Summary
We are proud to announce that Circle Optics has been awarded a $250,000 Phase I SBIR contract from the U.S. Army to develop next-generation stitch-free panoramic imaging systems.
Rochester, NY – April 22, 2025 – Circle Optics, a deep-tech imaging company headquartered in Rochester, NY, has been awarded a $250,000 Phase I SBIR contract by the U.S. Army to develop next-generation panoramic imaging systems that enhance situational awareness and mission training in real-time operational environments.
The award will fund the continued development of Circle Optics’ proprietary stitch-free panoramic camera systems. Unlike traditional imaging platforms, Circle’s systems eliminate distortion and parallax, offering seamless 360° visual capture without the need for post-processing—ideal for immersive training, battlefield intelligence, and autonomous systems support.
This new phase of development will adapt Circle’s patented architecture for Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) applications. In thermal environments—where conventional stitched systems suffer from distortion, resolution loss, and alignment issues—Circle’s platform provides a seamless field-of-view with higher fidelity and precision, enabling clearer decision-making during night operations, surveillance, and low-visibility missions.
“Our system is superior because we can achieve both a wider field-of-view and greater resolution simultaneously,” said Cody Hatch, Principal Investigator and Opto-Mechanical Engineer at Circle Optics. “What makes this platform even more powerful is its modular capability—enabling future extensions that scale both field-of-view and resolution to meet evolving mission requirements.”
Circle Optics’ innovative approach blends optical, mechanical, and software engineering to solve problems at the edge of feasibility. The team’s work is backed by a portfolio of 21 issued and pending patents, offering a foundation for scalable solutions in defense, aerospace, and national security applications.
About Circle Optics
Circle Optics is advancing the frontier of real-time panoramic imaging with a proprietary stitch-free architecture that eliminates parallax, distortion, and the need for post-processing. Our patented polygonal lens technology delivers seamless 360° capture—enabling faster, more accurate insights for mission-critical applications in defense, aerospace, and immersive training. What sets Circle Optics apart is not only our breakthrough technology but also the engineering heritage behind it: our team includes inventors with over 200 combined patents from legacy imaging leaders such as Kodak, Carestream, IMAX, and Navitar. Backed by a growing portfolio of 21 issued and pending patents, Circle Optics is strategically positioned to scale through deep-tech differentiation, sustained R&D investment, and strong industry partnerships—bringing technically advanced, market-ready solutions to high-performance environments.
About the Army SBIR|STTR Program
The Army SBIR Program provides Phase I funding for innovators demonstrating commercial viability, feasibility, and technical merit. Firms with mature technologies can advance to Phase II and Direct to Phase II contracts, enabling them to further develop and commercialize their innovations.
The Army STTR Program fosters collaboration by integrating small businesses with universities, federally funded research and development centers, or qualified non-profit research institutions, with small businesses as the prime contractors.
ASA(ALT) leverages innovative technologies to give Soldiers a decisive advantage in any environment by developing, acquiring, fielding, and sustaining the world’s finest equipment and services. For more information, visit the ASA(ALT) web page and follow @ArmyASAALT.
Media Contact
Jennifer Sertl
Vice President, Marketing & Business Development
Circle Optics
📞 +1 585.704.5202
✉️ jennifer@circleoptics.com
🌐 www.circleoptics.com
