Date: Jun 28, 2012 Source: (
click here to go to the source)
State College, PA - June 28, 2012 - In 2004 KCF Technologies was funded through a Navy Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) project (N04-T020) to create a tether-based underwater positioning system for a variety of underwater applications including positioning vehicles in mine countermeasure applications. Through several years of development, KCF created a technology that met the challenges. The research resulted in Smart Tether, a tether based positioning system that operates differently from existing underwater navigation systems in that it is easier to set up, responds more quickly, and is stealthy (non-acoustic).
In 2011, KCF Technologies delivered the 100th Smart Tether system, and marked three years since the technology was first commercially available. Of the milestone, KCF President Dr. Jeremy Frank said, "KCF is proud to have achieved a commercial success with the Smart Tether and it's demonstrated by the 100th system that's out being used and solving real problems for the Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and commercial customers on jobs around the world. The key for KCF is to turn research projects into commercial successes and achieve real world objectives. This is a commercial success that we are very proud of.
To achieve this success, KCF Technologies has leveraged a strategic partnership with VideoRay, LLC of Phoenixville, Pa. VideoRay is the global leader in small, inspection-class Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) technology. VideoRay's systems have been used by the Department of Homeland Security at various ports to inspect ship hulls, piers and bridges for explosives, directing divers to areas of interest, searching for and recovering, evidence discarded in a body of water, and inspectingobjects, or areas, before deploying divers.
In 2011, KCF's Smart Tether was integral in helping VideoRay obtain a $2.2 million contract from the Combatting Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). Smart Tether played an important role in halping the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) modernize its fleet of ROVs. The contract updatedall USCG VideoRay ROVs with the latest technology including the latest version of the Smart Tether navigation system which included enhancements specific to the CTTSO to expand their role and work in challenging conditions.
Also in 2011, KCF signed a deal with Indepth International of the United Kingdom for distribution and development of Smart Tether into markets outside of inspection-class ROV's. Indepth is an ideal partner because they provide underwater contract services and have access to markets in previously unexplored commercial underwater applications. Robert Aird, Chairman of Indepth, said of the partnership, "Indepth is very pleased to be partnered with KCF and looks forward to growing business around the Smart Tether and related technologies. Our companies have several layers of business and technical convergance and we see great promise for our current customers and for applications under development."
Smart Tether has, also, been used by Navy divers in the recovery of the sunken remains of the USS Westfield, a Civil War, Union gunboat that was scuttled after it was grounded in the Texas City Channel during a battle in 1863. Smart Tether was used for the recovery because poor visibility and strong currents would have made it difficult for divers to navigate underwater, making a positioning system a necessity for topside personnel to be able to direct the diver througha predetermined search grid.
KCF and its partners are continuing to develop Smart Tether enhancements for Navy Explosive Ordinance Devices (EOD) applications and other Navy diver applications. KCF has also recently completed a project SBIR N09-194 to build the Smart Tether technology into a retractable antenna for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs). Complete systems have been delivered to Penn State's Applied Research Laboratory to be used in demonstrations. Systems are available for integration with UUV programs.
KCF Technologies is a dynamic technology company that develops and commercializes products and solutions for industry and the military. The company vision is to be a leader in the development of federally-funded technologies and bridge the gap to successful commercial products by establishing strategic partnerships. KCF is pleased to have formed strategic partnerships with VideoRay in the United States and Indepth in the United Kingdom.
