MORGANTOWN, W.Va., 27 Oct. 2006. The U.S. Army Benét Laboratories has issued a $1.8 million contract to Augusta Systems, a provider of technologies to reduce deployment and management costs of sensor systems, networks, and applications. The award calls for Augusta Systems assist in the development of vehicle sensor systems using microelectromechanical sensors (MEMS) and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies for weapon system operations and maintenance (O&M).

"Through the use of sensor systems that leverage MEMS and RFID technologies, we can help the military to obtain more accurate and timely information on exactly when and where weapon system maintenance is needed," says Patrick Esposito II, president and chief operating officer of Augusta Systems. "This condition-based maintenance could significantly reduce O&M costs as well as increase the safety of military personnel."

Through the contract with Benét Laboratories, a division of the Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Augusta Systems will assist the Army in developing sensor systems that remotely record changes in individual weapon system components. These systems could lead to earlier identification of weapon system health issues, and, more significantly, to more accurate tracking of the remaining lifespan for specific component parts.

Subcontractors to Augusta Systems on the effort include American Science and Technology Corporation, Batcheller Consulting Group, and South Dakota State University.