SBIR/STTR and Program Sponsors:

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is currently sponsoring ElectraWatch and the University of Virginia in a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) for the development of a fieldable probe for quantitative assessment of Degree of Sensitization (DoS) in marine Aluminum alloys. ONR coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the United States Navy and Marine Corps through schools, universities, government laboratories, and nonprofit and for-profit organizations. It provides technical advice to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Secretary of the Navy and works with industry to improve technology manufacturing processes. ONR plays a critical role in advancing scientific knowledge to support the generation of naval technology with a vision focused on future capabilities, hedging against the uncertainty of warfare.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently sponsored ElectraWatch in a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant to develop coating health monitors for smart infrastructure. The NSF is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense” With an annual budget of about $6.06 billion, we are the funding source for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America’s colleges and universities. In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing.

ElectraWatch is working with NSWC Carderock on the development of a fieldable probe prototype for quantitative assessment of Degree of Sensitization (DoS) in 5456 H116 marine Aluminum alloys. The Carderock Division consists of approximately 3,200 scientists, engineers and support personnel working in more than 40 disciplines ranging from fundamental science to applied/in-service engineering. We are the Navy's experts for maritime technology. Headquartered in West Bethesda, Maryland, the Division houses world-class facilities and laboratories. A major operating site in Philadelphia is recognized as the center for naval machinery. The Division also conducts research and development at several remote sites across the country. As a major component of the Naval Sea Systems Command the Carderock Division provides cradle-to-grave support for its technical products over an enormous range of scientific areas related to surface and undersea platforms. The Division addresses the full spectrum of applied maritime science and technology, from the theoretical and conceptual beginnings, through design and acquisition, to implementation and follow-on engineering. This includes all technical aspects of improving the performance of ships, submarines, military water craft, and unmanned vehicles, as well as research for military logistics systems. In addition, the Division is uniquely chartered by Congress to support America's maritime industry.

Corporate Partners:

Virginia Technologies, Inc. (VTI) is an award-winning leader in the development and commercialization of electronic instrumentation and other technologies. The company has enhanced the safety and maintenance of civil structures around the world with the Embedded Corrosion Instrument (ECI), a monitor that provides early warning of the corrosive environment in steel-reinforced concrete. It has laid the groundwork for a major advance in medical care with Q-Stim, a neurostimulator that adapts to patient needs. In collaboration with Willis Optics, VTI has also developed the Quantitative Light Standard, a new technology that enables scientists to test the light source and detection systems in microscopes and microplate readers, answering an urgent need in biomedical research and drug discovery. Virginia Technologies has won numerous accolades for innovation, including the coveted Breakthrough Award from the Virginia Piedmont Technology.

InspectTech is a provider of mobile inspection and asset management solutions, enabling customers to more effectively collect, manage, and analyze inspection reports. InspectTech solutions offer software to lower the total cost of inspections, enhance reliability, greatly enhance richness of data (pictures, video, audio, GPS coordinates), and improve productivity of both inspectors and management. InspectTech currently offers software products to meet the needs of the transportation industry including: bridges, culverts, signs, light poles, storm water, guardrails, retaining walls and other ancillary structures.

Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine is a division of Northrop Grumman Corporation that supplies navigation, communication, information and automation systems to commercial marine and naval markets. Sperry Marine has extensive experience with the design and implementation of CBM systems for both the NAVY and the Coast Guard. Sperry Marine was formed in 1997 from three well-known brand names in the marine industry - Sperry Marine, Decca and C. Plath. Sperry Marine was acquired by Litton Industries in 1996, followed by the Racal-Decca marine electronics business unit in 1997. They were combined with another Litton company, C. Plath, to create a single integrated worldwide supplier of navigation, communication, information and automation systems for commercial marine and naval markets.

In March of 2009 ElectraWatch provided Luna Innovations (Luna) with a modified CHM device for use in a US Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD) program for the development of an in-tegrated corrosion health monitoring system (I-CHMS). Luna is a subcontractor to General Electric Avia-tion on the $2 million two-year contract to cover rotorcraft corrosion research and monitoring. The I-CHMS system requires a single analog signal input and could only accept up to four discreet digital in-puts. ElectraWatch successfully reengineered the CHM to output impedance and phase data from each tape electrode at three specific low frequencies on a single analog signal line and to output a unique com-bination of discreet signals to indicate which analog value is currently being output. develops and manufactures new-generation products for the healthcare, telecommunications, energy and defense markets. Our products are used to measure, monitor, protect and improve critical processes in the markets we serve. Through its disciplined commercialization business model, Luna has become a recognized leader in transitioning science to solutions.

Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) has been putting ideas into action for our clients since 1987, supporting a wide range of high-priority defense requirements and helping U.S. industry compete in the global market. CTC offers a broad range of services and capabilities. As a nonprofit organization, CTC conducts impartial, in-depth assessments and technical evaluations and delivers reliable, unbiased solutions that emphasize increased quality, enhanced effectiveness, and rapid technology transition and deployment. We serve our client base with more than 1,400 scientific, technical, and business professionals at over 50 locations. ElectraWatch’s work on the Degree of Sensitization (DoS) Probe is being funded through the CTC SEAPORT-e program.

Dawnbreaker is a professional services firm providing commercialization assistance to advance technology firms and their investors. Dawnbreaker specializes in business planning, market research and valuation in the commercial sector and transition planning within DoD using a unique blend of individualized mentoring, training seminars, and/or consulting. Two distinguishing features characterize Dawnbreaker's work. First, is the emphasis on measurable results. Second, is to use an approach that helps grow Dawnbreaker’ clients business. Fifty percent of Dawnbreaker's clients receive private sector financing within 18 months after developing business plans. Sixty percent of the DoD participants receive Phase III funding within 20 months of program completion. Since 1990 Dawnbreaker has worked with over 3,400 SBIR, STTR, and ATP funded firms. The combined sales and investment in the firms Dawnbreaker has assisted total in excess of a billion dollars.

The Foundation Dutch National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) carries out applied research on behalf of the aviation and space sectors. NLR is an independant technological institute. NLR performs research to develop new technologies for aviation and space travel, not only from a scientific perspective, but also for the application of this research in industrial and governmental sectors. NLR is a non-profit organization that carries out market-oriented and socially-relevant studies. Three-quarters of the research it performs is commissioned by clients. The NLR conducts other research via demand-driven programs financed by the national government.

ElectraWatch contracted M-CAM, Inc. to perform a detailed Innovation Data Analysis (IDA) of CHM technology using their proprietary M-CAM DOORS software. M-CAM is a global full-service intellectual property firm, and the developer of M-CAM DOORS, a patent risk management and analysis tool, that evaluates innovation outputs worldwide. M-CAM is also the international leader in creating financial solutions for the knowledge economy. From managing investment and business financial risk arising from the assets of the knowledge economy, M-CAM has worked for over a decade in bringing accountability and reliable risk assessment to the world of intangible risk finance. Unique in its dedication to three equally important dynamics; financial engineering, standardization of risk assessment and management, and public policy M-CAM has created an environment in which it has emerged as the standard-bearer.

The Charlottesville Business Innovation Council is the preeminent private-sector advocate and catalyst for entrepreneurship and technology-based economic development in the Charlottesville region. Formerly known as the Virginia Piedmont Technology Council + Charlottesville Venture Group (VPTC+CVG), CBIC’s new name and identity became official on October 2, 2007. CBIC serves its members by providing advocacy, educational programming, and by bringing people together through a network of members and contacts. CBIC has over 300 individuals, companies and organizations as members, representing more than 11,000 people in the work force. On May 21st, 2009 CBIC Awarded ElectraWatch the Rocket Award for “the enterprise that has moved with noteworthy speed from concept toward commercialization, through the development of a new technology, product, or service in a new or existing business of any size.”

Suter Machine & Tool has been in business for over 30 years. As a family owned business, they continue to offer exceptional personal service along with high quality manufacturing and design services. ElectraWatch uses Suter Machine for Solidworks CAD design as well as for precision CNC machine work.

The mission of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Virginia (UVa) is to educate men and women in the processing-structure-properties- performance relationships of materials systems and generate new knowledge that advances society through synthesis of science with engineering. ElectraWatch is working with the UVa Department of Materials Science Engineering on a Office of Naval Research Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) for the development of a fieldable probe for quantitative assessment of Degree of Sensitization (DoS) in marine Aluminum alloys.

ElectraWatch Co-Founder, Ryan Dunn is a Thayer School alumnus who considers the education he received at Thayer to be a cornerstone of ElectraWatch ’s continued success. While at Thayer one of the most valuable course sequences Mr. Dunn participated in was the 190/290 Engineering Design Sequence through the Cook Engineering Design Center (CEDC). The CEDC coordinates Thayer School ’s links to industry by matching industry professionals, who have specific workplace problems that need to be solved, with students who have the engineering savvy to solve them. Mr. Dunn and ElectraWatch have made a commitment to sponsoring 190/290 design projects so that current Thayer students will have the same great experiences that he did while he was attending Thayer.

Thayer School offers an energetic, hands-on learning community that develops passionate innovators who possess the intellectual and personal capacity to advance the world and have fun doing it. Founded in 1867 by Dartmouth alumnus Sylvanus Thayer, Thayer School is one of the country ’s oldest professional schools of engineering. General Thayer believed that engineering in the context of a liberal arts education could provide the single best preparation for addressing the world’s problems. This wisdom remains at the core of Thayer School’s educational mission.