AVID Announces DARPA SBIR Phase II Contract Award

AVID Announces DARPA SBIR Phase II Contract Award for "Novel Airborne Video Sensors"

PRESS RELEASE, October 21, 2005

On October 18, 2005 AVID LLC announced an SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Phase II Award from DARPA , the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In Phase I of this Novel Airborne Video Sensors, AVID developed a valuable evaluation tool, Software Pixels on Target (SPOT). SPOT provides a decision maker in the field the capability to visualize the effect of sensor and aircraft performance prior to vehicle application for the detection of objects of interest.

DARPA is the central research and development organization for the Department of Defense (DoD). The purpose of DoD's SBIR and STTR programs is to harness the innovative talents of our nation's small technology companies for U.S. military and economic strength.  The SBIR and STTR Programs are highly prized with small businesses throughout the country competing for the prestigious awards. Phase II Awards are issued by the DoD only after a winning Phase I small business is invited to participate in Phase II. Very few small businesses move from Phase I into Phase II, which is the first step in delivering a product for market potential.

In Phase II, AVID LLC will demonstrate the advantages of creating a software package that can back-track through video record to discover potential sources of terrorist or enemy networks. AVID proposes to enhance and direct efforts to assist the decision maker in selecting the optimum sensor package for surveillance of a large area. Tools will be developed to efficiently store large amounts of sensor data and the capability to backtrack through the stored data for the detection of objects of interest.

"Attacks on U.S. soldiers are becoming increasingly anonymous and untraceable -- RPG attacks, IEDs, and suicide bombers. The only way to truly prevent these attacks is not by apprehending the person(s) actually perpetrating the attack but by destroying the underlying network. Through this SBIR, AVID LLC will create a tool set through which object of interest can be back-tracked through a video record. Using this tool post attack, an attacker may be traced back in time, discovering his contacts, and ultimately the top level organization", stated Kelly Londenberg, Senior Aircraft Design Analyst for AVID.

AVID LLC, with locations in Blacksburg and Yorktown, Virginia, specializes in aircraft design consulting and aircraft analysis and design software. AVID LLC provides aircraft design expertise and software support to U.S. Government agencies and aerospace companies, for both military and commercial sectors. Current projects emphasize design studies and design software for both small UAVs and manned aircraft as well as innovative use of sensors and other payloads.

For more information, please contact or visit our website at www.avidaerospace.com.

Other Links:

www.dodsbir.net

www.darpa.mil