Corporate giants aid UD ladar institute
Jun.19/07 22:34
DAYTON — Three corporate giants who are at the
cutting edge of ladar technology are stepping up to
sponsor the University of Dayton's recently launched
Ladar and Optical Communications Institute. Raytheon,
Lockheed-Martin and Textron Systems — all major
military defense contractors — have been named as
founding corporate members of the new institute.
The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded UD a $3.2 million grant in October to establish LOCI in the university's College Park Center.
UD has had one of the longest standing electro-optic programs in the nation, with more than 120 students having graduated with a masters and Ph.D. in the study.
Officials have boasted that the new institute will be the first in the nation to dedicate a curriculum to enhancing ladar technology.
Ladar is similar to radar, but uses infrared laser beams instead of radio waves to measure remote objects.
The technology has been sought out by the military as a means of uncovering terrorists hideouts, according to university officials. Other uses include technologies that assist in mapping, surveillance and targeting.
Larrell Walters , business manager for LOCI, said the corporate buy-ins bring the "highest levels" of credibility to the institute.
"In the realm of radar technology, by having these corporate sponsors involved it causes the rest of the world to pause and say 'If they are going to LOCI, I probably should too," Walters said. "These groups are taking on the challenge with this technology and are at the leading edge."
Furthermore, Walters said the institute's corporate backing will provide a pathway for moving the emerging technologies produced at LOCI to the market.
"While the needs of the federal government or homeland security may be extremely high, the steps taken to get there provides opportunities for commercialization of products that exceed current solutions," Walters said.
University officials declined to reveal the financial commitment made by the corporate sponsors. "The companies have asked us not to relay that information. It's multi-year, six-figure type funding," Walters said. The institute, which is on tract to open this fall, will be directed by Joe Haus and taught by 22 instructors from UD and the Air Force Institute of Technology.
Research is expected to be performed on campus and at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with government researchers.
The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded UD a $3.2 million grant in October to establish LOCI in the university's College Park Center.
UD has had one of the longest standing electro-optic programs in the nation, with more than 120 students having graduated with a masters and Ph.D. in the study.
Officials have boasted that the new institute will be the first in the nation to dedicate a curriculum to enhancing ladar technology.
Ladar is similar to radar, but uses infrared laser beams instead of radio waves to measure remote objects.
The technology has been sought out by the military as a means of uncovering terrorists hideouts, according to university officials. Other uses include technologies that assist in mapping, surveillance and targeting.
Larrell Walters , business manager for LOCI, said the corporate buy-ins bring the "highest levels" of credibility to the institute.
"In the realm of radar technology, by having these corporate sponsors involved it causes the rest of the world to pause and say 'If they are going to LOCI, I probably should too," Walters said. "These groups are taking on the challenge with this technology and are at the leading edge."
Furthermore, Walters said the institute's corporate backing will provide a pathway for moving the emerging technologies produced at LOCI to the market.
"While the needs of the federal government or homeland security may be extremely high, the steps taken to get there provides opportunities for commercialization of products that exceed current solutions," Walters said.
University officials declined to reveal the financial commitment made by the corporate sponsors. "The companies have asked us not to relay that information. It's multi-year, six-figure type funding," Walters said. The institute, which is on tract to open this fall, will be directed by Joe Haus and taught by 22 instructors from UD and the Air Force Institute of Technology.
Research is expected to be performed on campus and at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with government researchers.