Ray Johnson: Lockheed Looks to Mide for Sensor Tech Commercialization

Lockheed Martin has selected a sensor technology offering built by startup company Mide for installation on the U.S. Navy‘s Aegis weapon system.

The novel piezoelectric sensor technology is designed to measure variations in pressure, acceleration, strain and force through electrical conversion, Lockheed said Wednesday.

“In the last ten years, we have been able to transition about a dozen projects to the commercialization phase, making this a major accomplishment not only for our partnership with Mide, but for the benefit of our customers,” said Ray Johnson, Lockheed senior vice president and chief technology officer.

Mide developed the technology through the federal government’s Small Business Innovation Research program.

“We have hundreds of research projects underway through the government’s SBIR program, but just like in the commercial world, not every great idea makes it to market.”

SBIR contains three phases covering concept exploration, development and testing and product marketing.