Optech Incorporated
Encyclopedia
Optech Incorporated is a Canadian
-owned for-profit company
operating since 1974 and focusing on Laser
-based survey systems.
Optech Inc is known for its association with Phoenix
, a spacecraft launched for Mars
in 2007.
ping systems, airborne laser bathymetry
, industrial and 3D
imaging, and space lidar
solutions.
Optech's founder is Dr Allan Carswell
, who in 2006 received the John H. Chapman Award of Excellence by the Canadian Space Agency.
Robert D. Richards
, Optech Space Division's director, has received a honorary doctorate (Doctor of Space Achievement honoris causa) from the International Space University
which he co-founded with Peter Diamandis
and Todd Hawley in 1987.
The company is described as a world leader in laser-based survey instruments and has 33 years of experience in lidars.
(laser radar
) of the Meteorological Station Lidar Sensor (MET) on the The lidar was built in collaboration with MDA Space Missions
, Canadian Space Agency, and scientists from Canada
and United States
.
Dr Carswell was also the originating Canadian Principal Investigator for the Phoenix mission.
, also provided the lidar sensors of the United States Air Force
's XSS-11 mission.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-owned for-profit company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
operating since 1974 and focusing on Laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
-based survey systems.
Optech Inc is known for its association with Phoenix
Phoenix (spacecraft)
Phoenix was a robotic spacecraft on a space exploration mission on Mars under the Mars Scout Program. The Phoenix lander descended on Mars on May 25, 2008...
, a spacecraft launched for Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
in 2007.
The company
The company is active in the markets of airborne laser terrain mapMap
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
ping systems, airborne laser bathymetry
Bathymetry
Bathymetry is the study of underwater depth of lake or ocean floors. In other words, bathymetry is the underwater equivalent to hypsometry. The name comes from Greek βαθύς , "deep", and μέτρον , "measure"...
, industrial and 3D
Three-dimensional space
Three-dimensional space is a geometric 3-parameters model of the physical universe in which we live. These three dimensions are commonly called length, width, and depth , although any three directions can be chosen, provided that they do not lie in the same plane.In physics and mathematics, a...
imaging, and space lidar
LIDAR
LIDAR is an optical remote sensing technology that can measure the distance to, or other properties of a target by illuminating the target with light, often using pulses from a laser...
solutions.
Optech's founder is Dr Allan Carswell
Allan Carswell
Allan Ian Carswell, CM, FRSC is an internationally recognized leader in the field of laser radar applications since the technology's beginning in the early 1960s. Carswell has been actively engaged in the study of the properties and applications of lasers and coherent optical frequency radiation...
, who in 2006 received the John H. Chapman Award of Excellence by the Canadian Space Agency.
Robert D. Richards
Robert D. Richards
Robert D. Richards is a Canadian-born space entrepreneur. He is co-founder and CEO of Moon Express, Inc., a U.S. company awarded a $10M commercial lunar contract by NASA and a competitor in the Google Lunar X PRIZE...
, Optech Space Division's director, has received a honorary doctorate (Doctor of Space Achievement honoris causa) from the International Space University
International Space University
The International Space University is a private university founded in 1987. The University currently offers three degree granting programs — Master of Science in Space Management, Master of Science in Space Studies and Executive MBA — in addition to a non-degree-granting Space Studies Program.The...
which he co-founded with Peter Diamandis
Peter Diamandis
Dr. Peter H. Diamandis , of Greek immigrant parents, is considered a key figure in the development of the personal spaceflight industry, having created many space-related businesses or organizations...
and Todd Hawley in 1987.
The company is described as a world leader in laser-based survey instruments and has 33 years of experience in lidars.
Association with Phoenix
The company designed the lidarLIDAR
LIDAR is an optical remote sensing technology that can measure the distance to, or other properties of a target by illuminating the target with light, often using pulses from a laser...
(laser radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
) of the Meteorological Station Lidar Sensor (MET) on the The lidar was built in collaboration with MDA Space Missions
MDA Space Missions
MDA Space Missions is an operating unit of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, comprising the following wholly owned subsidiaries:* Alliance Spacesystems, a space robotics company based in Pasadena, California, Boulder, Colorado and Signal Hill, California....
, Canadian Space Agency, and scientists from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Dr Carswell was also the originating Canadian Principal Investigator for the Phoenix mission.
Other projects
Optech, in association with MDAMDA
-Companies, organizations and government bodies:* Maritime Domain Awareness, part of a U.S. Government interagency and international maritime security effort* MDA , formerly the Museum Documentation Association...
, also provided the lidar sensors of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's XSS-11 mission.