ViGYAN
Wins R&D 100 Award
Langley Provided Initial Funding
For Pilot Weather Advisor System
By RICHARD WHITE
ViGYAN, Inc.
ViGYAN, Inc. announced on Sept. 2 that it has been selected to receive
a 2003 R&D 100 award from R&D Magazine for its Pilot Weather Advisor
(PWA) system, now being sold by WSI Corp. as WSI InFlight.
The award recognizes the WSI InFlight system as “one of the 100 most
technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over
the past year.”
Co-recipients of the award include WSI Corp. of Billerica, Mass., Langley
Research Center and Glenn Research Center. The award will be presented
on Oct. 16 at an awards ceremony in Chicago.
The WSI InFlight system provides a continuous satellite-based broadcast
of weather information to aircraft cockpits. Both radar and airport condition
data is graphically displayed on portable and panel mounted displays.
The product concept was developed by Langley employee Norman Crabill in
the 1980s. The prototype hardware and software was developed by ViGYAN
as the PWA with Crabill as a consultant. Initial development under the
NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program was partially funded
by Langley. Final funding to produce a production prototype was provided
by Glenn, ViGYAN internal funds and private investor funds.
PWA was sold to WSI in 2002. WSI has developed and is selling the production
commercial product as WSI InFlight. The system recently received its FAA
certification and is delivering both portable and panel-mounted versions
to customers.
“This is the ultimate realization of the NASA SBIR program —
a technology the Agency invested in is being turned into a commercial
product that will potentially benefit everyone who flies,” said Robert
Yang, manager of Langley’s SBIR Program.
“The WSI InFlight system is a dream come true for pilots,” said
Keith Hoffler, director of business development for aviation at WSI and
formerly vice president of ViGYAN’s PWA division.
“Now flights can be made with excellent weather awareness, making
general aviation aircraft more useful and all aircraft operations safer,”
Hoffler said. “It is amazing how much the use of WSI InFlight changes
the cockpit environment when the weather is marginal or changing rapidly.
Stress levels are reduced and informed decisions are being made. The positive
feedback we are receiving from our users confirms R&D Magazine’s
selection and lets us know the product is truly appreciated.”
ViGYAN, founded in 1979 and located in Hampton, provides aerospace research
and development services to various federal agencies, including NASA and
the Department of Defense.
For more information about ViGYAN, visit http://www.vigyan.com
on the Internet.
WSI is the world’s leading provider of weather-driven business solutions
for professionals in the aviation, media and energy markets, and multiple
federal and state government agencies.
For more information about WSI, visit http://www.wsi.com
on the Internet.
