9/26/2003 9:34:00 AM
BOTHELL, Wash., Sep 26, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Microvision, Inc.
(Nasdaq:MVIS), a leader in light scanning technologies, today
announced an order from the Program Executive Office — Soldier within
the U.S. Army for 100 units of a modified version of the Nomad
Augmented Vision System. The purchase follows successful Nomad field
evaluations by vehicle commanders in the Stryker Brigade Combat Team
at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, CA and the Joint
Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, LA. Delivery of Nomad Systems
to support the first operational brigade deployment is expected to
begin this fall. Nomad Systems will be installed in selected vehicles
of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd division. In August, the Army announced that
this first Stryker Brigade will be a part of the Army’s rotation plan
going to Iraq and may deploy sometime this fall.
The modified Nomad Augmented Vision System will provide the
vehicle commander with a helmet-mounted, head-up, daylight-readable,
remote display of the Stryker’s onboard battlefield computer while
operating from the commander’s hatch opening. The commander will have
an enhanced ability to observe the surroundings, choose the optimum
path ahead, command the vehicle and use tactical information to his
advantage. This enhanced capability can improve the fighting
effectiveness, situational awareness, force protection and
survivability for each vehicle and the combined forces.
“There is close correlation between the rapid deployment / rapid
engagement operational requirements of the Stryker brigade and the
need of the Stryker commander to monitor tactical digital information
while maintaining visual contact with the battlefield,” stated Andrew
Lee, Microvision’s Vice President of Sales. “The Nomad Augmented
Vision System provides a high contrast, daylight readable, see-through
display of battlefield information, enabling the commander to
continuously view outside situations as they develop. We are eager to
provide the Army with augmented vision displays that can improve
operational effectiveness and situational awareness.”
Lee added, “The continued support we have received from Congress,
particularly the Washington delegation, has enabled the development of
this technology to the point where real dividends for our men and
women in uniform can now be realized.”
The Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) is designed to bridge the
gap between the Army’s light and heavy armored forces. The units
provide combat commanders increased operational and tactical
flexibility. The Stryker is the Army’s newest family of combat
vehicles. An eight-wheeled medium weight armored vehicle, it is the
SBCT’s primary combat and combat support platform. Significantly
lighter and more transportable than existing tanks and armored
vehicles, the Stryker fulfills an immediate requirement for a
strategically and tactically deployable brigade capable of rapid
movement worldwide. With a maximum speed of over 60 mph and a range of
300 miles, the vehicles are designed to provide armament protection,
speed, mobility and combat capabilities to a new, “middleweight,”
rapid deployment force eventually totaling six brigades. An
operational Stryker brigade will have 3,600 troops, about 300 Stryker
vehicles, and the ability to be delivered anywhere in the world by air
transport in less than four days.
About Microvision: www.microvision.com
Headquartered in Bothell, Wash., Microvision Inc. is the world
leader in the development of high-resolution displays and imaging
systems based on the company’s proprietary silicon micro-mirror
technology. The company’s technology has applications in a broad range
of military, medical, industrial, professional and consumer products.
Microvision has been working with Canon, BMW, the Electronics
Research Lab of Volkswagen of America, Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon
Endo Surgery subsidiary, Honda and others to develop a number of
display and image capture product applications based on its
proprietary scanned beam technology.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
Certain statements contained in this release, including those
relating to product applications and product features as well as
statements containing words like “will,” “expect,” and other similar
expressions, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of
risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected in the company’s
forward-looking statements include the following: market acceptance of
our technologies and products; our ability to obtain financing; our
financial and technical resources relative to those of our
competitors; our ability to keep up with rapid technological change;
government regulation of our technologies; our ability to enforce our
intellectual property rights and protect our proprietary technologies;
the ability to obtain additional contract awards and to develop
partnership opportunities; the timing of commercial product launches;
the ability to achieve key technical milestones in key products; and
other risk factors identified from time to time in the company’s SEC
reports, including in its Annual Report on 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2002, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
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SOURCE: Microvision
Microvision, Inc.
Matt Nichols (media), 425-415-6657
Brian Heagler (investors), 425-415-6794
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