WEBVTT 00:13.088 --> 00:14.769 - [Narrator] One of the challenges of flying 00:14.769 --> 00:18.217 high performance aircraft, is the dramatic fluctuation 00:18.217 --> 00:21.281 of ambient light levels that occur during flight, 00:21.281 --> 00:24.003 which make it difficult for pilots to monitor their plane's 00:24.003 --> 00:25.670 electronic displays. 00:26.259 --> 00:29.347 The Air Force Small Business Innovation Research program 00:29.347 --> 00:33.514 has invested in technologies that address this problem. 00:36.881 --> 00:39.196 The Glen H. Brown Liquid Crystal Institute 00:39.196 --> 00:42.297 at Kent State University, is a world renowned center 00:42.297 --> 00:44.589 for the study of liquid crystals. 00:44.589 --> 00:47.674 Bahman Taheri was a professor and liaison 00:47.674 --> 00:49.994 for the industrial partnership program, 00:49.994 --> 00:54.161 when he learned of a problem faced by Air Force pilots. 00:55.419 --> 00:59.586 ^- Initial problem is that the pilots are given one visor, 00:59.708 --> 01:02.220 but they're gonna experience different lining condition, 01:02.220 --> 01:04.823 and they're gonna experience it in very fast time scale, 01:04.823 --> 01:06.565 they go above and below the clouds. 01:06.565 --> 01:09.430 So they needed a technology to change the tint of the visor 01:09.430 --> 01:12.207 instantaneously whenever they wanted. 01:12.207 --> 01:15.399 - [Narrator] Bahman Taheri and two colleagues formed 01:15.399 --> 01:19.566 a company, Alpha Micron, applied for and won an Air Force 01:19.877 --> 01:24.044 SPIR contract, then began their search for a solution. 01:25.460 --> 01:28.131 - The typical liquid crystal displays or devices 01:28.131 --> 01:30.544 that you see, is based on flat glass, 01:30.544 --> 01:33.629 and they're designed to give you a really good black state 01:33.629 --> 01:34.796 or dark state. 01:35.013 --> 01:37.372 Whereas for this particular application, you want it 01:37.372 --> 01:39.731 curved, you want it plastic and you want the best 01:39.731 --> 01:41.631 clear state, so it's completely opposite 01:41.631 --> 01:43.440 of what is already out there. 01:43.440 --> 01:45.304 So we have to solve both the material, 01:45.304 --> 01:49.032 as well as the process related issues, and that has taken us 01:49.032 --> 01:53.199 15 years to solve all the problems associated with it, 01:53.296 --> 01:56.079 to be able to meet all of the requirements for the military. 01:56.079 --> 01:59.282 - [Narrator] The Alpha Micron eTint technology developed 01:59.282 --> 02:03.189 under the SPIR contract, has widespread applications, 02:03.189 --> 02:06.364 not just for pilots and military personnel, 02:06.364 --> 02:10.056 but in civilian transportation, in architecture, 02:10.056 --> 02:12.523 as well as high performance sports. 02:12.523 --> 02:15.696 - The motorcyclist, when he goes in and out of a tunnel, 02:15.696 --> 02:17.362 he has to be able to change the tint 02:17.362 --> 02:20.326 of his motorcycle visors, so you can do that 02:20.326 --> 02:21.912 by just pressing this button. 02:21.912 --> 02:24.331 It has another option where you can press and hold, 02:24.331 --> 02:25.979 then when you turn on the light, 02:25.979 --> 02:28.979 it can actually do it automatically. 02:29.980 --> 02:32.646 As with any kind of military product that comes in there, 02:32.646 --> 02:34.819 there's a commercial sector that really wants it. 02:34.819 --> 02:37.034 And in this one, there are lot of people who have 02:37.034 --> 02:39.717 the same exact problems that the pilots do. 02:39.717 --> 02:42.165 - [Narrator] Alpha Micron's product line now ranges 02:42.165 --> 02:45.297 from military grade bulletproof goggles and visors, 02:45.297 --> 02:49.214 to a line of high fashion eyewear and clothing. 02:49.591 --> 02:53.091 (upbeat electronic music) 02:54.632 --> 02:56.891 - Eye wear industry is an enormous industry 02:56.891 --> 02:59.141 that hasn't really changed very much 02:59.141 --> 03:01.308 over the past fifty years. 03:01.733 --> 03:05.900 And this is a brand new revolution in terms of how eyewear 03:06.600 --> 03:09.170 is viewed, and how eyewear is used. 03:09.170 --> 03:11.756 - [Narrator] With production deals in the US, Europe 03:11.756 --> 03:15.008 and Asia, their manufacturing and assembly operation 03:15.008 --> 03:17.976 in Kent, Ohio, has a backlog of orders. 03:17.976 --> 03:21.189 And the demand is growing for their liquid crystal 03:21.189 --> 03:24.856 technology developed under the SPIR program. 03:25.091 --> 03:28.924 - I think the SPIR is perhaps the best program 03:29.630 --> 03:33.632 that the government has to create new technology. 03:33.632 --> 03:37.182 It not only provides it with the funds that is really needed 03:37.182 --> 03:40.137 to start something brand new, but it also provides it 03:40.137 --> 03:44.163 with an exact product that you need to work toward. 03:44.163 --> 03:47.033 So it's not longer just build it and it will come, 03:47.033 --> 03:49.437 it actually tells you if you build it, they will come. 03:49.437 --> 03:52.642 - [Narrator] The Air Force Small Business Innovation 03:52.642 --> 03:55.761 Research Program opening the window of opportunity 03:55.761 --> 03:58.344 for new businesses to succeeed.