DRS Technologies Awards Students Top Honors For Innovation In Third Annual Thermal Imaging Competition

ARLINGTON, Va., July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- DRS Technologies Inc., a Finmeccanica Company, announced the winners of its third annual Student Infrared Imaging Competition, a contest that allows students to showcase their innovative ideas using thermal imaging technologies. The winners were recently announced during the finals competition in Melbourne, Florida.

The winners for the "Best Overall Project" were Devin Mangus and Huan Wang from Kansas State University with their "Developing a Thermal Imaging System for On-Demand Canopy Temperature Mapping" project.  The team received the $10,000 grand prize for its winning project. 

Taking second place was Paul Hansel, a sophomore at Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Connecticut, with his "Thermal Display and Status Systems for Communications, Tracking and Scientific Research" project.  Hansel was the first high school contestant to be entered into the DRS competition.  

Judges awarded third place to "The Flying Razorbacks:" Autumn Cool, Stephanie Sullivan, and Adam Wiewel from the University of Arkansas with their "UAV-based Aerial Thermography at the Collins Mounds Archaeological Site, Arkansas" project.    

"DRS Technologies can attribute a great deal of its success in the military and commercial markets to the innovative minds tirelessly working to develop the next generation of infrared technology and thermal imaging systems," said DRS C4ISR President, Sally Wallace. "The Student Infrared Imaging Competition is an extension of this commitment to investing in future generations of infrared technology evolution and study. We are proud to empower young minds with the tools they need to explore the endless possibilities of thermal imaging, expanding our industry's awareness at the collegiate level and providing these students with recognition of their achievements," Wallace continued.

Select students at participating universities were provided with Tamarisk®₃₂₀ thermal imaging cameras, from the Commercial Infrared Systems line developed by DRS, with the objective to develop projects that portray the most innovative use of infrared imaging.

Aside from each team's individual presentations, video also played an important role in explaining the student's projects. For each team that submitted a video to correspond with their project concept, the video was made eligible for the "Best Overall Video" category. The videos were judged on their ability to convey how their concept is useful or fascinating to the general public.

This year's winner for best video went to the team from the University of Arkansas with their "UAV-based Aerial Thermography at the Collins Mounds Archaeological Site, Arkansas" project.  Second place went to Paul Hansel for his "Thermal Display and Status Systems for Communications, Tracking and Scientific Research" project. 

The 2014 competition marked the entry of a new category with the "DRS Employees' Choice Award" where projects were viewed by DRS personnel and judged on the creative use of infrared imaging, unique video presentation and the quality of the presentation.

This year's Employees Choice Award winner went to the team of Devin Mangus and Huan Wang from Kansas State University with their "Developing a Thermal Imaging System for On-Demand Canopy Temperature Mapping" project.

"DRS C4ISR Principal Scientist, Dr. George Skidmore has done an excellent job of engaging faculty advisors and department heads from universities across the nation with the objective to excite young minds about the possibilities of thermal imaging and their role in its development," Wallace said.

To learn more about the DRS Technologies Student Infrared Imaging Competition and see video and pictures of this year's winners and their projects, visit: http://www.drsinfrared.com/AboutDRS/studentcompetition.aspx

About DRS Technologies

DRS Technologies is a leading supplier of integrated products, services and support to military forces, intelligence agencies and prime contractors worldwide and is the 2013 recipient of the Defense Security Service Award for Excellence in Counterintelligence as well as three James S. Cogswell Awards for Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica SpA (FNC.MI), which employs approximately 70,000 people worldwide. Within DRS, the Commercial Infrared Systems (CIS) line produces advanced electro-optical sensor systems to include thermal surveillance systems, cooled and uncooled infrared camera modules, and thermal detectors. The CIS line is developed in Dallas, Tex.; Melbourne, Fla. For more information, visit www.drsinfrared.com.

For additional information please contact:

Michael Mount
Director
Public Affairs and Communications
571-447-4624
[email protected]

SOURCE DRS Technologies