The fifth EDGE Innovation Center, which will speed the delivery of critical technologies and innovative capabilities to warfighters and first responders, has opened in Leavenworth, Kansas.

The Leavenworth EDGE Innovation Center, sponsored by General Dynamics C4 Systems, will leverage its close proximity to the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and its subordinate commands at Fort Leavenworth to gain critical feedback from warriors and their leaders who are 'fresh from the fight,' enabling EDGE participants to rapidly prototype technology to meet emerging needs.

Part of the EDGE Innovation Network, the Leavenworth EDGE provides a collaborative, open environment that enables members from industry, academia and the government to work together in quickly developing new technologies to meet requirements identified through customers' direct field experiences.

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility, U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, R-Kan. said, "Kansas, and particularly Fort Leavenworth, has long been a gateway to new frontiers. With the Leavenworth EDGE, a new gateway to advanced technology and innovation has opened to solve quickly the real-world challenges facing our men and women in uniform. I'm pleased with General Dynamics' investment in Leavenworth and excited about future growth potential in this industry."

The Leavenworth EDGE Innovation Center joins a network comprising more than 85 members representing a wide range of industries, colleges and universities worldwide. The network also includes the University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc., and the University of Missouri, College of Engineering.

EDGE Innovation Centers are currently operating in Scottsdale, Ariz., Orlando, Fla. and Oakdale, United Kingdom.

Product and technology developments resulting from collaboration at other EDGE facilities include:

+ Soldier Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Receiver (SIR) - The SIR device, about the size of a Blackberry, delivers real-time streaming video directly from multiple unmanned assets into the hands of soldiers on the ground.

+ Primordial Route Planning Application - Using commercial-off-the-shelf software, the route planning application enables Land Warrior equipped mission planners to enter 'start' and 'end' points on a digitally displayed map and the software automatically determines the fastest or most concealed route.

+ Boomerang Shooter Detection and Location System - Integrating the Boomerang technology into the Land Warrior ensemble enables Land Warrior equipped soldiers on the battlefield network to identify and respond to a sniper's shot within seconds.