HDT Engineering Services

Q: When did New World Associates become part of HDT, and why?

A: HDT acquired New World Associates, Inc. (NW), in August 2008 to strengthen HDT’s capabilities in engineering and new product development. The acquisition of NW by HDT formalized a productive relationship that had existed for many years prior. By leveraging NW’s engineering capacity, HDT has been able to broaden its core competencies in chemical/biological air filtration systems, survivable military vehicles, packaging of electronic and electromechanical systems, robotics and advanced prosthetics design and development.

Q: What does HDT’s Engineering Services business unit do, and how does it support HDT overall?

A: The HDT Engineering Services business unit develops technology, products and application-specific solutions. This enables HDT to provide its customers with solutions that meet current needs, as well as emerging requirements.

Q: What technology areas does HDT Engineering Services focus on?

A: We focus on high-value military markets, where operational performance and reliability are paramount. Application areas include: robotics, chemical/biological protection, military sensor systems and expeditionary shelter and power technologies.

Q: What is HDT’s role in the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s (DARPA) Advanced Prosthetic program?

A: HDT is leading the mechanical limb development team and is performing a substantial amount of the limb development work under the DARPA Revolutionizing Prosthetics 2009 program.

DARPA’s Revolutionizing Prosthetics Program is a coordinated effort focused on the revolutionary development of advanced prosthetic devices to provide next-generation medical and rehabilitative technologies for military personnel injured in the line of duty. The program, which is led by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, brings together an international team of research organizations, academic institutions and private sector engineering firms to develop a prototype of the first fully integrated prosthetic arm that can be controlled naturally, provide sensory feedback and allow for 20 degrees of freedom—a level of control far beyond the current state-of-the-art for prosthetic limbs.

Q: Are your CBR filter systems suitable for vehicles and tents?

A: Our lightweight OpenAire™ CBR filter system can be packaged in many ways — with or without integrated fans — to meet a variety of applications. These filter systems can be used in trailer-mounted applications for protecting expeditionary forces and for creating positive- and negative-pressure environments for field hospitals and command centers. Our OpenAire Marine CBR filter system offers a high level of corrosion protection for assured long-term performance for shipboard applications.

Q: Do you offer CBR filter installation and testing services?

A: Yes. HDT Engineering Services is available to perform both CBR filter installation and in-situ leak tests based on the requirements of ASME N510. We have the equipment and trained personnel to conduct both aerosol and gas-leak tests on nearly all radial-flow filter systems, including systems installed by the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We can also balance ventilation systems to design flow rates and conduct pressurization tests.

Q: What are air locks, and how are they used?

A: Air locks are vestibules that allow safe ingress to and egress from pressurized zones. Air locks have two doors that must be opened one at a time to maintain positive pressure within the protected zone. Air locks often feature an air purge to flush airborne contaminants that may enter when the outside door is opened. HDT can help with the design and implementation of air locks and purge controls.