From its founding in 1973, PSI was strongly focused on laboratory experiments and modeling activities in support of missile defense and support of the newly-created Department of Energy. It was a world leader in the conduct of experiments and modeling of materials interactions with high power lasers. By the end of the decade it had reached 35 employees.
In the 1980’s PSI was one of the early participants in the Small Business Innovation Research Program, under which our focus pivoted towards technology transition and commercial product development. We underwent a significant increase in our experimental facilities as we twice expanded our corporate headquarters in Andover, MA. Its research activities also expanded to include medical diagnostics and treatments, the development of imaging systems for chemically reacting flow fields, and the exploration of chemically-pumped lasers. The company grew to over 100 staff.
In the 1990’s our capabilities expanded to focus on materials development for a range of applications including chemical sensors and advanced batteries. Initial efforts in the development of tunable diode laser spectrometers for gas sensing applications advanced to product sales. Our earlier support of Air Force and NASA space missions led to the development of several space payloads examining materials and spacecraft environmental interactions with the atmosphere in low earth orbit. The AIRIS hyperspectral imaging technology received initial funding. Research Support Instruments was acquired to provide space hardware development capability while providing on-site support to R&D organizations in the DC area.
In the first decade of the 21st century PSI continued its advanced development efforts in both space hardware and commercial TDLS technology development and commercialization while expanding its capability to delivery hardware to aerospace prime contractors. PSI’s Autogrape in-line aviation fuel contamination monitoring systems were adopted by the Navy with installation on its first aircraft carriers while its AIRIS technology was advanced to acquisition through a partnership with Smiths Detection. A composites fabrication capability was established with the delivery of flight hardware for DARPA’s HYFLY program. Company ownership began to be transitioned to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) while it acquired both Q-Peak and Faraday Technologies. Total staff size reach 185.
In this decade PSI has continued its emphasis on the development and transition of technology to the government and commercial sectors while exploiting exciting new areas of science and engineering. Its growing technology base in ophthalmic diagnostics has led to licensing revenues exceeding $1M while a growing market in pharmaceutical process monitoring has emerged. The company developed and transitioned the InstantEye soldier UAV to US Special Forces with the establishment of an in-house production capability. PSI’s expertise in remote sensing expanded to the detection of nuclear and radiological detection culminating in its leadership of an ATD program for DNDO. Its ESOP became the sole owner of the company in 2011.
