Cognition Corporation Wins Air Force Contract for $750,000 to Develop Intelligent Autonomous Agents for Use On the Internet.

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 1999--Cognition Corporation today was awarded a $750,000 Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract from Wright-Patterson Air Force Research Laboratories to develop and deploy Intelligent Autonomous Agents software for use in Activity Based Costing and other applications.

"Autonomous Agents are self-contained software modules launched by Internet users to synchronize, monitor, collect, and disseminate information from SAP or Oracle databases, web sites, and other on-line applications. The "Intelligence" of the Agents derives from their ability to compare information, invoke process specific rules, and collaborate with other Agents to make decisions and achieve preset goals," said Mike Cronin, CEO of Cognition.

The contract requires the Agents software to be tested and commercialized first in an advanced Activity-Based Costing system, and then deployed in larger Aerospace and Defense applications.

Cognition also intends to explore possibilities for deploying the Agent technology in its existing Knowledge Management applications, including Critical Parameter Analysis, Tolerance Analysis, and Expert System Costing for Composites, Assemblies and other processes. Cognition's new "Knowledge Center" product line will also use Agents for Product Cost Management and Process Management projects. Cronin stated, "Intelligent, light-weight Agents acting independently and communicating across the Web will be the cornerstone of Enterprise Knowledge Management products from Cognition."

Cognition will subcontract to Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems (LMAS) in Marietta, Georgia, who will provide a real-world environment for the development, refinement and validation of the Agents and Activity-Based Cost models. Cognition will also subcontract to Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI). OAI will host periodic workshops and seminars to showcase the new technology, and coordinate industry guidance and feedback on Activity-Based Costing and the use of Agents.

SBIR contracts are funded by the Department of Defense to encourage the involvement of small businesses in the development and deployment of creative solutions for defense/aerospace industry applications.

Cognition Corporation is an innovative software development company, focused on the creation, use and management of knowledge for the product engineering and manufacturing industries. Current customers include Ford, Pratt & Whitney, Boeing, Raytheon, Xerox, Pitney Bowes, Delphi, Visteon, Ethicon, Seagate, Cummins Engine, and Goodyear Tire & Rubber.