SOURCE: Microvision, Inc.
Microvision and Boeing Awarded
"Virtual Cockpit" Contract by
U.S.Army
Contract Follows Recently Announced Collaboration Between the Two
Companies
SEATTLE, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Microvision, Inc. (Nasdaq: MVIS - news, MVISW -
news) today announced it has received a contract from the U.S. Army's Aviation Applied
Technology Directorate (AATD) in Fort Eustis, Va. to begin work on the design of an
advanced helmet-mounted display and imaging system to be used in the Virtual Cockpit
Optimization Program (VCOP). The contract under which Boeing Phantom Works, the
advanced research and development arm of The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA - news), will
be the key subcontractor to Microvision, follows the recently announced collaboration
between the two companies. Microvision's display, which will incorporate the company's
patented Virtual Retinal Display(TM) (VRD(TM)) technology, will be integrated with
Boeing's software to create an innovative way to present information and images to
rotorcraft pilots. Microvision's display was selected for its ability to present high-resolution
images that are fully ''readable'' over a daylight background, and for its ability to add color
capabilities in this challenging environment.
Under the terms of the contract, Microvision and Boeing will identify and analyze
operational, functional, performance and interface requirements for an advanced VRD
helmet-mounted display (HMD) for the Army, based upon the VCOP concept. The
companies anticipate completing this work within 120 days. Microvision and Boeing also
intend to develop a pre-production prototype HMD by the end of this year and to seek
further Dept. of Defense funding as part of their collaborative effort on virtual cockpit
applications.
''We are pleased that the Army places confidence in the partnership between Microvision
and Boeing,'' said Rick Rutkowski, Microvision president and CEO. ''The Army has a
powerful vision. The ability of a helmet-mounted display to overlay flight reference data,
sensor imagery and weapons symbology on the outside world can provide a very powerful
performance boost to both aircraft and pilot. When you can also enable a pilot to see the
normally invisible 'bloom' of a radar signature, or to project a 'pathway in the sky' in front
of them, and to superimpose wireframe or 3-D imagery onto the terrain it becomes even
more powerful. By teaming with Boeing, we have combined the capabilities of the world's
largest manufacturer of military helicopter, and a leading innovator in crew systems
technology with those of a rapidly emerging innovator in display technology to provide
these benefits.''
The Army's vision of the virtual cockpit also includes a ''what you see depends on where
you look'' concept that can be achieved by combining Boeing's software and Microvision's
advanced display technology, with position tracking. As the pilot looks up and out of the
cockpit, various types of targeting, navigational or terrain overlays would appear. When
pilots look in a downward direction, they may see ''virtual'' instruments projected onto the
eye that literally replace many of the existing dials and multifunction displays that are in
cockpits today. Replacing alphanumeric data with graphical visual elements arranged within
the pilot's field of view relieves the strain of information overload. This makes operating
the aircraft more intuitive so that the Virtual Cockpit concept offers the potential to
increase the effectiveness of both pilot and aircraft and to eliminate a lot of costly hardware
in the process.
Microvision estimates that as many as 9,000 rotorcraft in the U.S. fleet are candidates for
Virtual Cockpit upgrades. The company also envisions that the Virtual Cockpit concept
could be utilized in newer helicopters and in a variety of other military and commercial
aircraft and even in ground vehicles.
About Boeing Phantom Works
Boeing Phantom Works, the advanced research and development organization of The
Boeing Company, pursues breakthrough improvements in the affordability, quality and
performance of aerospace systems. With major locations in St. Louis, Seattle and Southern
California, Phantom Works engineers and scientists typically work in small, integrated
teams that can be quickly formed and mobilized to help customers meet their toughest
technical challenges. The organization is committed to finding better, faster and cheaper
ways to design, develop, manufacture, test, operate and support both current and future
systems. Additional information can be found at the company's website at
boeing.com.
About Microvision
Headquartered in Seattle, Microvision, Inc. is the developer of the patented Virtual Retinal
Display(TM) (VRD(TM)) technology that uses a rapidly scanned beam of light to project
images on the eye's retina, allowing the viewer to see large, full-motion images without the
need for a conventional display screen. Microvision's objective is to be a leading provider of
personal display products and imaging technology in a broad range of military, medical,
industrial, professional and consumer applications. The company was founded in 1993.
Additional information can be found at the company's website at mvis.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
The information set forth in this release includes ''forward-looking statements'' within the
meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is subject
to the safe harbor created by those sections. Certain factors that realistically could cause
results to differ materially from those projected in the company's forward-looking
statements are set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB and Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-QSB, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE: Microvision, Inc. |
