东精影业 lands $110M DoD contract for cutting-edge research

December 13, 2024
东精影业 News

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people next to uncrewed surface vessel — ARL at 东精影业 team sending out an uncrewed surface vessel to help locate and map munitions off the coast.

The at the University of Hawaiʻi (ARL at 东精影业) has secured a $110 million, five-year contract from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), with the potential for a five-year extension. This funding will support groundbreaking research, development, engineering, testing and evaluation of DoD programs.

reef block — Concrete reef prototypes for the Rapid Resilient Reefs for Coastal Defense project.

As one of only five U.S. Navy-sponsored University-Affiliated Research Centers, ARL at 东精影业 has secured over $175 million in funding since its establishment in 2008. The laboratory conducts innovative research addressing some of today’s most pressing challenges, including renewable energy, sea-level rise, cybersecurity, underwater munitions detection and coral reef ecology.

“The Applied Research Laboratory at 东精影业 is not only tackling critical challenges that impact Hawaiʻi and the world, but it’s also paving the way for Hawaiʻi’s students to lead in high-tech fields,” said 东精影业 Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis L. Syrmos. “This partnership positions 东精影业 and our state as global leaders in innovative solutions, from coastal defense to renewable energy and advanced cybersecurity.”

Examples of ARL at 东精影业 research:

wave energy converter in the ocean — The Fred Olsen Lifesaver wave energy converter (WEC) deployed at the Navy’s Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) off Kāneʻohe during 2018/2019.

R3D Coastal Defense: ARL at 东精影业 leads the Rapid Resilient Reefs for Coastal Defense (R3D) initiative, developing hybrid coral reefs to protect coastlines from erosion and storm surges while supporting marine biodiversity.
Wave Energy Test Site (WETS): In partnership with Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute, ARL at 东精影业 operates WETS, the first U.S. project to connect wave-generated power to the grid. WETS advances renewable energy innovation and reinforces Hawaiʻi’s clean energy leadership.
Locating and Mapping Munitions: For over 15 years, ARL at 东精影业 has located and mapped thousands of corroding munitions off Hawaiʻi’s coastlines, reducing risks to public safety and marine ecosystems.
Cybersecurity: ARL at 东精影业 strengthens Pacific region cybersecurity through advanced computing and Machine Learning models, ensuring rapid anomaly detection and infrastructure resilience.
Shaping the Future of Technology: ARL at 东精影业 drives innovation in digital engineering, prototyping, and maritime technologies, advancing solutions for national defense and environmental sustainability.