Picometrix to develop T-Ray for Air Force

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ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Advanced Photonix Inc. a phase I contract to support testing and development of the company's T-Ray 4000 technology.

U.S. company Advanced Photonix says its Picometrix subsidiary was awarded a small-business innovation research phase I deal. The contract combined with Picometrix's recent phase II award from NASA are together worth $700,000.

Under the phase I SBIR contract Picometrix will support non-destructive testing and development of a computed tomography terahertz capability with the T-Ray 4000. Officials say the development of the T-Ray's terahertz capabilities will be used to support the Air Force's next-generation aircraft manufacturing.

"These two contracts support important application development activities necessary to develop the emerging market opportunities for our T-Ray 4000," Richard Kurtz, Advanced Photonix, chief executive officer, said in a statement.

"Development of the computed tomography terahertz imaging capability will expand many non-destructive testing opportunities for us to solve a broad range of quality control and process control problems on the manufacturing floor and eventually in homeland security."