Air Force Partnership: Aircraft Surface Inspection
Automated Visual Inspection & Database Maintenance Software (AVID)
Columbia, Maryland, 11/03/2022 – Quidient announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Direct to Phase II SBIR contract in the amount of $1.25M focused on automated visual inspection of aircraft exterior surfaces to investigate its potential to fill capability gaps in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through a faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and losing bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering ‘The Open Topic’ SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on May 3, 2022, Quidient will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.
About Quidient
Quidient is a deep tech startup in a fast-growing 3D imaging field called Generalized Scene Reconstruction (GSR). GSR solves a critical problem for the Space Force, USAF, DoD, and private sector by making the creation of virtual objects and scenes (e.g., Digital Twins) from images accurate, affordable, and automatic. Quidient’s flagship, dual-use software platform, Quidient Reality®, is designed to run on devices like smartphones, tablets, AR glasses, UAVs, and specialized cameras. Quidient’s products promise to enable many new AF applications, including Automated Visual Inspection, Affordable Digital Twinning, AR/VR Training, the Metaverse, and more.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,000 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit: http://www.afresearchlab.com.
About AFWERX
AFWERX, a program office at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), connects innovators across government, industry and academia. Through innovation and collaboration with our nation’s top subject-matter experts and harnessing the power of ingenuity of internal talent, by expanding technology, talent, and transition partnerships for rapid and affordable commercial and military capability.
Additional information is available at: https://www.afwerx.com/.
About AFVentures
AFVentures invests in emerging technologies to scale Department of the Air Force capabilities, strengthening the US industrial base that empowers Airmen and Guardians by incentivizing private, for-profit investment in national security interests. Our success is achieved by connecting novel commercial solutions with defense problem sets, de-risking Airmen and Guardian initiatives to fill capability gaps and transition technologies. Learn more at https://afwerx.com/afventures-overview/.
Company Press Contact:
Stara Diamond
Marketing & Communications Manager
