Prime Research announces Navy Phase II SBIR for railgun sensors

August 28, 2009 – Blacksburg, VA – Prime Research today announced the award of a Phase II SBIR award from the US Navy for the development of a suite of sensors for use on Navy electromagnetic launchers (railguns).  The extremely high strength magnetic and electric fields present on and around a railgun during operation render electrical-based sensors inoperable.  For the program Prime Research will be developing a fiber optic-based sensor system capable of measuring magnetic and electric field strength and direction, dynamic pressure and temperature, all during operation of the railgun. 

“The inherent immunity to electro-magnetic interference provided by fiber optic sensors make Prime Research sensor technology ideal for the railgun application, or any application where high strength or rapidly varying electric or magnetic fields are present,” says Prime Research VP of Engineering, Dr. Dan Kominsky.  Dr. Kominsky goes on to say, “perhaps the most exciting development for the program will be the magnetic field sensor, which will be capable of not only measuring magnetic fields, but their orientation in 3-dimensional space.”  “This program again demonstrates the ability of fiber optic sensors to enable measurements that cannot even be approached with more traditional electrical sensor technologies, and we look forward to exploring other commercial opportunities for these sensors in the energy and transportation sectors,” says Steve Poland, Prime CEO.

About Prime Research

Prime Research LC, based in Blacksburg, VA, specializes in the development of sensor, communication and engineered material technologies for extreme applications.  Prime Research is a wholly owned subsidiary of Prime Photonics LC (www.primephotonics.com), the technology commercialization arm of the Prime company group.

Contact:   Steve Poland, Prime Photonics, steve.poland@primephotonics.com (540) 961-2200 x101.