www.ll.mit.edu September 2008 Tech Notes MIT Lincoln Laboratory has a long dated for all large aircraft operating Technology history of promoting technology trans- in the U.S., was developed and tested fer for application in the defense and at the Laboratory. The Runway Status Transfer: A the civil sectors. Many technologies Lights system developed in collabora- initially developed to meet defense tion with the Federal Aviation Admin- vital part of the requirements have been re-adapted for istration to warn pilots and air traffic commercial use. For example, under the controllers of the presence of aircraft Laboratory’s U.S. Air Force’s Semiautomatic Ground on runways is scheduled for a 2009 Environment air defense program of deployment at Boston’s Logan Interna- mission the 1950s, Lincoln Laboratory’s expan- tional Airport. sion of the capabilities of MIT’s Whirl- Lincoln Laboratory’s focus on wind , the first to operate in adapting and demonstrating new, Lincoln Laboratory’s technol- real time and to use video displays for advanced capabilities to enhance ogy transfer activities con- output, led to the development of busi- existing systems results in important ness and minicomputers in technology transfer opportunities. The tribute significantly to the the 1960s. continuing adaptation of emerging expansion of scientific knowl- The Laboratory’s contributions to enabling technologies ensures not only edge and the promotion of air traffic control and air safety have that critical national systems expertise resulted in the adoption of Laboratory- is sustained but also that additional industry solutions to defense developed technology into the national innovations can be transitioned to and civil sector problems. air traffic industry. The Traffic Alert and the services and industry as rapidly as Collision Avoidance System, now man- possible. 23 inches 23

For information on licensing technology developed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, contact 12 inches 19 inches MIT Technology Licensing Office 21 inches Institute of Technology Five Cambridge Center, Kendall Sq. Cambridge, MA 02142-1493 617-253-6966 The portable PANTHER CUB sensor uses the Laboratory-developed CANARY (for Cellular Analysis and Notification of Anti- For further information, contact: gen Risks) technology for detecting Communications Office pathogens and soluble protein toxins. The MIT Lincoln Laboratory The Joint Biological Point Detection System technology has been licensed to Innova- 244 Wood Street was an earlier biosensing system to which the tive Biosensors, Inc., who, in January 2008, Lexington, MA 02420-9108 Laboratory contributed foundation technolo- began marketing a product, BioFlash, 781-981-4204 gies that have been transitioned to industry. based on the PANTHER technology.

> A common strategy for achieving Some transition is to share the “architectural Noted Spin-off Companies recipe” and work with commercial n American Aviation, Inc. n Kopin Corporation component and subsystem suppliers n American Power Conversion Corp. n Lasertron, Inc. to assure that technology advances n Applicon, Inc. n LightLab Imaging LLC demonstrated by the Laboratory can be n Arcon Corporation n Metric Systems Corporation duplicated by industry. n Axsun Technologies, Inc. n MicroGlyph Systems Lincoln Laboratory contributed n Centocor, Inc. n foundation technologies to two systems n Computer Corporation of America n Photon, Inc. that received the 2002 Packard Excel- n Digital Equipment Corporation n Sparta, Inc. lence in Acquisition Award: n Dimensional Photonics, Inc. n TeK Associates 1. The Joint Biological Point Detec- n HighPoint Systems, Inc. n Telenet Communications, Inc. tion System — Bioaerosol sensing and n Innovative Biosensors, Inc. n Tyco Laboratories, Inc. microlaser technologies for this system n Kenet, Inc. n XonTech, Inc. are in commercial production. 2. Geosynchronous Lightweight Integrated Technology Experiment the Laboratory’s work on developing from the Laboratory’s technology (GeoLITE)—The optical communications and prototyping new device concepts. development. These companies’ ser- technologies used in the GeoLITE free- Transfer of technology is an impor- vices and products range from multi- space optical communications satellite tant part of Lincoln Laboratory’s media software services to advanced demonstration system are now com- mission and is accomplished in several semiconductor lithography. The pri- mercially available for use in follow-on ways as circumstances allow: vate companies that have continually optical communications programs. • direct transfer of designs and speci- formed out of Lincoln Laboratory con- fications tribute to the defense technology indus- A common strategy for achiev- • funded industrial development trial base. The steady formation of new ing transition is to share the of Lincoln Laboratory–designed Lincoln Laboratory–based companies “architectural recipe” and work subsystems attests to the Laboratory’s continued with suppliers to assure that • one-on-one technical meetings commitment to pursue technology that technology advances can be • open technical seminars is at the forefront of the field. And, as the relies on high-technol- duplicated by industry. • industry-wide workshops in areas ogy firms for significant contributions of the Laboratory’s expertise to economic vitality, the Laboratory’s • establishment of advanced testbed One reason for the Laboratory’s technology development for the DoD systems against which industry success in transferring technology is and other government agencies contin- can develop systems and verify its participation in collaborative pro- ues to open new frontiers for commer- performance grams with industry. The Laboratory’s cial applications. ■ Lincoln Laboratory’s expertise in Microelectronics Laboratory, a world- optical communications and computer class silicon integrated-circuit research Notes: security applications has engendered facility capable of fabricating advanced To learn more about the PANTHER technology transfer via a number of prototype electronic devices, enables technology, visit http://www.ll.mit. patents. cooperative research programs with edu/news/panthersensor.html. Over the 57 years since the Labora- industry to develop advanced semicon- To see a full list of spin-off com- tory’s inception, more than 85 high- ductor manufacturing tools and pro- panies, visit http://www.ll.mit.edu/ technology companies have evolved cesses. Such collaborations complement about/TechTransfer/spinoffs.html.

Opinions, interpretations, and recommendations herein are not necessarily endorsed by Lincoln Laboratory’s government sponsors. Work described in this document is performed under the prime contract with the U.S. Air Force, FA8721-05-C-0002.