KCF Technologies’ Smart Tether — a robust, ready-to-use technology that has revolutionized underwater navigation and positioning — is proud to have played an important role in helping VideoRay obtain a major contract by the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office of the US Department of Defense. Announced July 15, the $2.2 million contract will modernize the United States Coast Guard’s fleet of VideoRay Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).
The innovative non-acoustic Smart Tether navigation system, originated under a Navy SBIR project and produced by KCF Technologies, offers real-time GPS positioning for USCG divers and underwater vehicles, along with advanced scanning, mapping, and target-marking functions. This significantly enhances the underwater search capabilities of ROVs in safeguarding America’s waterways.
One of the main advantages of the Smart Tether is its simplicity. Since all the sensors are in the tether, setting up the Smart Tether is virtually the same as setting up any underwater vehicle.
This contract will update all USCG VideoRay ROVs to the latest technology, including KCF’s latest generation Smart Tether navigation system with improvements specific to CTTSO’s requirements, and other enhancements to expand their role and work in challenging conditions. The CTTSO and USCG project includes requirements for 100% search coverage while assuring 100% probability of in very strong currents, with low-visibility water.
“ KCF Technologies is focused on making new and innovative federally-funded technology available in commercial form, ” said KCF President Dr. Jeremy Frank , “ and our partnership with VideoRay has been very successful in achieving that goal. The advanced technology improvements associated with this contract will help enable the next generation of technology possible available for inspection-class ROVs, and KCF is glad to be part of the team. ”
KCF Technologies is a dynamic technology company that develops and commercializes products and solutions for industry and the military. KCF Technologies was founded in 2000 and is located in State College, Pennsylvania, near the Pennsylvania State University.
[mappress] Source: prweb, August 2, 2011; Image: smarttether