TUCSON, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army Research Office announced Arizona-based Ionatron Inc. has been contracted for continued development of light filament sensor technology.
The more than $389,000, 12-month Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer Research Contract includes follow-on options that amount to more than $740,000.
Army officials say the request for Ionatron to continue development of the light filament sensor technology was based on data showing the promise of using ultra-short laser pulses for remote chemical detection from the completion of the Phase I effort.
If successful, Ionatron's sensor could have applications in homeland security and airport screening among other military and commercial chemical detection needs.
“The Light Filament Sensor remote detection concept uses technology derived from our Laser Guided Energy development work," said Dana Marshall, president and chief executive officer of Ionatron, in a statement.
"This latest contract is a direct follow-on to our successful efforts last year under an STTR Phase I contract teamed our associates at the University of Arizona. We are pleased by Army’s support for the continued development of this concept, as we feel that it holds potential for future use in several priority military, security, and law enforcement applications.”
