Rockwell Scientific to Develop Laser Protective Eyewear for Aircrews

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., April 26 -- Rockwell Scientific Co. has been awarded a $2.8 million, 12-month contract from the US Air Force to develop technologies and manufacturing processes to produce laser protective eyewear for aircrews.

The eyewear will protect against a variety of laser devices to preclude temporary or permanent physical or functional vision loss. When using the eyewear, aircrews will be able to view their flight instruments and outside scenes without visual distortion in both day and night conditions.

RSC's laser eye protection technology combines optical thin film coatings and absorbing dyes to provide protection from lasers at a variety of wavelengths in the infrared and visible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The company will manufacture the eyewear in its new Camarillo facility.