Nashua-Based Alacron Design for NASA Space Shuttle Featured in Vision Systems Design...

Nashua-Based Alacron Design for NASA Space Shuttle Featured in Vision Systems Design Magazine

CEO Joseph Sgro's Article "Rising Star" Outlines Challenges and
Solution for Monitoring NASA Space Vehicles
NASHUA, N.H.--(Business Wire)--
Alacron, Inc., www.alacron.com, makers of high performance frame
grabbers and accelerated frame grabber subsystems for more than twenty
years, today announced that the article "Rising Star," authored by
Alacron CEO Joseph Sgro, is featured in the May edition of VSD (Vision
Systems Design.) VSD is an international magazine read by vision,
imaging and automation engineers around the world. In addition to the
print version, the magazine also is published on line at
www.vision-systems.com.

"There are extreme environments where shock, vibration, heat, and
lack of air cooling are the norm," Sgro writes. "One such place is on
board the space shuttle and it is here that NASA is considering
solutions to upgrade one of its existing vehicle video/camera
recording systems."

Sgro continues, "The system requirements are high frame rate,
imaging from multiple cameras, and recording the video and data to a
nonvolatile media which can be recovered and read out. An example of
such a system would be to mount the cameras and recording system in
the top of the shuttle's solid rocket boosters and point the cameras
back at the vehicle to monitor its health and status much like the
small analog cameras currently installed." Sgro notes that while the
space shuttle program will be ending soon, the next generation of NASA
vehicles will leverage cameras, frame grabbers, recording and
analytical subsystems that have been successfully tested by the space
shuttle for monitoring vehicular health and safety status. (See
related interview with Sgro in the recent April 30th edition of the
Nashua Telegraph.)

Alacron is known internationally for its innovative product
designs and high quality manufacturing. Its product family of frame
grabbers, high speed visual imaging cameras and related subsystems,
analytical tools, along with customized hardware, software and
integration middleware are deployed worldwide. In addition to the
proposed NASA application, Alacron's digital imaging products are used
by engineers in many fields, including aerospace, medicine,
manufacturing, and defense. All Alacron customers benefit from the
highest quality products that also boast the kind of performance and
durability required by applications such as the system designed for
the NASA Space Shuttle.

"Dr. Sgro's background and on-going interest in neurology,
advanced mathematics, and archeology, gives him a unique insight as a
manufacturer into the real world demands for integrated design and the
need for highest quality products," said Candace Clemens, acting vice
president of marketing for Alacron. "Certainly this NASA application
demands the highest quality imaging product, associated analytics, and
flawless and reliable performance in the most extreme environmental
circumstances."

Clemens adds that VSD is one of many trade publications that have
featured Alacron's notable CEO. Others include Advanced Imaging
Magazine and Machine Vision Online. "But the recent interview with Dr.
Sgro in the Nashua Telegraph about the VSD-published proposal for NASA
is indicative of the broad appeal that the space shuttle application
offers the general public," she says.

"Everyone is fascinated with and benefits from space travel, not
just engineers," Sgro agrees. "Imaging analysis through machine vision
is one very important way of making space exploration, as well as many
aspects of life here on earth, safer and better."

About Alacron, Inc.

Since 1985, Alacron has provided the world's imaging and machine
vision community with the best and most innovative frame grabbers and
high performance accelerated frame grabber subsystems to meet their
demanding real-world applications. Our customers demand processing
power as well as a balanced architecture of flexible I/O and
computational and memory bandwidth. Alacron has developed leading edge
products that enable customers to work more efficiently and cost
effectively. Our frame grabbers and accelerated frame grabber
subsystems can be integrated into a variety of operating environments
on PCI, PMC, PCMCIA and Express Card platforms using: Windows 2000,
Windows XP, Solaris, and Linux. All Alacron subsystems are supported
by a full range of software development tools, including a highly
optimized object oriented micro-coded signal and image processing
libraries. Alacron's application development platforms make it easier
and more efficient for our customers to bring demanding applications
to market - on time and on budget. For more information, go to
www.alacron.com or call 603.891.2750.

Alacron
Linda Dodd, 603-891-2750
ldodd@alacron.com
or
Alacron Public Relations
walnut28 communications
617-435-0010
info@walnut28.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008