Via its Small Business Technology Transfer program, the US Department of Defense has awarded approximately $100,000 to Boston Micromachines Corp. of Watertown, Mass., to develop better communications on the battlefield. The company, in conjunction with its research partner, Boston University, will use the funds to begin development of the Secure Communicating Optical Ultrasmall Transponder (SCOUT).

The instrument will use a microelectromechanical systems-deformable mirror and a simple optical component to return reflected light to its point of origin, allowing for improved and rapid battlefield identification of friendly soldiers, vehicles and aircraft.

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