U.S. Military Doubles Battlefield Endurance, Persistence of Drones, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Maynard, MA, U.S.A. – April 6, 2006 – Optical Alchemy, Inc. announced it is meeting the urgent surveillance and mission needs of warfighters by doubling the endurance and greatly enhancing the persistence of UAVs. By increasing persistence and endurance, UAVs can: dramatically increase situational awareness while loitering over the battlefield for extended periods of time; dramatically expand mission ranges; save fuel; patrol vast areas; provide intelligence support and preparation prior to combat; conduct battle damage assessment; and carry additional payloads.

The company’s “KJ” product line enables military personnel to sense, detect, recognize, and track key targets in a sensor package that weighs significantly less than technology used on 50-pound to 500-pound UAVs. Optical Alchemy’s KJ product line offers sensors that weigh 55-pounds less when compared to conventional technology. “That weight savings opens up a wide variety of capabilities and operational possibilities for today’s military,” said Marc Daigle, President, Optical Alchemy, Inc. “For example, if one replaced the newly afforded 55-pounds with an equal quantity of additional fuel, that would allow some UAVs to increase fly-time by five hours— effectively doubling the aircraft’s persistence,” Daigle added.

“The Department of Defense (DoD) wants light, affordable UAVs that can carry the same sensor capabilities as large UAVs,” said John L. Barry, VP, SAP for Defense & Security. “Optical Alchemy’s sensor technology is the best positioned company on the market that can deliver on the DoD’s demand for such capabilities, as the company has a sensor payload that enables UAVs to perform missions at a new level of persistence at a price the DoD can afford,” Barry concluded.

Optical Alchemy’s inertially referenced stabilized sensor suite provides flexible, configurable payloads including: high resolution IR and visible sensors, LRF, laser marker and laser designator to enhance force protection and provide on-demand actionable information. By combining multiple capabilities in one sensor payload suite, Optical Alchemy enables retasking to be accomplished in flight without having to land and swap out payloads while dramatically increasing persistence and time-on-station.

About Optical Alchemy, Inc.
Optical Alchemy, Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of ultra-lightweight, high performance stabilized sensor systems for unmanned vehicles. The company’s products will create a new level of persistence, enabling UAVs to dramatically expand mission ranges, save fuel, remain in the air for longer periods of time to patrol vast areas and carry additional sensors and ordinance.
The company’s small, ultra-light high performance stabilized sensor systems offer payload flexibility, inertially referenced sensors and high pointing accuracy required for sense and respond missions. Optical Alchemy’s system provides configurable payloads including high resolution IR and visible sensors, laser range finder (LRF), laser marker and laser designator. Onboard IMU, GPS, digital compass and the inertial control system provide accurate latitude/longitude/elevation pointing and, combined with the LRF, target mapping. The KJ product line will follow open architecture standards such as STANAG 4568 and our IP based architecture supports future net-centric open communications requirements necessary for manned and unmanned vehicle communications needs.

For more information, visit http://www.uavpayloads.com or contact Joe Romano, Partner, HighGround, Inc. at 781-279-1320 x 208 or jromano@highgroundinc.com
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