Towers of power: UA tech park gains world-class solar panels

David Wichner Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Friday, April 29, 2011 12:00 am

Tucson added to its growing solar-energy credentials Thursday with the dedication of one of the world’s most efficient photovoltaic systems at the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park.

The 2-megawatt photovoltaic system, designed and built by California-based Amonix Inc., is the largest of its kind in the nation.

The so-called concentrating photovoltaic system, at the UA tech park’s Solar Zone, uses flat lenses to focus sunlight on high-efficiency photovoltaic cells, which convert the light to electricity.

The 12-acre system consists of 36 massive solar panels – each about the size of an IMAX movie screen – towering up to about 50 feet off the ground on dual-axis pedestals that track the sun horizontally and vertically.

Locals seek to set solar standards

David Wichner Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Sunday, April 24, 2011 12:00 am

Solar-energy professionals have launched a local industry-standards group – believed to be one of the first in the nation – to hold installers accountable for their work through inspections and a code of ethics.

The Southern Arizona Solar Standards Board invites solar-energy-equipment installers to join and pledge to meet minimum technical standards for installations and to follow ethical standards.

The group, formed in coordination with the Pima Association of Governments, has launched a website (solarstandards.org) with initial standards after holding an inaugural meeting attended by about 40 industry pros earlier this month.

SASSB’s inaugural board of directors is chaired by Colleen Crowninshield, energy-programs manager for PAG. Other members are three solar installers, Kevin Koch of Technicians for Sustainability, George Villec of GeoInnovation LLC and Chad Waits of Net Zero Solar; and Ron Boose, who heads inspections as building official for the city of Tucson.

Raytheon gets $7M air technology contract

Posted: Friday, April 22, 2011 5:00 pm | Updated: 2:00 pm, Thu Apr 21, 2011

Inside Tucson Business.

Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson will serve as mission system integrator for the first phase project of a $7 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop air support technology.

The company will develop the technologies to help improve close air support between sensors and weapons.

Raytheon will coordinate work on the project among Rockwell Collins, GE Aviation and Proxy Aviation Systems. The team will develop a system that can work with current and future systems.

Raytheon gets $173M to launch production of guided artillery shell

By David Wichner Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Thursday, April 21, 2011 11:53 am

Raytheon Missile Systems has been awarded a $172.6 million contract to start full-rate production of a longer-range guided artillery shell for the U.S. Army.

The contract calls for Raytheon to supply 2,186 Excalibur Increment Ia-2 projectiles by the end of January, 2013, the Army said. The contract amount reflects a procurement cost of about $79,000 per round.

Work will be performed in Tucson, 10 other U.S. sites and in Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Fielded in 2007 and used by the Army and Marine Corps, the 155-millimeter Excalibur uses GPS satellite guidance to strike within about 33 feet of its target, limiting so-called collateral damage. Unguided artillery shells are only considered accurate within hundreds of feet. 

UA’s patents promise marvels

Rikki Mitchell – Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Sunday, April 17, 2011 12:00 am

The 13 U.S. patents issued to University of Arizona researchers and faculty members in fiscal year 2010 provide a window onto a range of technological advancements.

These Tucsonans’ work could help to do everything from inhibiting the growth and spread of cancer tumors to increasing crop yields to help feed people to creating a super-zippy Internet speed, among other promising developments.

Here’s a snapshot of each patent:

1. Title: Biocides.

Issued: July 28, 2009.

The UA’s Michael Riggs and Deborah Schaefer, in collaboration with ioGenetics in Wisconsin, are working on a treatment for an intestinal parasite called Cryptosporidium.

The parasite is commonly found in calves and can also harm humans who work with calves on farms, said Riggs, an associate professor of veterinary science and microbiology.

News & Notes

Posted: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 12:00 am

Arizona Daily Star

TUCSON

Raytheon recognizes top suppliers

Raytheon Missile Systems recognized seven Tucson-area businesses at a Supplier Excellence Program awards ceremony last week.

Arizona Precision Industries, Desert Engineering Group, Kirsh Manufacturing, M&R Sheet Metal & Manufacturing, Metal Works Precision Machine and Tool and Prototron Circuits won “Three Star” supplier awards. R & L Fitness received Raytheon’s “Customer Satisfaction” supplier award.

The suppliers were recognized for performance and partnership, including meeting delivery, quality and relationship commitments.

Last year, Raytheon Missile Systems spent $82 million with Tucson suppliers, said Mike Jarrett, the company’s vice president of supply-chain management.

Test in South Pacific key step in defensive system for Europe

Remote data aids Raytheon missile kill

David Wichner Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Saturday, April 16, 2011 12:00 am

A missile made by Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems intercepted an intermediate-range ballistic missile over the Pacific Ocean early Friday in a key test of the Obama administration’s planned European missile shield.

The test shot was the first flight test of a Standard Missile-3 Block IA against an intermediate-range missile, and it also showed the missile’s ability to hit a ballistic-missile target when “launched on remote” – using a forward-based radar also made by Raytheon.

“The launch-on-remote capability is incredibly important because it extends the essential defended footprint of the ship,” Frank Wyatt, Raytheon vice president of air- and missile-defense systems, said in prepared remarks.

Ridgetop lands NASA component contract

MANUFACTURING

Posted: Friday, April 8, 2011 5:00 pm

Inside Tucson Business

Ridgetop lands NASA component contract 0 comments

Ridgetop Group has received a new Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award to develop a high-speed, radiation-hardened component for use in a future NASA spacecraft mission to Jupiter.
 
The component, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), converts sensor data to digital form so it can be processed with algorithms to extract important information.

The component will be used in an advanced radar mapping application.

Founded in 2000, Ridgetop Group, 3580 W. Ina Road, has also designed components and systems for the Air Force, Navy and government contractors