Long time SBIR involved from the earliest days of the program to present day, AFRs initial work employed advanced Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy methods to understand the starting composition and reaction behavior of fuels. These diagnostic techniques were subsequently extended to a wide range of applications, including the measurement of gas compositions and temperatures, particle size distributions, and the thickness, temperature, optical properties, and composition of thin films. Through this research, AFR scientists and engineers became pioneers in infrared instrumentation and its applications, producing numerous patents and publications. AFR has since diversified into a range of technologies and applications through the addition of leading researchers in a broad range of technical areas, including: gas turbine instrumentation, spectroscopy, carbon materials, distributed energy generation, alternative fuels, hydrogen generation and storage, waste-to-energy conversion, coal and biomass fuels, mercury control, radiation detection, robotic vision, electronic materials and testing devices, and image analysis. Applications include: defense, homeland security, energy, aerospace, chemical, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, biotech, fuel cells, medical and educational software. Through direct sale of products, licensing, and the creation of spin-off companies, AFR has achieved a useful commecriclaizstion track record. The first spin-off activity included the creation of On-Line Technologies, Inc. (OLT), purchased by MKS Instruments in 2001 and is now called the On-Line Products Group. The second spin-off was Real-Time Analyzers, Inc., which was created in 2001 to develop, manufacture, and market FT-Raman Instruments for process monitoring and homeland security applications. In early 2006, AFR created its ImTelligence business unit to focus on advanced image analysis technologies, including video-centric radiation detection for homeland security applications. Pre-commercial business units have been established for gas turbine monitoring (TurboSense), alternative energy (Next Generation Energy), and technology enhanced science education (Science in Motion) -the latter activity sponsored by the US Dept of Education.
