LGS Successfully Builds and Demonstrates Microcompass Magnetometer Prototype to the U.S. Army

LGS, a subsidiary of Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE:ALU) dedicated to serving the U.S. government community, announced today that it has successfully demonstrated the prototype of a Microcompass Magnetometer (MCM) to the U.S. Army.

The Microcompass Magnetometer, the result of a joint development project between LGS and Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs, is only a few millimeters in size and draws very little power, yet is sensitive enough to detect metal objects with magnetic content from a significant distance.

The Army’s interest in the magnetometer derives from its recognition of the device’s potential in locating weapons such as assault rifles, from a safe distance. The MCM presented to the Army has a degree of sensitivity effectively 100 times greater than that achievable with commercially available devices.

"The microcompass magnetometer represents a breakthrough in the detection of common objects that can be used to compromise our nation’s borders and place our servicemen in harm’s way,” said Dr. Dave Bishop, LGS CTO. "The MCM is cost efficient because it is based on the same silicon technology that underlies consumer electronics. This low cost point will make it easier to deploy a large number of devices that should help ensure greater physical security and enhanced safety.”

The purpose of the project was to develop one magnetometer device and conduct a field demonstration of the MCM system at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The device fabricated through a low stress Silicon on Insulator (SOI) dissolved wafer process.

About LGS

LGS, a subsidiary of Alcatel-Lucent, designs and delivers Transformed Communications and R&D-based technology solutions to the U.S. government community. Leveraging the world-class R&D of Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs, with global reach and expertise, LGS challenges itself to solve the unsolvable and deliver secure, reliable, standards-based solutions to its customers. LGS, is headquartered in Vienna, Va., in the US and with offices in Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey and North Carolina. For more information about LGS visit www.LGSinnovations.com.