Mass High Tech | March 29, 2010
Boston Micromachines develops communication sensor tech for Army

Optical technology maker Boston Micromachines Corp. reports it has developed a modulating retro-reflector for asymmetric free space covert communication and remote sensor integration, in response to a prior win of a Small Business Technology Transfer grant from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Under the grant, the Cambridge-based company has partnered with Boston University under the grant to develop the communications sensors for the U.S. Army. 

The reflector is intended to allow for long range ground- and air-based communication, on the battlefield, from ship-to-ship, and from satellite to round station data transfer. Optical communications are used when traditional radio-frequency communications systems are disrupted or otherwise unavailable.

The amount of the previous grant was not disclosed.

In January, Boston Micromachines landed about $200,000 in two Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research grants from NASA to develop optics technology.