Officials at the Defense Logistics Agency have granted Brentwood-based AMI Metals another year-long option to its contract to make various aluminum parts. The new work is worth $49 million and will be for several branches of the military.

The U.S. Army Research Office has awarded Dr. Amir Shirkhodaie, a professor in the Tennessee State University College of Engineering, a $334,000 research grant. Shirkhodaie, director of the college's Center of Excellence for Battlefield Sensor Fusion, will use the grant monies to investigate the possibility of developing an advanced technology that improves the capability of automated surveillance systems.

Relatedly, Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, dean of the TSU College of Engineering, announced three new research projects with Boeing, valued at approximately $500,000. The Boeing projects include using artificial intelligence for the development of aircraft propulsion controls, the development of resilient control mechanisms to mitigate cyber attack in engineering embedded systems and the development of mathematical models for energy harvesting and storage.

The faculty members involved in these projects are Drs. Sachin Shetty, Mohammed Saleh Zein-Sabatto, both professors of electrical engineering; and Dr. Landon Onyebueke, professor of mechanical engineering.

“The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a robust information-theoretic framework with supportive techniques that can detect obscure group activities in areas such as inside a vehicle, boat, airplanes or corner alleys of urban areas,” said Dr. Shirkhodaie.

He said this could greatly reduce the false alarm rates in surveillance operations that frequently occur as a result of miscalculation of enemy intent, and help shift the “balance of power” in peacekeeping operations.

"If we can deliver this kind of technology to the battlefield, this is a game-changer," said Maj. Jay Deason, an aviator with the Tennessee Army National Guard, who has served two tours in Iraq, flying Black Hawk Helicopters.

He said while this technology would have limited application for air reconnaissance operations, it would be greatly useful to ground forces and civil affairs specialists, who identify critical requirements needed by local citizens in combat or crisis situations.

Civilians would also greatly benefit from this technology in homeland security, crowd control, and anti-drug and anti-crime operations, Dr. Shirkhodaie said.

Several dozen workers could be on their way out at iostudio after the National Guard has pulled one of its contracts with the Century City-based company. Walker Duncan over at SouthernAlpha has the story, which has a lot to do with government spending cuts.

SEE ALSO: Our past coverage of iostudio, where growth has been fast and fueled by its contracts with the military.

The U.S. Air Force has contracted with the engineers at EDAS Inc. in Spring Hill to measure, monitor and analyze vibration data related to testing of next-generation aircraft engines. The work is being done via a partnership with National Instruments at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

Detroit-based FutureNet Group has completed its acquisition of Smith & Wesson Security Solutions, the former Universal Safety Response. The roughly $10 million deal announced last month will bring some job security and growth prospects to 80 people in Cool Springs.

“This is a big opportunity for a small business to continue serving our Federal Government and commercial clients by manufacturing U.S. products for domestic and international use,” said Perry Mehta, President and CEO, FutureNet Group. FNSS’s marketing strategy consists of “Protecting Infrastructure Globally.” The GRAB® net barrier system, XMB®, ODDS®, SW1900, and a range of other proprietary perimeter security products will continue to be marketed by FNSS.

The U.S. Army has tapped five construction companies to perform $249 million worth of work between now and 2017 at Fort Campbell. Among them is East Nashville-based Sabre Construction, a specialist in government contracting that is run by former Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Cashio.