RIT Helping Develop Better Imaging Devices For Defense, Homeland Security
The project, which will improve the performance and cost of imaging systems, is being funded as part of a $750,000 Small Business Technology Transfer contract with the U.S. Army Research Office in Research Triangle Park, N.C. GG&C and its academic partners are developing a dual band extended depth of field telescope system for defense and homeland security applications, such as rapid surveillance of military and civilian installations.
“This is an important technology for defense and homeland security,” says Conger Gabel, GG&C chief executive officer and the project’s principal investigator. “It enables more effective systems to ensure the safety of military personnel and both military and civilian installations, such as airfields, harbors and production facilities. The technology also has numerous commercial applications.”
The technology was developed by Nicholas George, GG&C chief technology officer and the Joseph C. Wilson Professor of Electronic Imaging and Optics at the University of Rochester, and Wanli Chi at UR’s Institute of Optics.
“By combining advanced optical components and digital image processing, we are able to extend the range of sharp focus of ordinary optical systems, such as telescopes, cameras and microscopes, by a factor of ten,” George says.
Adds Mustafa Abushagur, director of RIT’s doctoral program in microsystems engineering, who is the RIT principal investigator on the project: “RIT is delighted to be working with GG&C Imaging Systems on this important project. We are bringing our knowledge and technical capabilities in microsystems to bear on the imaging sensor that is a key component of the dual band extended depth of field telescope system.”
GG&C is a start-up company focused on developing advanced imaging technologies.
“We are pursuing market opportunities in enhanced telescope systems, improved performance and lower cost digital cameras, and microscope systems for machine vision systems and research,” says Gary Conners, GG&C vice president for business development.
Adds GG&C’s Gabel: “The combination of advance optical technologies, electronics and digital imaging processing is revolutionizing imaging systems. We are fortunate to be located in upstate New York with an outstanding pool of talent at universities and companies in the area. We are hard at work on exciting new technologies and on forming partnerships with major players in the industry.”
Note: The information in this news release does not necessarily reflect the official position or endorsement of the U.S. Army.