NCS News Desk

NCS Announces 2022 Class for Modeling & Simulation Hall of Fame  The National Center for Simulation (NCS) announced it will induct two new members — Dr. Winston “Wink” Bennett and Dr. James (Jim) Wall — to the NCS Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Hall of Fame. The ceremony is Oct. 24, 2022, at the Orange County Convention Center, South Concourse – the home of the NCS Modeling and Simulation Hall of Fame where inductees are on permanent display.“Both Dr. Bennett and Dr. Wall have demonstrated a life-long commitment to the modeling and simulation community,” said George Cheros, NCS CEO and president. […]

What does Kalogon do? The Kalogon Orbiter Smart Cushion uses a combination of machine learning and patent-pending air cell technology to automatically adjust pressures applied on a wheelchair user’s buttocks and thighs. The cushion is designed to detect pressure points in real time to redistribute pressure, and aims to increase comfort and maintain blood flow through this adjusting process. Users and caregivers can use a companion app to personalize their experience to support pressure injury healing and pain relief.   https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/inno/stories/awards/2023/02/02/florida-2023-tech-startup-manufacturing-wheelchair.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=me&utm_content=OR&ana=e_OR_me&j=30444559&senddate=2023-02-03

Spaced Ventures Inc. next year will ramp up its efforts to finance the final frontier. The Space Coast startup operates a public investment portal where aerospace firms curated by Spaced Ventures can seek investment from anyone in the U.S., Canada and U.K. who are age 18 or older. The company grew its investor base 600% between 2021 and 2022, and this year wants to raise tens of millions of additional dollars from investors around the world. These are some of the reasons Spaced Ventures was one of 10 companies named a 2023 Orlando Inno Startup to Watch. Learn more about the nine other […]

This infusion of capital will take Vaya Space’s rocket research into the real world in 2023. Formerly known as Rocket Crafters, Vaya Space developed the Star 3-D rocket engine, a hybrid engine that uses liquid and solid propellant, and the Dauntless rocket, to launch payloads into space for the growing small satellite sector. Vaya Space boasts it’s capable of building a launch vehicle, integrating a customer payload and being ready to launch in 30 days. Plus, Vaya touts its rocket technology is environmentally friendly because it’s fueled by recycled plastics, with the Dauntless rocket using 20 metric tons of recycled […]

Melbourne-based L3Harris Technologies Inc. this year expects to close a $4.7 billion purchase of El Segundo, California-based missile and rocket maker Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. Defense contractor L3 Harris (NYSE: LHX) announced Dec. 18 it agreed to pay $58 per share in an all-cash transaction to buy Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. (NYSE: AJRD). The acquisition of Aerojet by L3Harris is expected to close in 2023, funded with existing cash and the issuance of new debt, according to L3Harris. However, the acquisition won’t mean the relocation of Aerojet facilities, Sacramento Business Journal reported. “We have no intent on making any changes with […]

Orlando-based Care.ai’s recent $27 million funding deal was made possible by another Orlando tech company: Luminar Technologies Inc. San Francisco-based investment firm Crescent Cove Advisors LP has been an investor in autonomous vehicle sensor firm Luminar (Nasdaq: LAZR) since 2019. Luminar co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Jason Eichenholz is a friend and supporter of Care.ai founder and CEO Chakri Toleti, and Eichenholz previously said Care.ai “could be Orlando’s next unicorn.”   https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/inno/stories/fundings/2022/12/05/florida-jobs-2022-tech-vc-health-care-hospital-ai.html

There was a never doubt for Danny Jenkins or ThreatLocker Inc. When the Maitland-based cybersecurity company began to run out of room at its old headquarters, the company didn’t consider a new home anywhere outside the Orlando area, Jenkins, co-founder and CEO, told Orlando Inno. ThreatLocker executives on Dec. 9 cut the ribbon on its new headquarters: 42,000 square feet across two floors at 1950 Summit Drive in Maitland, the former home of Electronic Arts Inc.’s Tiburon studio. Next, ThreatLocker expects to grow rapidly within its new office. The 215-person company nearly tripled in size in the last year, and Jenkins said ThreatLocker […]

Fluix Inc. co-founder and CEO Abhishek Sastri believes the solution that will make data centers more efficient on Earth will be found in outer space. That’s why Orlando-based liquid cooling technology startup Fluix is pivoting to a new focus: the development of a new coolant in microgravity. It’s a bold plan, but the company recently got some recognition for its plans from Jeff Bezos’ rocket company Blue Origin LLC. Fluix on Dec. 8 was named a winner of the inaugural Reef Starter Innovation Challenge, a contest that recognizes early-stage companies developing innovative in-space solutions that can use Blue Origin’s planned space station called […]

The Walt Disney Co.’s latest ride patent looks at how to add a new level of surprise to the theme park experience. The patent, “Park Ride with Drop Swing Propulsion,” describes a system where a ride track can be transferred from an elevated track to a lower track with the ride vehicle on it, where the ride can continue on the new track system. “The new park ride design is particularly well suited for use in roller coasters, water rides and the like in which vehicles are configured to ride or roll, at least a portion of the time, upon […]

Universal Parks & Resorts is looking into how to enhance virtual-reality headsets and improve immersion. The theme park company, which operates Universal Orlando Resort, filed a patent dubbed, “Front and Peripheral View Lens Area for Virtual Reality Headsets,” which describes a multi-lens headset. Why this matters: Patents provide a peek into what theme park designers and creative departments see as improvements to theme parks. Ride systems are a key part of theme park innovation, and new rides draw more visitors, which boosts Orlando’s $75 billion tourism industry. The patent describes the technology as a virtual-reality headset with an optical element that […]

When Glenn Banton was hired as chief operating officer of Havik Corp. earlier this year, he had two immediate recommendations for the virtual reality training firm. “We needed to find a headquarters, and it needed to be in Texas or Florida,” Banton told Orlando Inno. After three years as a dispersed company with no true base of operations, Havik considered Virginia, Texas and Florida before picking Orlando as its new headquarters, the company announced Nov. 22. As a result of the move to Orlando, Havik soon will hunt for permanent office space in Central Florida, Banton said. Plus, the 16-person company aims to […]

  One hundred thousand satellite launches. Thousands of high-tech employers. A portfolio of aerospace projects $10 billion strong. That’s the picture Space Florida CEO and President Frank DiBello paints of the Sunshine State’s aerospace industry in 2030. As the state’s spaceport development agency, Space Florida negotiates with aerospace and aviation employers interested in bringing projects to Florida.  Why this story matters: The aerospace and aviation projects Space Florida helps bring to the region create high-wage jobs, as the Florida High Tech Corridor reports local jobs in that industry pay an average annual wage of $102,159. The scope of the 17-year-old agency’s operations expanded […]

Luminar no longer is spinning its wheels in research and development, since its manufacturing is scaling into series production as its autonomous vehicle technology goes into cars entering the marketplace. Why this story matters: Orlando is Luminar’s headquarters and the heart of its hardware operations, and local work likely will grow as Luminar’s lidar laser technology that acts as “eyes” for self-driving vehicles hits the market. This would create high-wage jobs in the community. The third quarter was a “monumental” one for Luminar (Nasdaq: LAZR) as it started production of its lidar package Iris, and SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd. — China’s […]

For the fourth consecutive year, George Cheros, CEO and president of the National Center for Simulation, has been recognized as one of Florida’s most influential leaders by Florida Trend magazine. The publication’s annual Florida 500 list features the state’s top leaders and executives across major industries. “I’m honored to be included in the Florida 500 list among such outstanding leaders from all over the state,” said Cheros. “I think this recognition is a direct correlation to the growing modeling, simulation and training industry – about $6.5B each year – and the impact that it continues to make on our state […]

Luminar no longer is spinning its wheels in research and development, since its manufacturing is scaling into series production as its autonomous vehicle technology goes into cars entering the marketplace. Why this story matters: Orlando is Luminar’s headquarters and the heart of its hardware operations, and local work likely will grow as Luminar’s lidar laser technology that acts as “eyes” for self-driving vehicles hits the market. This would create high-wage jobs in the community. The third quarter was a “monumental” one for Luminar (Nasdaq: LAZR) as it started production of its lidar package Iris, and SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd. — China’s […]

The University of Central Florida and Universal Creative — the team that designs, develops and delivers attractions, shows, hotels, restaurants and resorts worldwide for Universal Parks & Resorts — announced a new immersive learning experience for students in Orlando, the tourism capital of the world. Beginning next spring, the new UCF/Universal Creative Lab will provide students with special coursework and on-site sessions at Universal Orlando Resort. Class members also will be able to interact with Universal show producers, engineers, creative directors, executives and other industry professionals so they get an in-depth look at the design and development process.   https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2022/10/24/ucf-universal-parks-resorts-creative-lab-florida.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=ae&utm_content=OR&j=29476515&senddate=2022-10-24

A few Central Florida entrepreneurs and technologists have built a process for turning ocean plastic into clothes, developed a multimillion-dollar video game and led teams at the nation’s fastest-growing startups — all before their 25th birthdays. These are examples of Orlando Inno‘s 2022 Inno Under 25 honorees. The annual feature honors five Central Florida innovators making waves in the local tech ecosystem who are 25 years old or younger. This year’s winners are: Carson James Aldrich, owner, Aldrich Callen Studios LLC Alexander Britton, CEO, CerebriTech LLC Dylan Cross, CEO, Sea Threads LLC Tabitha Gordon, application technician, ThreatLocker Inc. Jason Quintana, senior manager […]

Sighthound offers artificial intelligence-based solutions that can identify vehicles, read license plates and remove personal information — such as faces — from videos. These computer vision products are possible because Sighthound trains computers by feeding millions of images, some annotated by humans, to algorithms that operates similar to a human brain, rewarding a computer when it correctly guesses what an image is.   https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/inno/stories/profiles/2022/10/11/florida-orlando-tech-computer-startup-entrepreneur.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=ae&utm_content=OR&j=29340529&senddate=2022-10-11

VerdeGo Aero was founded to provide technologies to electrify both civilian and defense aircraft. The company’s hardware enables hybrid-electric aircraft by using both electric motors and sustainable liquid fuels, sometimes considered competing methods to making aircraft more sustainable. The company of roughly 20 people already has begun its search for the first five positions it wants to add. By early next year, it’s likely VerdeGo Aero will have added 15 people to its team, including both technical and commercial roles, Bartsch said. “We’re looking at bringing some great new talent into the market, as well as tapping into the talent that’s […]

In the days following the deadly May 24 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Kevin Davidson’s thoughts turned to the camera technology used by his sports firm — and how it could protect students like his 8-year-old son. The CEO of Orlando-based DS Sports Ventures called his partner and company president, Joe Sleiman, and told him the company had to alter its approach to the advanced camera tech it used, Davidson told Orlando Inno. “Our company changed, to some extent, overnight. The main thing [sports technology] is still the main thing. This made the main thing even better.” This new business approach comes after Longwood-based […]

Class is nearly in session for a Central Florida education startup that lets children run a business, develop products and study cybersecurity. Meta Humans this fall will open its first science and tech-focused education center at 2175 Aloma Ave. in Winter Park. However, it’s just the start of Meta Humans’ plans, which include opening more centers across the metro in the coming years and growing into a national network of facilities with a corporate headquarters in Orlando, CEO Philippe Tassin told Orlando Inno. “We want to make the model so attractive that a nonprofit could run it in their community.” https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/inno/stories/profiles/2022/08/22/florida-tech-hq-orlando-education-steam-science.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=OT&utm_content=or&ana=e_or_OT&j=28846183&senddate=2022-08-25