Information Technology Assistant Melinda Anthony and Electrical Engineer AJ Tate engage with augmented reality at Lockheed Martin’s Orlando Innovation Center. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin opened an innovation center at its Missiles and Fire Control (MFC) facility in Orlando, Florida. The company expects the center to aid in the creating new patents and winning new contracts. This is the second of its kind at MFC. In less than a year’s time, the Innovation Center in Dallas, Texas, has helped secure millions of dollars’ worth of captured programs.

Five specialized labs, a next-generation video conference capability, and an interactive lobby serve more than 5,000 employees amidst a hiring surge at the southwest Orlando facility. The five labs include the Application Research Experimentation and Simulation (ARES) facility; the Genesis Lab; the Iris Lab; the Engineering Visualization Experiment lab; and the Polaris Lab. Virtual reality, robotics, computer-simulated environments, 3D printing and more are available at encourage new ways of thinking and approaching business needs. The space will also host monthly hands-on demonstrations as well as live webcasts across the business.

“The Innovation Center is a destination for our program teams to explore what’s possible with the use of high technology,” MFC Vice President of Deputy Engineering and Technology Tom Mirek said. “Like we already have in Dallas, we’re going to recognize Orlando’s Innovation Center for being a vital resource to the success of our company for years to come.”