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- Telescopes
- Observatories
- Space Lasers
- Defense Products
ResourcesOur locations and facilities, engineering tools, precision test equipment, management processes, and financial strength, provide us the resources to meet demanding requirements and specifications on time and on budget.
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LocationTucson is known as "Optics Valley" because of the concentration of optics companies with operations here. Our proximity to this industry cluster gives us ready access to expertise, specialty manufacturing resources, and a large pool of experienced optics industry experts.
Engineering ToolsOur design capability is unsurpassed in the industry, and all of EOST's designs will meet or exceed the customer's requirements. Our designs are extensively analyzed and modeled to verify performance before fabrication. Zemax is used for optical design and analysis. Solidworks parametric solid modeling software is used for optomechanical design. Electronic designs are produced in Protel's EDA Client software.
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 A retractable high bay roof for on-sky test and evaluation ensures every telescope meets specifications before shipment |
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Design validation is an important part of our process. We use Ansys for
finite element analysis and we use Matlab/Simulink for servo analysis and
simulation. Custom software tools we have developed allow us to interpret
results as they affect telescope performance.
We subcontract manufacturing to allow us the flexibility to expand or contract production, manage schedule, and match vendor capabilities to our requirements. We use a supplier source selection procedure to evaluate vendor proposals, select the preferred supplier, and fully document the results. We have strong relationships with a network of superior vendors who consistently provide high quality services and reliable delivery. In-process inspections during manufacture and EOST receiving inspections confirm that components comply with drawings. We assemble the finished components in specialty integration bays in our facility.
Precision Test EquipmentWe test each telescope in our facility before shipment. Most performance requirements can be verified during this test phase. This minimizes the risk and expense of corrective actions on-site. We use a variety of precision test equipment, including a Zygo interferometer and Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor.Testing of wavefront quality and high precision tracking are performed on- site as part of final acceptance testing because these require exquisite seeing to measure reliably. We use a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor and specialized analysis software to measure wavefront quality.
Management ProcessesOur exacting management processes are those of a company with nine years of fixed-price contract success. Our in-place management skills for demanding, high-technology development programs are shaped by and proven in the unforgiving business environment of performing on fixed-price programs. From the outset, a controlled process of planning and resource allocation, plan execution, and continuous assessment and control ensure program completion on schedule and on budget.Our program management is based on a thorough analysis of the customer’s needs and requirements by the senior engineering team who formulate a program plan. Risks associated with technology, suppliers, schedule and key personnel are assessed early in every program drawing on our extensive experience in designing and manufacturing telescopes. These risks are systematically measured against our specialized lessons-learned baseline, and factored into our program plans. We track technical progress, schedule, labor, materials and program costs on a weekly aggregated basis using Microsoft Project. We use a detailed management review system that enables prediction of cost or schedule variances and their timely interdiction and management. Weekly, detailed program reviews are conducted personally by the Program Manager; monthly reviews are conducted by our CEO. Program management and technical reviews are held in accordance with the SOW and program plan. We use an ISO 9001:2000 quality process certified by AOQC Moody International to assure the quality of the design and manufacturing process. Our quality procedures define the processes and responsibilities for contract review, design, purchasing and receiving, assembly and integration, testing, and delivery and installation. Management oversees the program and initiates corrective actions when required. Configuration control and the quality management function support each of these processes. The quality manager oversees quality assurance and reports directly to the CEO.
Financial StrengthEOST is an individually operated subsidiary of Electro Optic Systems Pty Ltd (Australia). The Australian company was founded in 1983 to commercialize space laser tracking technologies developed from 1974-1983 through joint programs of the Australian and United States governments. It became a public corporation in April 2002, and is widely held with a market capitalization of over US$200 million. EOS is financially strong, debt free, and retains strong cash reserves. We are committed to a strategic direction that grows our current business through building increasingly better telescopes. This is evidenced by the current and anticipated telescope project workload and by process development and improvements made to the EOST facility in Tucson, Arizona. |
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3160 E. Transcon Way