Barton Bennett, President of Odyssian Technology LLC

By Phil D’Amico, director of business growth, The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County

Barton Bennett and his business partner started Odyssian Technology LLC in South Bend in 2002. The company is primarily focused on developing technology related to advanced lightweight composites smart structures, multifunctional structures, thin film materials, and advanced energy systems. Odyssian develops technology and products for both the military and consumer marketplace.

I recently sat down with Barton to get his perspectives on his company’s work in developing products involving nanoelectronics, and on future applications in the field.

Barton Bennett, president and CEO of Odyssian Technology LLC

Q: This whole nanotechnology initiative for our community is so big, so complex, that there are some days I feel like I need a “nano” interpreter. How tough is it for you, a business owner, to identify opportunities for your company in nano?

A: I think I understand what you are saying, Phil. For me the press coverage on nanotechnology often seems to be full of a lot of nano-fluff … what I mean is that it often lacks anything tangible or anything you can put your finger on. For us at Odyssian, we see the opportunity to use the unique properties of nano-materials to create new composite materials and to create new active devices. Since the start of our business, we have focused on smart systems, some of which involve structurally integrated electronic circuits, conductors, sensors and antennas. This work has included applied research and development into the use of nano-materials to improve performance and to achieve functionality that may not otherwise be possible. One of the big areas of interest to us is the use of nano-materials, specifically carbon nanotubes, to improve the performance of dispensed organic or polymer electronic circuits and components.

Q: I have seen these nanotubes before, but what is the primary purpose of these?

A: Carbon nanotubes individually have superior properties related to electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength. Our recent interest has been in research that has shown that they can be used to improve high-frequency signal transmission in organic interconnect circuitry and antenna elements.

Q: Where else are we seeing immediate opportunities for new products in nanotechnology, say at least for your company or our area?

A: We see a number of opportunities related to improving the performance and utility of military systems. Remember, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. government as a whole, are continually creating new technologies that allow us to develop more efficient and effective systems. Odyssian Technology is developing technology, including applied research into emerging nanotechnology, that could result in significant growth opportunity for our area.

Q: So can you give an example?

A: An example woud be the use of nano-materials in our smart seal technology. Some of our smart seals have nano-materials that allow the sensing of leaks and help indicate whether or not they are properly seated. We also see nano being used in high-performance air and space vehicles where weight, size, payload volume are all at a premium. We seen many nano uses to improve the performance of what are called SUAS, or Small Unmanned Aerial Systems, and MAVs, or Micro Air Vehicles. These are very effective intelligence-gathering vehicles that are much smaller, stealthy air vehicles that do not have pilots flying them. We intend to pursue opportunities that involve printing and embedding nano-materials into the structures of these type of military systems.

Q: Now, in looking at your wide array of innovations that you have worked on, you do a lot of work in smart technology, like smart sensors. Is that also a form of nano-related work?

A: It can be. Some of the integrated sensors that we have developed involve the use of nano-materials. They can be utilized in a number of different areas. They can be used in preventing leaks in natural gas pipelines, chemical leaks, storage tanks, water lines, etc. The real value here is that these sensors and seals can help detect exact locations of leaks, or tell you when a prospective weak spot or leak may occur in a line. This preventive sensor can save a company millions of dollars and thousands of hours of down time, as well as help reduce the release of environmentally toxic substances.

Q: You are also doing significant work in developing thin film devices that are aimed at extending battery life, and specifically a new process that looks at developing a much longer shelf life of a battery. You also are developing a thin film that is new technology for speeding up the manufacturing process and production output.

A: We are developing new thin film igniters for use in thermal batteries. These types of batteries are unique in the way that they offer increased battery shelf life. The thin film igniter technology that we have developed eliminates defects in the heating elements that make the thermal batteries active. This thin film technology that we are working on acts as a thin film bridge that functions in the same manner as a conventional filament bridge, minus the potential for defects, which leads to a more reliable thermal battery. Large batch processing of the thin film igniter also offers up the potential to reduce cost and processing time.

Q: So what types of industries would benefit from this technology?

A: The primary reason we pursued the thin film technology was to develop a capability to develop very thin and very small active devices and sensors that could be integrated more easily within structures and finished products. We see future electronic circuits as being made up of a combination of polymer and thin film inorganic active components that are highly integrated within the structure of the final product. Near term, the sectors or applications that will benefit from this technology include military, space and small consumer electronics.

Q: This is all amazing work going on in our community. How does this translate into jobs or opportunities for the rest of our business community?

A: We believe that Odyssian Technology will someday be a significant player in nanotechnology as it relates to high performance military and space systems. Although, the rate at which local jobs and economic opportunity are created will depend largely on the level of collaboration that occurs between academia and the small high-tech business community in our area, as well as, the willingness of our congressional leadership to support the funding that will be needed to quickly transition this high pay-off technology to the marketplace. We have already seen some of this take place, as it relates to the University of Notre Dame nanotechnology initiatives. Odyssian Technology, and I am sure other high-tech businesses in our area, look forward to someday being more engaged in these initiatives, and playing a big role in commercializing these nanotechnologies. In the future, I see a greater level of collaboration between our excellent local universities and our local small high-tech business community. That will not only create high paying jobs for our community, but will also help establish a stronger and larger local small high-tech business base that will be nimble, less bureaucratic and will innovate new products and create new jobs at relatively quick speed.

Q: I always love visiting your business, it’s like I experience a real-life episode of ‘The Jetsons.’

A: Hahaha! There are some really cool things happening here, and we are just scratching the surface. We plan on adding more high-tech equipment and will continue to innovate new and exciting technologies, and together through the collaborations that I mentioned, we will realize the creation of new high-tech jobs and economic development in our area. We are at a very exciting and interesting point in history where perseverance, innovation and nanotech will come together to realize big payoffs globally, nationally, and for us locally.

Thank you, Phil, for this opportunity to be interviewed.