WEBVTT 00:01.140 --> 00:03.029 the Air Force technology transfer 00:03.029 --> 00:04.862 program helps move important new 00:04.862 --> 00:06.918 technologies from Air Force research 00:06.918 --> 00:09.140 centers into the private sector , where 00:09.140 --> 00:11.362 they could benefit the U . S . Military 00:11.362 --> 00:13.307 and American economy . This is the 00:13.307 --> 00:14.584 story of one of them . 00:17.140 --> 00:19.910 In 2000 and eight , Special Operations 00:19.910 --> 00:21.966 Command reached out to the Air Force 00:21.966 --> 00:24.480 Research Laboratory , or A f R . L in 00:24.480 --> 00:26.647 Rome , New York , asking the engineers 00:26.647 --> 00:28.369 there to build them a complete 00:28.369 --> 00:30.536 satellite terminal that could fit into 00:30.536 --> 00:32.702 a paratroopers rucksack for deployment 00:32.702 --> 00:34.813 into remote parts of the world . So I 00:34.813 --> 00:36.869 said , Yeah , we'll give it a shot . 00:36.869 --> 00:38.869 And so we we built a prototype , an 00:38.869 --> 00:41.700 initial prototype . The only problem , 00:41.710 --> 00:44.690 an issue he had , was the size of the 00:44.700 --> 00:46.910 satellite dish , and he wanted to 00:46.910 --> 00:49.230 reduce the size from from what it 00:49.230 --> 00:51.452 currently was to a much smaller package 00:51.452 --> 00:53.619 so it could be actually man packable . 00:53.619 --> 00:55.660 In conversations with the F R L 00:55.660 --> 00:57.882 Material Directorate in Dayton , Ohio , 00:57.882 --> 00:59.827 Dave Leg are heard about a two man 00:59.827 --> 01:02.360 company in Utah called Eclipse that was 01:02.360 --> 01:04.249 working with a light , conductive 01:04.249 --> 01:06.630 nanoparticle composite material so leg 01:06.630 --> 01:08.520 are reached out to them . We just 01:08.520 --> 01:10.520 decided , based on the needs of his 01:10.520 --> 01:12.353 program , that we would create a 01:12.353 --> 01:14.520 demonstration article . He was able to 01:14.520 --> 01:16.687 fund us through a credit card purchase 01:16.687 --> 01:18.798 of just a couple $1000 Thio to get us 01:18.798 --> 01:20.964 started , which didn't even come close 01:20.964 --> 01:22.964 to covering the cost . We literally 01:22.964 --> 01:25.076 turn my garage into a small prototype 01:25.076 --> 01:27.409 manufacturing area . And so he built it . 01:27.409 --> 01:29.520 We got it . We tested it our range in 01:29.520 --> 01:31.687 Newport , and it performed perfectly . 01:31.687 --> 01:33.798 So the next step was for us to figure 01:33.798 --> 01:36.010 out how to design a segmental antenna 01:36.010 --> 01:38.250 made of this composite material leg are 01:38.250 --> 01:40.306 said about designing and patenting a 01:40.306 --> 01:42.570 segmented dish , which Eclipse licensed 01:42.570 --> 01:44.348 with assistance from tackling a 01:44.348 --> 01:46.181 Department of Defense technology 01:46.181 --> 01:48.380 transfer partner . Tech Link also 01:48.380 --> 01:50.547 helped Eclipse establish a cooperative 01:50.547 --> 01:52.769 research and development agreement , or 01:52.769 --> 01:55.590 Kreda with a f R L . What it is is just 01:55.590 --> 01:58.060 an exchange of value . In other words , 01:58.070 --> 02:00.770 we provide them design that they could 02:00.770 --> 02:03.930 use an engineering help and customer 02:03.930 --> 02:07.360 requirements , and they do the R and D 02:07.360 --> 02:09.560 and fabrication tech links companion 02:09.560 --> 02:12.330 program . Mill Tech , another D o D 02:12.330 --> 02:14.650 technology transfer partner , provided 02:14.650 --> 02:16.810 hands on manufacturing assistance to 02:16.810 --> 02:18.950 overcome technical issues and develop 02:18.950 --> 02:21.170 ineffective manufacturing plan . Mil 02:21.170 --> 02:22.948 Tec reached out to us at a very 02:22.948 --> 02:25.003 critical juncture . And so they were 02:25.003 --> 02:27.059 able to provide to us some technical 02:27.059 --> 02:29.630 direction to help us create new designs 02:29.630 --> 02:31.741 that would better meet the objectives 02:31.741 --> 02:33.519 of our program . The portable , 02:33.519 --> 02:35.408 lightweight , segmented satellite 02:35.408 --> 02:37.730 antenna is now used by special Forces 02:37.740 --> 02:40.100 and emergency first responders in some 02:40.100 --> 02:42.267 of the most remote and rugged parts of 02:42.267 --> 02:44.440 the world . For our antenna system to 02:44.440 --> 02:46.329 get that set up , we've created a 02:46.329 --> 02:48.496 unique design where all the pedals air 02:48.496 --> 02:50.607 interchangeable , so it's really just 02:50.607 --> 02:52.662 grab something and throw it in place 02:52.662 --> 02:54.829 and assembled together from from start 02:54.829 --> 02:57.040 to finish from box to having a signal 02:57.050 --> 02:59.400 is less than two minutes . Eclipses 02:59.400 --> 03:02.230 sold around 3000 units ranging in size 03:02.230 --> 03:04.880 from a few inches to 12 ft , and it is 03:04.880 --> 03:07.047 allowed Eclipse to grow from a two man 03:07.047 --> 03:09.130 operation to a company of over 20 03:09.130 --> 03:11.130 employees with a new , larger 03:11.130 --> 03:12.910 manufacturing facility under 03:12.910 --> 03:15.410 construction days . Technology is a 03:15.420 --> 03:18.250 true technology transfer , success and 03:18.260 --> 03:20.770 multiplicity of ways . Ah , lot of 03:20.770 --> 03:23.260 satisfaction , knowing that you you 03:23.260 --> 03:25.260 know that your work meant something 03:25.260 --> 03:27.460 that it's one you know is used by the 03:27.940 --> 03:30.900 but the D O D community and the fact 03:30.900 --> 03:33.067 that it's helped the company build the 03:33.067 --> 03:36.090 companies Air Force Technology Transfer , 03:36.100 --> 03:38.378 benefiting the U . S . Defense Mission , 03:38.378 --> 03:40.850 Small Business and the American public . 03:42.540 --> 03:44.707 For more information , contact the Air 03:44.707 --> 03:46.460 Force Technology Transfer program .