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Orlando, Fla. (September 15, 2006)--- Zyberwear, Inc., an Ocoee-based company that specializes in high-precision electro-optical systems for security, military and scientific applications, was recently awarded a NASA grant to develop a tool about the size of a wine bottle that can study elements at the edge of the universe and spot hidden contraband — including drugs, explosives, and bioagents — here at home.
Oliver Edwards, president of Zyberwear, said the firm will use the NASA Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to develop a special ceramic lens filter for the highly sensitive Fabry-Perot scanning spectrometer, which operates in the terahertz wavelength range.
NASA physicists use the Fabry-Perot scanning spectrometer to analyze elements and gases in earth and planetary atmospheres and to spot emerging weather patterns here on earth leading to better weather predictions.
Edwards said the Zyberwear filter system will allow spectral imaging of unprecedented resolution. The small size of the device is important for installation aboard satellites and space probes, Edwards added.
Zyberwear, a UCF Technology Incubator client, plans to adapt the technology for another use here at home which is production of a high-tech imaging system that can identify and picture concealed contraband such as weapons, drugs, or bioagents without emitting even small doses of destructive ionizing radiation.
The NASA SBIR grant is worth approximately $70,000, Edwards said. Once Zyberwear successfully completes the Phase I project, the firm anticipates a Phase II SBIR grant to fund production of a space-worthy model of the lens and filter system.
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For more information, please contact
Oliver Edwards, Zyberwear, Inc. 407.295.5955 oliver@zyberwear.com
Tom O’Neal or Carol Ann Dykes, UCF Technology Incubator, 407.882.0202
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, LV Communications Inc. 407.644.4142.
About Zyberwear, Inc.
Zyberwear is developing technology platforms enabling production of rugged multimedia solutions, cameras, wearable electronics, security image systems, image manipulation and projection systems and personal video eyewear for the military and a variety of industries. Zyberwear specializes in integrated systems development. For more information, visit www.zyberwear.com.
About the UCF Technology Incubator
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Technology Incubator has helped more than 80 emerging technology companies create over $200 million in annual revenues and more than 700 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. As a result of this success, the UCF Technology Incubator was named the 2004 Technology Incubator of the Year by the National Business Incubation Association. Headquartered in Research Park near the University, the Incubator is a collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu. |
