The Autonomous Systems Development Facility

Software and Electronics Engineering

We collaborate with every research area at the Laboratory to create systems that accomplish their objectives in real-world scenarios and in unpredictable surroundings. Our engineers develop complex software and electronics systems, from concept to realization, for a variety of prototypes. We utilize the applied research approach to work on capabilities such as pointing and stabilization techniques to enable efficient space-based laser communication, and to build prototypes such as a ground-based sensor to detect biological threats in real time. Our engineers are developing airborne visual navigation; flight controls; and on-orbit pointing, acquisition, and tracking systems. We have expertise in space-qualified electronics, precision controls, firmware, embedded software, and application software.

Featured Projects

A person swimming underwater maps a sunken vessel.
undersea technology
Undersea vision-based navigation and pose determination will enable divers and robots to collaboratively solve complex tasks in an inherently unstructured environment.