Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)
Boston Micromachines Awarded Grant to Build Device to Prevent Friendly Fire
United States Army Awards Boston Micromachines Phase II STTR
WATERTOWN, Mass., Nov. 27 -- Boston Micromachines Corporation, a leading provider of MEMS-based deformable mirror products for adaptive optics systems, today announced that it has been selected by the United States Army for a Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) award through the Department of Defense. The STTR award of approximately $750,000 will allow Boston Micromachines and its research partner Boston University to advance the development of its Secure Communicating Optical Ultra-small Transponder (SCOUT).
This goal of the new device is to help save lives on the battlefield through secure optical communication using an active mirror enabling the rapid identification of friendly soldiers, vehicles, or aircraft. The initial concepts for SCOUT were developed under a Phase I STTR award and success in that effort lead to the competitive selection of Phase II funding. The technical objective of the Phase II two year project will be to develop a compact, portable, low power, light weight, and low cost modulated retro- reflecting device for free-space covert communication and remote sensor interrogation, and demonstrate its functionality.
"We are pleased that the United States Army has chosen to expand its investment in our high-performance deformable micromirror technology," said Paul Bierden, president and CEO of Boston Micromachines. "This grant will further our aim to help address an ever growing concern for our military forces."
STTR is an important small business program that expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development arena. Central to the program is expansion of the public/private sector partnership to include the joint venture opportunities for small business and the nation's premier nonprofit research institutions. STTR's most important role is to foster the innovation necessary to meet the nation's scientific and technological challenges in the 21st century.
About Boston Micromachines Corporation
Founded in 1999, Boston Micromachines Corporation (BMC) is the leading provider of advanced microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) - based mirror products for use in commercial adaptive optics systems, applying wavefront correction to produce high resolution images of the human retina and enhance images blurred by the Earth's atmosphere. The company's suite of award- winning compact deformable mirror (DM) products are the most cost-effective, highest performance mirrors in the market today. They are widely used in vision science applications such as advanced optic retinal imaging, long range laser communications, and astronomy, including NASA's search for planets in other solar systems. Customers include leading manufacturers of optical imaging and communication systems, governmental agencies and contractors, and vision science research laboratories worldwide, including NASA, UCal Berkeley, Lockheed Martin and Boston University. Located in Watertown, Mass., BMC is privately held and also offers custom designed manufacturing services. For more information on BMC, please visit www.bostonmicromachines.com.
Source: Boston Micromachines Corporation
CONTACT:
Laura MacSweeney
of Red Javelin Communications,
+1-781-395-6420,
laura@redjavelin.com
Web site: www.bostonmicromachines.com/
