Vision Engineering Solutions Signs Contract with the University of Texas

Orlando, Fla. (April 03, 2018) — Researchers at the University of Texas have turned to an Orlando area company to build optical tracking systems that are capable of collecting data on the characteristics of satellites and space debris to contribute towards Space Situational Awareness. Space Situational Awareness can be defined as the knowledge and characterization of all aspects of space.

There are millions of objects, ranging from rocket boosters and satellites to flecks of paint, orbiting the earth and traveling at 17,000 miles per hour or more.  At that speed, a piece of debris less than half an inch wide has the impact of a hand grenade and can badly damage or disable a satellite or other spacecraft.

A better capability to track and image critical items in orbit can provide information needed to reduce the number of spacecraft damaged or destroyed by collisions, enhance national security and decrease potential danger to those on earth from space.

The company, Vision Engineering Solutions, will provide two optical tracking systems to the researchers and will be working with the team to add software to assist that research. The tracking systems are designed to specifically assist in what is called space situational awareness, defined as the knowledge and characterization of all aspects of space.

“This type of project furthers our company’s goal of being the leader in optical pointing and tracking solutions,” says Ed Logue, CEO, Vision Engineering Solutions. “To be involved in a project like this is certain to open more doors as our government – and governments around the world – work to ensure space and earth are safe.”

For instance, in 2015, the United States government started a five-year, $5.5 billion program to increase the country’s space situational awareness capabilities. In addition, the European Union has also invested millions in its own program.

Included in the contract with the University of Texas are two of Vision’s main products, Vision’s Precision Mount Control System, a control system developed to work with any tracking mount, and DataView-Recorder, a real-time recorder with display, playback and video tracking capability.

The two systems will be located at fixed sites and controlled remotely via the internet. They will be operational in approximately nine months. Terms of the contract are undisclosed.

“We found that Vision’s capabilities, system performance and features were perfect for this project,” says Dr. Moriba Jah, who runs the Advanced Sciences and Technology Research in Astronautics at the University of Texas at Austin.  “We look forward to starting with the systems soon and fulfilling our mission.”

Vision focuses on providing custom optical-tracking solutions for defense, security and space applications. The company has a proven track record of designing, upgrading, and refurbishing tracking systems for multiple applications.

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For more information media should contact:

Ruben Nunez, Vision Engineering Solutions, 407-616-3162, Rnunez@visionengineered.com

Carol Ann Dykes Logue, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-635-9882, Carolann.dykeslogue@ucf.edu

Alan Byrd, Alan Byrd & Associates, 407-415-8470, Alan@ByrdConnections.com

About Vision Engineering Solutions: Vision Engineering provides state-of-the-art optical tracking, imaging and sensing solutions.  We offer our customers the most comprehensive, cost-effective, and rapid turnaround solutions through a unified line of products and services. For more information, visit www.VisionEngineered.com

About Advanced Sciences and Technology Research in Astronautics (ASTRIA): ASTRIA’s Mission is to assemble and lead the world’s top multidisciplinary science and technology research and development talent, and focus it to solve problems requiring rigorous and comprehensive capabilities in assessing, quantifying and predicting the behavior of objects in space, both man-made and natural. Led by Dr. Moriaba Jah, one of ASTRIA’s research goals is to make the space domain transparent and predictable. The ASTRIA motto is, “Ex coelestis, scientia…nihil arcanum est!” which loosely translates to, “from the heavens, knowledge…nothing hides!” For more information, visit sites.utexas.edu/moriba/about/

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth/impact enterprises. Since 1999, this award-winning program has helped more than 390 local startup companies reach their potential faster by providing vital business development resources. 

With seven facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties, and the cities of Apopka, Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs.  For the 2014/15 and 2015/16 fiscal years, the activities of these participating firms have helped sustain more than 4,710 local jobs and have had a cumulative impact of more than $725 million on regional GDP and more than $1.3 billion on regional sales. During the same period, the program has returned $7.41 for every $1 invested in the program. For more information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.