NCS News Desk

NCS Announces 2022 Class for Modeling & Simulation Hall of Fame  The National Center for Simulation (NCS) announced it will induct two new members — Dr. Winston “Wink” Bennett and Dr. James (Jim) Wall — to the NCS Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Hall of Fame. The ceremony is Oct. 24, 2022, at the Orange County […]

The National Center for Simulation (NCS) has opened up its annual scholarships for outstanding senior students seeking secondary education in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) field at an accredited Technical School, College, or University. This program is designed to recognize academic achievement & improvement in addition to recognizing students who have continually strived […]

Orange County is calling all young tech innovators & creators to help name a new innovation lab – a space for innovative solutions and tech exploration! You can share your thoughts for an innovation lab name here: Help Name our Innovation Lab. More information can be found about the new lab below: “The Innovation Lab […]

Dr. Haifa Maamar, executive director of emerging technologies at Full Sail University, is newly elected to the National Center for Simulation’s (NCS) board for the 2023-2026 term. Also re-elected to the board are John Givens, CEO of VirTra, and Mary Trier, president and CEO of Capital Communications and Consulting. “For decades the National Center for […]

This spring, hackers breached U.S. critical infrastructure on the strategically crucial island of Guam. Multiple U.S. technology companies investigated the breach. One assessed that the hacking campaign was designed to pursue the development of capabilities that could disrupt communications between the United States and Asia during future crises. This is yet another blunt reminder of […]

ORLANDO, Florida. June 20, 2023 — The National Center for Simulation (NCS) announced the newly selected members for induction into the NCS Modeling & Simulation (M&S) Hall of Fame for the 2023 class: Robert “Bob” Ferris, John D. Illgen and Khanh Dai Pham, Ph.D. These new members will be inducted on Oct. 12 at the […]

What does Kalogon do? The Kalogon Orbiter Smart Cushion uses a combination of machine learning and patent-pending air cell technology to automatically adjust pressures applied on a wheelchair user’s buttocks and thighs. The cushion is designed to detect pressure points in real time to redistribute pressure, and aims to increase comfort and maintain blood flow […]

Spaced Ventures Inc. next year will ramp up its efforts to finance the final frontier. The Space Coast startup operates a public investment portal where aerospace firms curated by Spaced Ventures can seek investment from anyone in the U.S., Canada and U.K. who are age 18 or older. The company grew its investor base 600% […]

This infusion of capital will take Vaya Space’s rocket research into the real world in 2023. Formerly known as Rocket Crafters, Vaya Space developed the Star 3-D rocket engine, a hybrid engine that uses liquid and solid propellant, and the Dauntless rocket, to launch payloads into space for the growing small satellite sector. Vaya Space […]

Melbourne-based L3Harris Technologies Inc. this year expects to close a $4.7 billion purchase of El Segundo, California-based missile and rocket maker Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. Defense contractor L3 Harris (NYSE: LHX) announced Dec. 18 it agreed to pay $58 per share in an all-cash transaction to buy Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. (NYSE: AJRD). The acquisition […]

Orlando-based Care.ai’s recent $27 million funding deal was made possible by another Orlando tech company: Luminar Technologies Inc. San Francisco-based investment firm Crescent Cove Advisors LP has been an investor in autonomous vehicle sensor firm Luminar (Nasdaq: LAZR) since 2019. Luminar co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Jason Eichenholz is a friend and supporter of Care.ai founder and CEO Chakri […]

There was a never doubt for Danny Jenkins or ThreatLocker Inc. When the Maitland-based cybersecurity company began to run out of room at its old headquarters, the company didn’t consider a new home anywhere outside the Orlando area, Jenkins, co-founder and CEO, told Orlando Inno. ThreatLocker executives on Dec. 9 cut the ribbon on its new headquarters: 42,000 […]

Fluix Inc. co-founder and CEO Abhishek Sastri believes the solution that will make data centers more efficient on Earth will be found in outer space. That’s why Orlando-based liquid cooling technology startup Fluix is pivoting to a new focus: the development of a new coolant in microgravity. It’s a bold plan, but the company recently got some […]

The Walt Disney Co.’s latest ride patent looks at how to add a new level of surprise to the theme park experience. The patent, “Park Ride with Drop Swing Propulsion,” describes a system where a ride track can be transferred from an elevated track to a lower track with the ride vehicle on it, where […]

Universal Parks & Resorts is looking into how to enhance virtual-reality headsets and improve immersion. The theme park company, which operates Universal Orlando Resort, filed a patent dubbed, “Front and Peripheral View Lens Area for Virtual Reality Headsets,” which describes a multi-lens headset. Why this matters: Patents provide a peek into what theme park designers and […]

When Glenn Banton was hired as chief operating officer of Havik Corp. earlier this year, he had two immediate recommendations for the virtual reality training firm. “We needed to find a headquarters, and it needed to be in Texas or Florida,” Banton told Orlando Inno. After three years as a dispersed company with no true base of operations, […]

  One hundred thousand satellite launches. Thousands of high-tech employers. A portfolio of aerospace projects $10 billion strong. That’s the picture Space Florida CEO and President Frank DiBello paints of the Sunshine State’s aerospace industry in 2030. As the state’s spaceport development agency, Space Florida negotiates with aerospace and aviation employers interested in bringing projects to Florida. […]

Luminar no longer is spinning its wheels in research and development, since its manufacturing is scaling into series production as its autonomous vehicle technology goes into cars entering the marketplace. Why this story matters: Orlando is Luminar’s headquarters and the heart of its hardware operations, and local work likely will grow as Luminar’s lidar laser technology […]

For the fourth consecutive year, George Cheros, CEO and president of the National Center for Simulation, has been recognized as one of Florida’s most influential leaders by Florida Trend magazine. The publication’s annual Florida 500 list features the state’s top leaders and executives across major industries. “I’m honored to be included in the Florida 500 […]

Luminar no longer is spinning its wheels in research and development, since its manufacturing is scaling into series production as its autonomous vehicle technology goes into cars entering the marketplace. Why this story matters: Orlando is Luminar’s headquarters and the heart of its hardware operations, and local work likely will grow as Luminar’s lidar laser technology […]

The University of Central Florida and Universal Creative — the team that designs, develops and delivers attractions, shows, hotels, restaurants and resorts worldwide for Universal Parks & Resorts — announced a new immersive learning experience for students in Orlando, the tourism capital of the world. Beginning next spring, the new UCF/Universal Creative Lab will provide students with special coursework […]