Vuzix awarded Phase I SBIR contract by US Air Force to develop AR HMDs

In Augmented Reality News 

June 4, 2024 – Vuzix Corporation, a supplier of smart glasses and augmented reality (AR) technology and products, has this week announced that it has been selected by AFWERX for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract.

According to Vuzix, the contract with the Department of Defense (DOD) will focus on the development of augmented reality head mounted displays (HMDs) using waveguide technologies to address some of the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force. Vuzix noted that through the program, it will begin developing and supplying waveguide and HMD capabilities that will help to strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

As the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and powered by the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX is the US Air Force’s team of innovators who encourage and facilitate connections across industry, academia and the military to create transformative opportunities and foster a culture of innovation. AFWERX’ mission is to solve problems and enhance the effectiveness of the service by helping to drive faster technology transitions to operational capability, ultimately to enable thoughtful, deliberate, ground-up innovation.

“We are thrilled to directly engage with the U.S. Government via this Department of the Air Force development contract award,” said Paul Travers, President and Chief Executive Officer at Vuzix. “Our waveguides, which are proudly designed and manufactured in our New York State facility, can be paired with our leading-edge projector technologies typically used by the DOD. This innovative combination of our optical solutions promises a new level of functionality and performance to what may ultimately become part of a broad range of solutions for DOD aircraft, vehicles, and personnel use cases across various military US DOD branches.”  

For more information on Vuzix and its waveguide technology for HMDs, please visit the company’s website.

Image credit: Vuzix

About the author

Sam Sprigg

Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.