,” said Sparta Science CEO and founder Dr. Phil Wagner. “Collaborating with the USAF enables us to create unique first-of-their-kind tools for the DoD to serve these essential populations with a commercial offering.”

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,000 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit: www.afresearchlab.com.

About AFWERX

AFWERX, a program office at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), connects innovators across government, industry and academia. Through innovation and collaboration with our nation’s top subject-matter experts and harnessing the power of ingenuity of internal talent, by expanding technology, talent, and transition partnerships for rapid and affordable commercial and military capability. 

Additional information is available at: https://www.afwerx.com/.

About AFVentures

AFVentures invests in emerging technologies to scale Department of the Air Force capabilities, strengthening the US industrial base that empowers Airmen and Guardians by incentivizing private, for-profit investment in national security interests. Our success is achieved by connecting novel commercial solutions with defense problem sets, de-risking Airmen and Guardian initiatives to fill capability gaps and transition technologies.

Learn more at https://afwerx.com/afventures-overview/.