The US Air Force has awarded Optra Inc. of Topsfield, Mass., a $700,000 Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant to deliver a low-cost, open-path Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Optra will use the device as an air-quality monitor for toxic chemicals involving aircraft maintenance. The system works in the 8- to 13-µm region with 16-cm¹ spectral resolution, which is tailored to identify and quantify heavy industrial solvent materials. It may have commercial application in process control, environmental sensing and automobile emissions testing.