PROTOINNOVATIONS, LLC

Pittsburgh, PA · Aerospace · Private

Simulation software and perception algorithms for lunar surface hazard detection and rover autonomy

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Updated Oct 23, 2026

Sector: Aerospace
Headquarters: Pittsburgh, PA
Total capital: $23.5M

Federal grants: $10.7M; 12 awards · 2015–2025; Rank in peer group#18 of 55
Private capital raised: None on recordNo Form D filings on SEC EDGAR. Some raises are not filed.
Federal contracts: $12.9M; 25 awards · NASA, Defense; Rank in Aerospace#199 of 1335
Granted patents: None on recordNo USPTO grants. Applications publish after 18 months.

Capital timeline

Latest events

Sep 2025Federal contractNASA · SBIR Phase III 80NSSC25C0492 K-REX2 Rover ROS2 Control Interface$106K
Jul 2025Federal contractNASA · Phase II SBIR$850K
Jul 2025Federal grantNASA · Phase II · Phase II SBIR$850K
Jul 2025Federal grantNASA · Phase II · Phase II SBIR - Set Partitioning Framework For Identifying Lrus With Built-in Diagnostics$850K
Jul 2025Federal contractNASA · Phase II SBIR - Set Partitioning Framework For Identifying Lrus With Built-in Diagnostics$850K
Aug 2024Federal contractNASA · FY24 SBIR Phase I - Set Partitioning Framework For Identifying Lrus With Built-in Diagnostics$149K
Aug 2024Federal contractNASA · FY24 SBIR Phase I- Modular Software Architecture And Algorithms For Fast And Efficient Lunar Mobility (m-safe)$150K

Show 30 earlier federal awards

Jul 2024Federal grantNASA · Phase I · FY24 SBIR Phase I - Set Partitioning Framework For Identifying Lrus With Built-in Diagnostics$149K
Jul 2024Federal grantNASA · Phase I · FY24 SBIR Phase I- Modular Software Architecture And Algorithms For Fast And Efficient Lunar Mobility (m-safe)$150K
Dec 2023Federal grantNASA · Phase II · STTR Phase II A Software Framework For Advancing Perception Capabilities For Rovers Operating In Harsh Lunar Environments$850K
Dec 2023Federal contractNASA · STTR Phase II A Software Framework For Advancing Perception Capabilities For Rovers Operating In Harsh Lunar Environments$850K
Aug 2022Federal grantNASA · Phase II · Multi-Platform, Scalable, and Modular Rover Flight Software Control Algorithms and Architectures for Autonomous ISRU Excavation, Transportation, and Deposition for Lunar Operations$4.6M
Jul 2022Federal grantNASA · Phase I · A Software Framework for Advancing Perception Capabilities for Rovers Operating in Harsh Lunar Environments$150K
May 2022Federal contractNASA · EO14042 Phase II SBIR Rover Slip Estimation And Traction Control For Optimal Mobility In Lunar Environments$1.1M
Jul 2021Federal grantNASA · Phase II · Dynamically Reconfigurable Software and Mobility Architecture for Autonomous Planetary Rovers$750K
Sep 2020Federal contractNASA · Rover Slip Estimation And Traction Control For Optimal Mobility In Lunar Environments$3.8M
Aug 2020Federal contractNASA · Dynamically Reconfigurable Software And Mobility Architecture For Autonomous Planetary Rovers$125K
Jun 2020Federal contractNASA · Intelligent Robotic Lunar Wheel With Accurate And Robust Real-time Mobility Assessment And Response Capabilities$750K
Aug 2019Federal contractNASA · Protoinnovations, Llc Proposes To Research, Design, Develop, Test, And Validate An Intelligent, Robotic, Lunar Wheel (irlw) With Integrated Sensing And Perception Subsystems$125K
Jul 2019Federal contractNASA · Protoinnovations, Llc Is Developing A Rover-based Non-prehensile Manipulation (rbnpm) Control Architecture And Associated Algorithms, Tools, And Metrics To Maximize The Mobile Manipulation Capabilities Of Robotic Rovers Using Existing Actuated Degrees-offreedom (dof) Such As Wheel Rotation Or Steering. These New Or Improved Capabilities Allow Rovers To Change The Environment Around Them To Improve Terrainability, Perform New Scientific Investigations, Or Accomplish Basic Construction Tasks Witho$750K
Jul 2018Federal contractNASA · Protoinnovations, Llc (pi) Will Research, Design, Develop, And Validate Advanced Locomotion Controls, Rover-based Non-prehensile Manipulation (rnm) Actions, And Novel Hardware/software Architectures To Allow Rovers To Alter The Environment Around Them For The Purposes Of Improving Terrainability, Aiding In Scientific Investigations, And Accomplishing Construction Tasks. This Work Will Require The Development Of Analytical Models For Different Rover Configurations And Different Terrains. These Mo$125K
May 2018Federal grantNASA · Phase II · Tensegrital Wheel for Enhanced Surface Mobility$750K
Jun 2017Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf Protoinnovations Introduces The "tensegrital Wheel" An Inventive Concept For Wheeled Locomotion That Exploits The Geometric And Mechanical Attributes Of A Tensegrity Structure To Engage With The Terrain In An Effective And Efficient Manner. The Tensegrital Wheel Emulates The Behavior Of A Variable Pressure Tire Without The Need For An Inflation System. The Construction Of The Tensegrital Wheel Is Such That It Absorbs And Diffuses Ground Forces Fairly Evenly. The Stiffness Of The Te$125K
Apr 2017Federal grantNASA · Phase II · Retractable Robotic Anchor for Hard Rock and Granular Soils$750K
Jun 2016Federal grantNASA · Phase I · Increasing the Performance of Autonomous Planetary Robots Through Environmental Manipulations$125K
Jun 2016Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf Protoinnovations Proposes To Research, Develop, And Validate An Innovative Retractable Robotic Anchoring Mechanism That Works Both In Hard Rock And Granular Soils Permitting Anchoring And Subsequent Repositioning Of A Lander, Rover Or Other Equipment. Our Goal Is To Support A Number Of Mission Targets To Mars, The Moon, And Asteroids. The Technology Proposed Here Is Of Special Value To Planetary Missions Involving Extreme Terrain Mobility, Small Body/microgravity Mobility, And Miss$125K
May 2015Federal grantNASA · Phase II · Advanced Algorithms and Controls for Superior Robotic All-Terrain Mobility$750K
Jul 2014Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf "krex Engineering Support And Prototype Improvements" SBIR Phase III$60K
Jun 2014Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf Partnership To Research, Develop, And Experimentally Test A Suite Of Methods For Significantly Improving The Safety, Mean Travel Speed, And Rough-terrain Access Of Wheeled Planetary Exploration Rovers. We Will Accomplish This By Developing Algorithms For All-terrain Adaptive Locomotion. This Will Include Algorithms For: 1. Traction Control, Which Will Intelligently Govern Individual Wheel Commands As A Function Of Terrain Conditions In Order To Measurably Decrease Wheel Slip; And, 2$125K
Mar 2013Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf "krex Engineering And Prototype Inmprovement"$411K
Jun 2012Federal contractNASA · Igf::ot::igf - SBIR Phase III Idiq Task Order Contract Entitled "lunar All Terrain Utility For Eva Engineering Support"$44K
Aug 2011Federal contractDefense · Basic$749K
Aug 2011Federal contractNASA · Protoinnovations, Llc And Carnegie Mellon University Have Formed A Partnership To Commercially Develop Rover-autonomy Technologies Into Reliable Autonomous Surface Mobility (rasm). Our Aim Is To Provide Safe And Reliable Means For Lunar Rovers To Travel At Substantial Speeds And Operate In Proximity To Astronauts And Other Vehicles. Our Unique Partnership Brings Together State-of-art Technologies For Autonomous Rover Navigation With Experience In Delivering And Supporting Mobility Systems For Na$599K
Mar 2011Federal contractNASA · Protoinnovations, Llc And Carnegie Mellon University Have Formed A Partnership To Commercially Develop Localization And Mapping Technologies For Planetary Rovers. Our First Aim Is To Provide A Reliable Means Of Localization That Is Independent Of Infrastructure, Such As GPS, And Compatible With Requirements Of Missions To Planetary Surfaces. Simultaneously Solving For The Precise Location Of The Rover As It Moves While Building An Accurate Map Of The Environment Is An Optimization Problem Involv$100K
Jan 2010Federal contractNASA · Protoinnovations, Llc And Carnegie Mellon University Have Formed A Partnership To Commercially Develop Rover-autonomy Technologies Into Reliable Autonomous Surface Mobility (rasm). Our Aim Is To Provide Safe And Reliable Means For Lunar Rovers To Travel At Substantial Speeds And Operate In Proximity To Astronauts And Other Vehicles. Our Unique Partnership Brings Together State-of-art Technologies For Autonomous Rover Navigation With Experience In Delivering And Supporting Mobility Systems For Na$100K
Nov 2009Federal contractDefense · First Status Report$99K
Feb 2008Federal contractNASA · Lunar All-terrain Vehicle For Eva$599K

Node area is scaled to amount. Form D reports securities sold, which can differ from an announced round; filings are numbered in the order they were made.

Standing among 55 peers

Line = median

Aerospace · Orbital_ops · Software

Federal grants#18 · top 33%

Cumulative measures favor older companies. Rankings describe position today, not outcome. Below the median, ranks show as a band rather than a number.

Founders and team

No founders are linked to this company yet.

Founders appear once a person is matched to the company through its own patents, grants or filings. We never infer people from social profiles.

Checked: USPTO inventors; federal award principal investigators; SEC Form D related persons · Oct 23, 2026

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What it has protected

No granted patents are on record.

USPTO usually publishes applications 18 months after filing, so recent applications may not be visible yet. Patents assigned under a different entity name won’t match.

Checked: USPTO granted patents and published applications · Oct 23, 2026

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Regulatory activity · Aerospace

Sector-level, not company-level

06 Jul 2026Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of NASA-Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964National Aeronautics and Space Administration
01 Jul 2026Special Conditions: AMAC Aerospace, The Boeing Company Model 747- 8 Airplane; Side-Facing SeatsFederal Aviation Administration
26 Jun 2026Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Miscellaneous AmendmentsFederal Aviation Administration
23 Jun 2026Operating Limitations at John F. Kennedy International AirportFederal Aviation Administration
23 Jun 2026Operating Limitations at New York LaGuardia AirportFederal Aviation Administration
18 Jun 2026Special Conditions: Honeywell Aerospace US LLC, Dassault Aviation Model Falcon 900EX Airplane; Electronic System Security Protection From Unauthorized External AccessFederal Aviation Administration

Rules are matched to sector, not to company. Recent activity in a sector is context rather than a signal about this business — until rules are matched to what a company actually builds, the section is shown as context and nothing more.

Sources

Federal grants from SBIR/STTR, NIH, NSF and DoD records. Federal contracts from USAspending.gov. Private capital from SEC Form D. Patents from USPTO. Publications from OpenAlex. Regulatory activity from the Federal Register. Press matched on company name.

How to read this page

Figures show associations in public records, not causes or predictions. Nothing here is investment advice. An em-dash means no record was found under this company's name, not that none exists.

Data freshness

SEC Form D filings through Oct 23, 2026. SBIR and STTR awards through Oct 21, 2026.