Date: Nov 10, 2011 Source: Business Wire (
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Advanced Photonix, Inc. (NYSE Amex: API), announces that its subsidiary, Picometrix, has received a follow-on $600,000 Phase II government contract from NASA for further development of a computed tomography (CT) terahertz scanner accessory designed for single-sided inspection of spacecraft and launch vehicle composite structures. This contract, a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award, encourages small businesses to partner with non-profit research institutions to jointly develop new technologies for commercialization. For this contract Picometrix partnered with the University of Michigan Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department specializing in CT.
The contract encompasses developing a prototype for NASA over twenty-four months. When complete the CT option will be incorporated in the Company's world leading T-Ray® product platform. The CT option will include 3-axis motion control and software for creating three-dimensional (3D) images of complex aerospace composite structures from terahertz reflected signals. The CT option will enhance the ability to locate and quantify internal structures, regions of damage, porosity, cracking, delaminations, intrusion, and other sub-surface properties where standard reflection imaging is inadequate. The commercial potential of the technology extends well beyond NASA and includes flaw detection, hidden material detection, failure analysis, assembly analysis for automotive, commercial aerospace, homeland security, and other industries.
Richard (Rick) Kurtz President and CEO of Advanced Photonix, Inc, stated, "This is another example of our long and continuing partnership with NASA. In keeping with their tradition of accelerating the adoption of advanced nondestructive testing technologies, NASA has invested over $7M with us since 2003 to develop terahertz nondestructive testing solutions for the space shuttle and other aerospace applications. The CT option developed under this contract will enhance our ability for imaging complex structures, which will expand our quality and process control in aerospace and industrial markets."
About Advanced Photonix, Inc.
Advanced Photonix, Inc.® (NYSE Amex: API) is a leading supplier with a broad offering of optoelectronic products to a global customer base. We provide optoelectronic solutions, high-speed optical receivers and terahertz instrumentation for telecom, homeland security, military, medical and industrial markets. With our patented technology and state-of-the-art manufacturing we offer industry leading performance, exceptional quality, and high value-added products to our OEM customer base. For more information visit us on the web at www.advancedphotonix.com.
The information contained herein includes forward looking statements that are based on assumptions that management believes to be reasonable but are subject to inherent uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, unforeseen technological obstacles which may prevent or slow the development and/or manufacture of new products; potential problems with the integration of the acquired company and its technology and possible inability to achieve expected synergies; obstacles to successfully combining product offerings and lack of customer acceptance of such offerings; limited (or slower than anticipated) customer acceptance of new products which have been and are being developed by the Company; and a decline in the general demand for optoelectronic products. API-G
