WILLISTON -- MicroStrain Inc. is set to receive $3.7 million in federal funding to develop a self-powered, wireless device that measures wear and tear on naval aircraft.

Each device has a radio, antennas, processor and two or four megabytes of memory, MicroStrain President and CEO Steven Arms said.

The device powers itself through solar cells or by converting vibrations into electricity, Arms said.

"We've created technology that is truly revolutionary," he said.

The high-tech measurement device is about 3 inches long and a half-inch wide. Arms wants to miniaturize it, cutting its length down to 1 inch.

The federal research contracts are expected to double the company's size within two years, increasing the labor force from 30 to 60 employees. Within five years, Arms said, the firm could have more 100 employees. The primary need is for more engineers and computer scientists.

The technology is designed to enhance safety and save money. Instead of changing aircraft parts after a designated number of hours in use -- the current practice -- the parts will be replaced when the sensors detect strain.

The technology also will ensure that worn parts are replaced before they break.

Military personnel "should not have to face the dangers of their own equipment," Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said Thursday afternoon after seeing a demonstration of the product.

A $1.75 million contract has been secured and another $1.95 million is pending. Both will be used to develop the technology for the U.S. Navy.

None of the devices has been deployed because MicroStrain has not been able to thoroughly test the device to determine how long it will function effectively. The $3.7 million will be used to answer that question, Arms said. The earliest it could be deployed is 18 months to two years, he said.

The technology -- although developed for the military -- could have a host of uses, including aid to commercial aircraft maintenance and the monitoring of bridge and building strength, Arms said.

The design, development and quality assurance are completed at the company's 10,000-square-foot Williston headquarters, but some production is outsourced to other New England firms, Arms said.

MicroStrain, founded in 1987, had "several millions of dollars" in revenues last year, Arms said, declining to be more specific; 20 percent was from government contracts, he said, adding Leahy's support for the growing company has been crucial.

"We're not doing this just to create jobs in Vermont, although it does," Leahy said.