Advanced Photonix, Inc.(R) (NYSE Alternext US: API) announced today that its subsidiary, Picometrix, LLC, has been selected to received a Phase II SBIR contract from NASA and a Phase I SBIR contract from the Air Force for nondestructive testing (NDT) application development utilizing the T-Ray(TM) 4000. Combined the contracts total $700,000

The NASA Phase II project is for developing a computed tomography terahertz (CT-THz) capability for the T-Ray(TM) 4000 for use in NDT. This capability will allow the T-Ray(TM) 4000 to render 3D images for subsurface diagnostics. NASA is interested in characterizing the aging and durability

of aerospace polymer, ceramic, and composite structures used in aircraft and spacecraft, Utilizing the CT-THz feature, the T-Ray(TM) 4000 will be capable of being used to identify flaws such as voids, dis-bonds, inclusions, improper geometry and dimensions, and incomplete curing in the manufacturing process. It could also be used to periodically inspect aircraft for preventative maintenance by identifying damage, fatigue and/or chemical degradation. In addition to NASA’s aerospace applications, the CT-THz imaging capability will be useful in quality control and diagnostics of matrix composites across many industries that manufacture consumer and industrial products

The Air Force Phase I contract is to demonstrate the feasibility of using terahertz in manufacturing quality control for specialty coatings applied to the next generation military aircraft. During Phase I, the T-Ray(TM) 4000 will be used to measure the step and gap dimensions beneath the surface of

the specialty coatings. If successful, the utilization of our T-Ray(TM) 4000 product platform could significantly improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce costs on this expensive process of installing doors and panels on the next generation military aircraft. If successful, the Phase I feasibility study would lead to a dedicated prototype system based on the T-Ray(TM) 4000 in Phase II and deployment of this system in Phase III.

“These two contracts support important application development activities necessary to develop the emerging market opportunities for our T-Ray(TM) 4000. Development of the CT-THz imaging capability will expand many NDT opportunities for us to solve a broad range of quality control and process control problems on the manufacturing floor and eventually in homeland security. The application of our T-Ray(TM) 4000 to help solve the difficult manufacturing challenge posed by the next generation military aircraft is a potentially significant mid term opportunity to deploy a special adaptation of our T-Ray(TM) 4000 product platform. We believe this will just be one of many such opportunities. Our T-Ray(TM) 4000 product portfolio is ideally suited for the harsh environment of on-line, real time factory applications,” commented Richard (Rick) Kurtz, CEO of API.