TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Extremely Low Resource Optical Identifier (ELROI)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has issued a Special Notice regarding a technology licensing opportunity for its Extremely Low-Resource Optical Identifier (ELROI). ELROI is a solar-powered beacon designed to provide unique, autonomous identification for satellites, addressing critical challenges in space traffic management. This notice is for companies interested in licensing the technology for manufacturing, ground network expansion, or operator adoption, and is not a call for external services for its development.
Technology Overview
ELROI functions as a "license plate" for satellites, transmitting a custom identification number readable from the ground. It solves the persistent challenge of identifying space objects post-launch, especially when traditional methods are slow or impossible, and for defunct satellites. ELROI operates autonomously without requiring power or communication from the host spacecraft, providing a persistent identity signal throughout an object's orbital lifetime. It has been successfully demonstrated on LaCE-1 and R5-S4 satellites in 2024–25.
Key Advantages
- Ultra-Low SWaP-C: Minimal size, weight, power, and cost.
- No RF Interference: Uses optical signals, avoiding spectrum crowding.
- Autonomous and Passive: Operates independently, even on inactive satellites.
- Fast and Robust Identification: High-confidence decoding with ground-based photon counting.
- Scalable and Flexible: Integrates with various space objects, including CubeSats and debris.
- Resilient Design: Uses error-correcting codes for reliable ID recovery.
Market Applications
ELROI has significant applications in Space Traffic Management, Regulatory Compliance, Mission Assurance, End-of-Life Management, and for Commercial Launch Services.
Next Steps & Licensing
LANL seeks partners to advance ELROI through beacon manufacturing, ground network expansion, and operator adoption. Companies interested in licensing this TRL 8 technology (US Patent No. 11,750,677; 12,101,366; 12,101,367; Pending S133830) should contact licensing@lanl.gov.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Special Notice (Technology Licensing Opportunity)
- Set-Aside: None
- Response Due: August 22, 2026
- Published: May 15, 2026
- Agency: Department of Energy / Los Alamos National Laboratory
Additional Notes
This is a technology transfer initiative, not a procurement for services or products. The purpose is to move LANL's patented inventions to commercial innovations through licensing agreements.