Abom to Provide Anti-Fog Technology Solutions for U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center

March 14, 2016

Portland, Ore. (March 14, 2016) – Abom, Inc., the company that patented and developed an active solution for foggy snowsports goggles, announced today that it has signed a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center (NSRDEC), located in Natick, Massachusetts.

The multi-year research and development collaboration will focus on eliminating fogging in combat eye protection (CEP). According to a recent broad agency announcement under the topic of improved eye protection, NSRDEC reported that, “fogging of protective eyewear is still one of the leading issues stated by users of ballistics protective eyewear on field surveys.” To help address this issue, research conducted under the CRADA will provide a means by which the parties will continue evaluating Abom’s technology. In addition, Abom will continue to innovate the integration of active anti-fog technology into lens platforms in support of providing enhanced CEP for military and support personnel. Research is expected to commence immediately.

“I believe that the collaboration between NSRDEC and Abom will bring together two highly talented and experienced teams to address an issue of critical mission importance,” commented Jack Cornelius, CEO of Abom. “Fogging is a threat to situational awareness and Abom’s technology works effectively and efficiently to prevent it. Working together with NSRDEC, we look forward to rapidly and broadly bringing this capability to our warfighters.”

Abom has built a portfolio of 10 granted and 36 pending patents in three groupings (structural, environmental and power management) to provide a comprehensive and rapid solution to fogging. Abom’s snowsports goggles have received worldwide recognition and rave reviews. Popular Science included Abom goggles in its annual list “Best of What’s New,” Freeskier magazine named the product an “Editors Pick,” and Outside magazine awarded it “Best of the Show,” chosen from hundreds of products introduced at the annual Snowsports Industry Association tradeshow. The goggles were selected as a 2016/2017 ISPO category award winner amongst the most innovative outdoor products in the world, and were also recently selected as a finalist in the 2016 Edison Awards Sports & Travel category.

This CRADA between the U.S. Army and Abom was facilitated by TechLink, a Department of Defense (DoD) Partnership Intermediary that assists with establishing licensing agreements and technology collaborations between DoD laboratories and industry.

About Abom, Inc.:
Founded in 2012, Abom Inc. launched the world’s first fog-free goggles. Led by a group of inventors, scientists and designers, Abom is on a mission to make the future safer and more fun with leading-edge technology. For more information, visit www.abom.com.

About U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center:
The Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center (NSRDEC) is located in Natick, Massachusetts. Personnel at NSRDEC support the Soldier Vision Protection and Enhancement project, which seeks to develop technologies for an integrated, multifunctional eyewear system that can provide ballistic fragmentation protection, variable transmission, laser protection, abrasion resistance and anti-fog capability.

Army Statement:
This material is based upon work in a collaboration by the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Army or its subordinate activities.

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