For
Immediate Release: March 13, 2012 Contact Information:
Julie
Michael Smith
330-727-6292
Applied Systems and Technology Transfer awarded DARPA
contract to spur creativity and innovation in students
Applied Systems & Technology Transfer (AST2) has received a
potentially multi-million dollar contract award from the Department of Defense’s
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for its Manufacturing Experimentation
and Outreach (MENTOR) program. MENTOR is expected to be a four-year program. The MENTOR effort is part of DARPA's Adaptive
Vehicle Make (AVM) portfolio of programs which seeks to revolutionize the
design and build process for complex defense systems by compressing the
development timelines at least five fold while increasing the nation’s pool of
innovation by several factors of 10.
MENTOR is aimed at sparking a passion in high school
students for innovation, design and creativity.
With AVM’s progressive vision for the future of manufacturing, DARPA
hopes to inculcate high school students with an interest in 21st
century manufacturing careers as well as foster the next generation of
innovators. AST2’s MENTOR approach is
based on its Virtual Collaborative Learning Environment (VCLE), a hardware and
software platform technology that allows students to collaborate, communicate
in real-time using social media applications, and operate digitally controlled
equipment remotely through virtual presence technology. AST2 will integrate VCLE into high school
curriculum to create learning environments where students can experience, hands-on,
next generation manufacturing using rapid prototype equipment and 3D printers
in their classrooms, as well as remotely operate sophisticated equipment like
CNC milling machines. The students will be immersed in problem-based learning through
distributed design and manufacturing prize challenges and competitions to spur
innovation and creativity.
“We are very excited about the opportunities to
support DARPA with this important program with its potential to impact both the
educational model for providing STEM education as well as inventing the future
of manufacturing,” states Jack Scott, president and founder of AST2. “Our
company is committed to spurring students’ creative and innovative interests in
a progressive learning environment that will positively influence their future
career and education choices.”
In MENTOR, teams of students from geographically
distributed high schools will collaborate to design and manufacture electro-mechanical
systems such as mobile robots and ground and air vehicles which will be judged in
annual prize-based challenge competitions. AST2’s program will initially be
implemented in fall 2012 in ten high schools with a goal of expanding to 1,000
participating high schools by 2016.
ATS2 is partnered with Miami University (Ohio) and
its Armstrong Interactive Media Studies Program on all aspects of MENTOR
including development of 3D visualization technologies, rapid prototyping
equipment, and interactive and multi-media curriculum focused on innovation and
creativity. AST2 will use the zSpace
system from Infinite Z to provide students with a highly realistic 3D
visualization experience that will enable them to directly interact with
virtual holographic simulations as if they were real physical objects. Other alliances include Science Applications
International Corporation (SAIC)
[NYSE: SAI], a FORTUNE 500® scientific,
engineering, and technology applications company for assistance in scaling MENTOR nationally and providing industry
support; and Local Motors,
a revolutionary automotive company whose open source community of car
designers, engineers and fabricators use social media for development and
design, for creation of the prize challenge competitions. According to Congressman Tim Ryan, “MENTOR is an
important investment in preparing today’s students for future STEM careers,
particularly manufacturing with its significance to this region. MENTOR will be a model initiative in
demonstrating technology that can transform our educational system by
challenging our kids to innovate in a creative and learning environment.” Ryan
adds, “AST2’s ability to secure this prestigious contract is a further
demonstration of the growing importance of Youngstown and northeast Ohio as a
center of technology and innovation.” About Applied Systems and Technology Transfer: AST2’s Technology Transfer group supports
commercialization of advanced stage technologies through development of “path
to market” strategies for the defense, energy and environmental markets. AST2 provides technical and management
expertise to transition from R&D to prototyping, demonstration and
commercialization. The Applied Systems
group provides technology solutions including engineering and technical support
services to both governmental and commercial sectors. Headquartered in
Youngstown, OH, AST2 is a designated HubZone Small
Business Contractor by the U.S. Small Business Administration and an EDGE
contractor by the State of Ohio. Visit www.ast2.net Infinite Z and zSpace are registered
trademarks of Infinite Z, Inc.