PRESS RELEASE

June 18, 2009

BLACKSBURG, VA

AUR, Inc. receives Phase II Small Business Innovation Research award to develop flow instruments

Applied University Research, Inc. (AUR) a research and development firm based in Blacksburg, Virginia is the recipient of a multi-year award to develop advanced instruments for high speed flow characterization. The award from the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC), an important US Air Force Material Command Facility, will be used to upgrade the Center’s already impressive capabilities.

According to the official AEDC website, “[AEDC] is the most advanced and largest complex of flight simulation test facilities in the world. The center operates 58 aerodynamic and propulsion wind tunnels, rocket and turbine engine test cells, space environmental chambers, arc heaters, ballistic ranges and other specialized units. Twenty-seven of the center's test units have capabilities unmatched elsewhere in the United States; 14 are unique in the world. The Arnold Engineering Development Center is an Air Force Materiel Command organization and an important national resource.”

AUR will use the award to develop unique laser-based flow instrumentation that may be used to obtain three-dimensional flow velocity measurements from within the thickness of a sheet of paper from model surfaces. This region very near aerodynamic bodies such as aircraft, missiles, and rockets is critically important to the performance of the entire vehicle. The capability to make three-dimensional velocity measurements in the near-field region of models in AEDC’s unparalleled facilities will help engineers improve a variety of cutting-edge aerospace technologies. Data may be used for understanding issues with configurations under test in addition to proving detailed information to validate flow calculations, which are being used increasingly to make important design decisions.

AUR has identified several facilities of similar scale and importance in the US alone which may greatly benefit from the capabilities developed for AEDC. In addition, the technologies developed are adaptable to smaller facilities such as those used in dozens of universities throughout the US and hundreds throughout the world.

The preceding release has been approved as dist A (Public releasable). Technical release number is 002565.