SatCon Technology Receives $750,000 Award to Build Miniature Navigation Systems
19 February 1999
SatCon Technology Receives $750,000 Award to Build Miniature Navigation Systems
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--Feb. 19, 1999--SatCon's miniature navigation systems have potential for
automotive, medical, and machining applications.
SatCon Technology Corporation(R) today announced that its Technology Center in Cambridge has been awarded a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase II program by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The award, valued at $750,000, is to build a Microfabricated Inertial Navigation System using technology developed by SatCon under a previous Phase I program.
"The advantages of such a microfabricated device are low cost, small size, high reliability, and shock resistance," said David Eisenhaure, President and Chief Executive Officer. "In production quantities, such devices could become key elements of future automobile navigation and suspension control systems. It also has potential in robotics, in-vivo medical applications, high-speed machining and electronic parts placement machines, markets whose customers are familiar to SatCon's FMI and Magmotor Divisions."
"The INS will be integrated with its microelectronics to provide the necessary low cost and small size," continued Eisenhaure. "The device could be built in production quantities at our FMI Division, where we build microelectronics for similar applications, and where we are familiar with etching micro devices into substrates, the process whereby the gyroscope is fabricated."
The microfabricated inertial sensor has a simple design and is inherently resistant to high shock, can be operated with a minimum of electronics, and can be produced at a low cost in high quantities. Its low cost and resistance to shock makes the device attractive for such applications as automobile systems, its high reliability is critical for medical devices, and the combination is a key element for electronics parts machining.
SatCon Technology Corporation(R) designs, develops, and manufactures "Active Motion Control"(R) systems including advanced electric motors, high density power electronics, suspension systems, satellite control systems, propulsion systems, and flywheel energy-storage systems for a variety of commercial and government customers. SatCon's Film Microelectronics, Inc. subsidiary designs and manufactures microelectronic circuits and interconnect products. Additionally, SatCon has a Magmotor Division in Worcester, Massachusetts and a Technology Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Note: This release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth under the caption "Factors Affecting Future Results" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1998, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Please note that the Company's future growth opportunities are dependent on the introduction of new products that must penetrate commercial market segments. No assurance can be given that new products can be developed, or if developed, will be successful; that competitors will not force prices to an unacceptably low level or take market share from the Company; or that the Company can achieve or maintain profits in these markets.