3/4/2002 6:02:00 AM
BOTHELL, Wash., Mar 4, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) —
PCFLIGHTSYSTEMS will offer affordable electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) coupled to Nomad Personal Display
Microvision (Nasdaq:MVIS) today
announced that it has signed an agreement with Sellers Aviation/PCFLIGHTSYSTEMS,
a general aviation (GA) value added reseller, to distribute the Nomad(TM)
Personal Display System with PCFLIGHTSYSTEMS products.
PCFLIGHTSYSTEMS (WWW.PCFLIGHTSYSTEMS.COM), based in Ocala, Fl, will link
Microvision’s Nomad Personal Display system with its PCEFIS product, the first
affordable electronic attitude and artificial horizon (gyro) indicators for
general aviation. The PCEFIS software runs on a handheld Compaq iPAQ(R) (or
other PocketPC(R)) computer that is coupled to a small black box (6.75″ X 4.75″
X 2.5″) containing solid-state gyroscopes (along with accelerometers and a
digital signal processor). The result is a powerful electronic attitude
instrument that can measure roll, pitch and yaw in a “walk on / walk off” kit
that can be used on virtually any airplane.
Pilots wearing the lightweight Nomad display connected to PCEFIS will be able to
view attitude instruments in a head-up mode, through a fully daylight readable,
high-resolution display at a small fraction of the cost of installing a
conventional head-up display. A new GPS module for PCEFIS will add ground track,
altitude, rate of climb, and ground speed information onto the attitude display.
As a result, GA pilots can have the functionality of an Electronic Flight
Instrument System (EFIS) display system usually found in fighter jets or
commercial aircraft in a convenient and affordable system.
The PCEFIS system runs off of battery power or can connect through a standard 12
Volt lighter receptacle so that no modifications to the aircraft are required.
PCEFIS runs independent of installed avionics, and because it is not a primary
flight instrument, does not require FAA certification.
According to Bruce Westcoat, Microvision’s Market Segment Manager for Aerospace,
the system will improve situational awareness, by enabling the pilot’s focus to
be outside the cockpit, while still having access to instrument data,
particularly critical during heavy pilot workloads in controlled airspace.
“Partnering with Value Added Resellers (VARs) who are developing innovative
systems that can interface to the Nomad display is a cornerstone of our general
aviation marketing strategy,” Westcoat explained. “PCFLIGHTSYSTEMS is offering a
system that is plug-compatible with Nomad, offers a combination of compelling
features, convenience and affordability, and is already being well received in
the marketplace. When you couple the Nomad display to PCEFIS, you have the most
affordable fully functional head-up display that the industry has ever seen, and
it can be installed literally in minutes. We’re anticipating a great response to
this product in the marketplace. We expect to develop multiple value-added
partners for Nomad System sales in general aviation to complement our own sales
team, and to facilitate the delivery of complete systems for pilots.”
Westcoat says that he is enthusiastic about the prospects for Microvision’s
Nomad Personal Display System in the General Aviation market. With over 500,000
active general aviation pilots in the US alone, the company sees tremendous
market potential for the Nomad System as an affordable and convenient means of
adding to the safety and enjoyment of flying.
PCFLIGHTSYSTEMS will demonstrate its PCEFIS system with the Nomad Personal
Display System at the Sun-n-Fun air show in Lakeland, FL. April 7-13, and the
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh air show July 23-29.
Based on Microvision’s patented light scanning technology, the recently
introduced Nomad Personal Display System is a high-resolution head-worn display
that presents images and information to the user on a see-through virtual
17-inch display. This unique personal display enables hands-free access to
information such as diagrams, instrumentation, maintenance records, moving maps
and interactive training manuals, superimposing the information on the user’s
view and creating “augmented vision.” The Nomad System features full
daylight-readability, allowing users to view high contrast images in even the
most challenging ambient lighting conditions. High quality, Super VGA resolution
makes the Nomad System immediately compatible with a broad range of existing
applications and content.
From flight paths to factory floors, surgical suites, and more, the Nomad System
can deliver major improvements in productivity, quality and safety for virtually
any type of manual task. The company is targeting applications for workers in
four vertical markets — industrial, aerospace, medical, and military — that
enable customers to keep information in front of people engaged in manual tasks
or on the move, allowing access to information at the point of task and
information, anywhere.
About Microvision: www.mvis.com
Headquartered in Bothell, Wash., Microvision Inc. is the developer of the
patented retinal scanning display technology and a world leader in micro
miniature optical scanning technology for display and imaging applications. The
company’s technology has applications in a broad range of military, medical,
industrial, professional and consumer information products. Nomad is a trademark
of Microvision, Inc.
Forward Looking Statement
The information set forth in this release includes “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. Certain
factors that realistically could cause results to differ materially from those
projected in the company’s forward-looking statements are set forth in the
company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT:
Microvision Inc.
Matt Nichols (media)
mattn@mvis.com
or
Brian Heagler (investors)
brian_heagler@mvis.com
425/415-6847
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