Transitioning and commercializing technology beyond Phase II and into DoD operational environments and commercial markets is extremely challenging for small businesses. We thank the small businesses whose success stories are described in the following publications for sharing their transition and commercialization pathways, challenges and valuable lessons learned so others may benefit from their experiences:
Feature Report
Saving Lives in Theater - the TALON Robot: A Technology Development Story
In 1993, development of small robots for use in combat began at Foster-Miller, Inc., a small business now part of QinetiQ North America, with the first Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award.
Today, the company estimates that about 3,000 TALON robots are being used by US forces around the world to support several mission areas—Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), reconnaissance, communications, sensing, security, defense, and rescue. Many lives have been saved by these innovative, complex technologies and they have been important contributors during missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Bosnia, as well as in New York City at Ground Zero.
(View Featured Report in Flash format)
(Download Featured Report in .pdf format)
Success Reports