Remote Sensing
RADAR - Ultrasound - LIDAR - SONAR - Seismic - Imaging
SharpScan
Modern submarine navigation systems use small-aperture magnetron X-band Radars in small pressure-proof cylindrical pods mounted on a penetrating mast. The requirement for small volume comes at the expense of Radar angular resolution, yet International Electromagnetic Commission standards (IEC 62388) require exacting detection and resolution of small, distant, and closely spaced contacts such as navigation buoys (5m2), small vessels (2.5m2) and channel markers (1m2). FTL’s SharpScan meets these standards within the limited pod volume by implementing Coherent Radar processing in a magnetron based system utilizing new Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based beam-sharpening, an enabling technology that provides higher signal to noise ratio (SNR), reduces target uncertainty, and allows for the Doppler effect to be used to reduce the influence of static clutter to provide more information on each target than could be gained without coherent returns. This results in improved angular resolution and extraction of targets for Moving Target Indication (MTI).
SoundFit
SoundFit is a patented ultrasonic tool that monitors and records relative motion between a prosthesis socket and the bone within a remaining limb after amputation. Accurate and quantitative measurement of relative bone-to-prosthesis location during prescribed exercises such as walking for lower limb, or lateral arm raises for an upper limb, enables custom, comfortable fitment and high performance mechanical energy transfer, filling the knowledge gap that currently exists when trying to assess the performance of a socket interface.
There is a clear industry need for determining acceptable ranges for socket performance metrics values. These metrics may include sagittal/frontal range of motion and peak velocity during an activity, which correlate with interface stiffness and damping. These performance metrics, derived with FTL’s SoundFit, allow analysis of industry-wide statistical trends for direct application by prosthetics clinicians.
FTL’s SoundFit serves as a guide during the fitment process, allowing comparison of a socket’s performance to trends seen in the community of subjects having similar impairments, physiology and mobility. Driving the socket fitment with data rather than subjectivity will help to enhance a patient’s interaction with the world via a prosthesis, and ultimately will improve the patient’s quality of life.
For more information, please check out FTL’s brochure about the next generation of SoundFit, titled FoCUS! FoCUS is currently deployed in test labs across the country.
Contact us for more information.
Ultrasonic Flaw Detection
For advanced nondestructive testing of critical parts, FTL borrowed their medical ultrasound technology consisting of inexpensive WiFi enabled hardware, custom precision transducers, and proprietary signal processing and visualization to measure and display precisely where internal fractures are, key part dimensions, and statistical analysis. Flaw detection and component imaging can be easily performed with the resulting hardware solution and a standard Android phone or tablet.
Piezoelectric Sensor Fabrication
FTL’s in-house techniques for fabricating precision piezoelectric ultrasound sensors and probes by leveraging recent advances in 3D printing technologies. With specialized materials, the entire housing is printed with precision matching layers in one shot. Once the piezo crystal is adhered to the inside, proprietary backing layers are poured, engineered to quickly damp out unwanted harmonics for faster ring-down without compromising the transmitted or received signals. FTL is capable of applying this technology to a multitude of sensor types, for sensors that cost a fraction of most commercial solutions.