It draws hundreds to the Belmont very year to see and play on exhibits and demonstrations, and ask questions of national defense contractors, see the technical products made by regional and local companies, and hear them explain all things technical.

"By the public coming to the showcase, we get to show how we're growing the technical capabilities in this area and getting the young kids interested and educated in math and science, the jobs of the future," said (right) Karl Harris, PhD director of the Penn State Electro-Optics Center in Northpointe Industrial Park, South Buffalo.

Penn State Electro-Optics Center (EOC)  used the show case to announce it has been awarded $20m inmultiple contracts in support of existing and new programs with the  Department of Defense.

"These awards and accomplishments are a reflection of the wonderful talent, perseverance and dedication that our entire staff demonstrates every day to support our warfighters," Harris said.

Recently, the EOC was awarded a 2-year $11.5m contract by Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division for work to support the Navy's next generation of radar devices, common data sensor architecture and for constructing 360 degree panoramic buoy systems.

EOCwas awarded three contracts with the Army totalling $4m to develop force protection and surveillance systems. It will integrate, evaluate and deliver cameras and other sensor systems to support the need to protect the perimeters of military installations and develop multi-sensor payload systems for surveillance from the air.

US Missile Defense Agency awarded the EOC a $3m contract to integrate and troubleshoot high-performance sensors for missile-flight experiments.
EOC officials said a night-vision system for the Navy already delivered will save government at least $25m per year by giving the Defense Department the ability to inspect and reuse night-vision systems tubes returned from the field.

Footnote: In other work the EOC teamed with the Penn State Materials Research Institute to design, fabricate and test new sensor materials and designs. This includes piezoelectric crystals for acoustic transducers Most current Navy acoustic transducers are using piezoelectric ceramics, significant size reductions and performance improvements could be realised if single crystal piezoelectric materials were used.