3rd Dimension Technologies finalizes USAF SBIR contract
By Tom Ballard, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Initiatives, Pershing Yoakley & Associates. P.C.
It’s been about 13 months since we initially profiled a local technology company named 3rd Dimension Technologies. That story can be found athttps://www.teknovation.biz/2012/07/26/3rd-dimension-team-optimistic-holography-technology/.
Founded by Tommy Thomas, the company uses holographic technology for three dimensional applications. At the time of our initial interview, 3rd Dimension was a pre-revenue enterprise with a very promising prototype.
Fast forward a year, and 3rd Dimension has just finalized contract negotiations at the end of July with the U.S. Air Force on a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program award. It’s a $150,000 agreement.
“The Air Force issued a call in January for a game-based trainer for an advanced tactical fighter,” David Page, 3rd Dimension’s Chief Software Architect, told teknovation.biz. He explained that existing flight simulators are very expensive and challenging to move.
“We are already hard at work,” he said. “We have a novel approach.”
The team has even named its device, dubbing it “W3DGE” for Warfighter Three-D Gaming Environment.
Thomas is the Principal Investigator, while Page serves as Program Manager.
For 3rd Dimension, the SBIR is a significant milestone.
“We have a very good prototype,” Page said in referring to the company’s core technology. “This contract will help us take it to a product.”
While 3rd Dimension has nine months to deliver on the Phase I award, Page says the company plans to have a feasibility system that can be demoed by the end of the year.
“We want to win a Phase II (so we can) have a full hardware and software gaming environment,” Page added.
SBIR awards are an important way for early stage companies to secure funding to advance technologies. Congratulations to the 3rd Dimension team.
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