LiquidPiston And Spinar America Recognized By The Company

The 7th Annual Sikorsky Innovations Entrepreneurial Challenge has been won by LiquidPiston, with Special Recognition going to Spinar America.

The Entrepreneurial Challenge, driven by Sikorsky Innovations, the technology development organization of Sikorsky, is designed to accelerate innovators and disruptive technology concepts with applications for the vertical flight market.

LiquidPiston, based in Bloomfield, Connecticut, specializes in development of compact, powerful, quiet, efficient, low-vibration, scalable, multi-fuel capable rotary combustion engines, based on its patented High Efficiency Hybrid Thermodynamic Cycle. LiquidPiston received a $25,000 cash prize along with an opportunity to explore opportunities for LiquidPiston's technology with the Sikorsky product line.

Based in Dover, Delaware, Spinar America is an augmented and virtual reality technology firm that develops complete, custom immersive experiences. Spinar received a Special Recognition award for its exceptional entry of advanced augmented reality visualizations and applications to austere operating environments, including remote aircraft maintenance, using Epson Moverio AR glasses. With this recognition, Sikorsky will continue to explore potential alignments with existing technology needs.

"We have come to expect strong entrants from each new Entrepreneurial Challenge, and the seventh iteration did not disappoint. We look forward to working with LiquidPiston and Spinar, along with the rest of our existing awardee portfolio, to continue to develop the next generation of valuable technologies for our military and commercial customers," said Chris Van Buiten, vice president of Sikorsky Innovations. "At a time when Sikorsky is celebrating its first anniversary as part of the Lockheed Martin family, opportunities for our awardees have expanded to not only include interfacing with the leaders in vertical flight, but also with leaders who produce portfolios ranging from undersea to outer space products."

"The competition has set a standard as one of the longest running, consistent, external open innovation initiatives in the aerospace industry," said Jonathan Hartman, Sikorsky Entrepreneurial Challenge lead.  "It is a testament to Sikorsky's commitment to partner with the best in the world that can help usher in the future of vertical flight regardless of their size or scale."

(Source: Lockheed Martin news release)

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com