Maryland’s Unmanned and Autonomous Systems
Air, Sea, and Ground
COVER: Designed for expeditionary land- and sea-based operations and equipped for simultaneous day/night full-motion video, communications relay, signals intelligence, and a customer-selected payload in a single fight, Textron Systems’ Aerosonde Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) delivers reliable, multi-mission performance in a class by itself. It is feld-proven with more than 500,000 fight hours, including desert heat and Arctic cold.
Maryland’s Unmanned and Autonomous Systems Network
For decades, Maryland has been at the leading edge in developing, testing, and introducing unmanned and autonomous systems (UAS), and is home to a robust and rapidly growing ecosystem of developers in unmanned vehicles (UV), artifcial intelligence (AI), and robotics. With a highly skilled workforce, unique supply chain advantages, and an unparalleled concentration of federal, academic, and corporate customers, Maryland is the perfect launchpad for the next generation of autonomous systems.
From unmanned air vehicles to underwater and terrestrial autonomous robots, researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) are leading the way in this groundbreaking feld, with potential applications related to disaster resilience, weather monitoring, agriculture, security, search and rescue, product delivery, and effcient transportation. Other essential network resources include the test site at the UMD Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research and Operations Center, a UAS Center of Excellence, RDT&E capabilities, and the specialized workforce needed to grow the UV marketplace.
Maryland Workforce Concentrations
California-Lexington Park, Md. has the highest concentration of aerospace engineers in the U.S.*
*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment
Maryland is unique among states with a cluster of more than 60 federal agencies, 20 military installations, and 57 universities and colleges — featuring leading programs in the study of aeronautics and space technologies.
LEADING AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE EMPLOYERS IN MARYLAND
u Fort Meade (NSA & U.S. Cyber Command)
u NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
u Aberdeen Proving Ground
u Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility
u Naval Air Station Patuxent River
u Northrop Grumman
u Fort Detrick
u Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
u Lockheed Martin
Unmanned and Autonomous Systems frequently used acronyms
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Unmanned Aerial System
Connected and Autonomous Vehicles
Unmanned Surface Vessel or Autonomous Surface Vessel
Unmanned Underwater
Vehicle or Autonomous
Underwater Vehicle
Chesapeake UAS Route Network Center of Excellence
AIR
SURVICE Engineering
SURVICE Engineering has over 30 years of experience in supporting the Department of Defense and industry clients with specialty engineering services and design expertise. Located in BelCamp, Maryland, with nearly 400 employees and numerous locations across the country, SURVICE Engineering Company provides unparalleled services, particularly in the areas of combat system safety, survivability, and effectiveness. The Company’s Applied Technology Operation (ATO) focuses on leading-edge research and development across engineering disciplines.
SURVICE also partners with leading-edge companies around the world to develop and deliver innovative, disruptive new technologies; work in unmanned aircraft systems development and testing is an example of providing new game-changing capabilities to the Warfghter for transportation and logistics. The Tactical Resupply Vehicle (TRV) family of drones, developed in collaboration with UK-based Malloy Aeronautics, represents feld-proven capability at tactically signifcant payloads and ranges
SURVICE is the only small business in the world to be accredited by NVIDIA as a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Research Center
One of the leading concepts providing unmanned assured logistics resupply in an aerial platform organic to traditional ground-based units the TRV-150 has been successfully tested in all weather conditions: rain, wind, desert, and snow.
Textron Systems
Textron Systems is a world leader in unmanned air, surface, and land products, services, and support for aerospace and defense customers. Harnessing agility and a broad base of expertise, Textron Systems’ innovative businesses design, manufacture, feld and support comprehensive solutions that expand customer capabilities and deliver value.
With more than 30 years of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) experience, Textron Systems’ Shadow® is the most reliable and capable tactical UAS to help you accomplish your missions. The company’s multi-mission systems are paired with Textron Systems’ interoperable Universal Ground Control Station (UGCS) and remote products for collaboration across the battlespace.
Platform Aerospace
Located in Hollywood, Maryland, Platform Aerospace is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) dedicated to supporting the warfghter and its customers’ success. An industry leader in rapid aircraft and UAV modifcation and system integration, the company is AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certifed and specializes in manufacturing, aviation modifcation and prototyping, and cutting-edge aerial ISR products.
Platform Aerospace owns and operates Vanilla Unmanned, a World Record-setting ultra-long fight endurance Unmanned Air Vehicle ISR platform. Unlike larger long-endurance UAS, Vanilla is a tactical-scale Group III system that uses an internal-combustion engine for propulsion. Its smaller size enables runway independent launch from forwarding locations with minimal manning. Unlike solar-powered high-altitude systems, Vanilla is immediately responsive to operator tasking and fies at tactical altitudes, thereby accommodating smaller and lower-cost sensors for the same C5ISR value. Vanilla runs on standard Jet-A fuel, easing logistics concerns during forwarding operations.
Expanding their reach, Platform Aerospace was recently awarded a Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) contract for Non-Traditional Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, teamed with Progeny Systems Corporation. This Non-Traditional Airborne ASW program will develop a concept of operations in which Vanilla Unmanned – Platform Aerospace’s ultra-long endurance UAS – augments existing manned Airborne ASW operations.
The battle-proven Shadow® system has surpassed 1.25 million fight hours supporting global military operations for countless U.S. troops and their allies. TRV-150 has been successfully tested in all weather conditions: rain, wind, desert, and snow.
TEXTRON SYSTEMS TO UPGRADE SHADOW® AIRCRAFT
HUNT VALLEY, MD. – Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, received a contract for up to $607 million from the U.S. Army to provide contract logistics support feld services and engineering support along with the retroft of the existing Shadow® Block II Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS) to the upgraded Block III confguration. The work will modernize the current Shadow RQ-7B Block II and lead product, support, and sustainment activities for the feet. The planned work will take place over fve years.
VANILLA SMASHES WORLD RECORD
Vanilla Unmanned demonstrated 8 days, 50 minutes, and 47 seconds of continuous fight, breaking the world record for unrefueled, internal combustion endurance of an unmanned aircraft. The 8-day fight is a step change from Vanilla’s prior record of 5 days and is without comparison to other UAS. The fight was conducted in coordination with Edwards Air Force Base and has been submitted for ratifcation as an offcial world record.
Airgility
Airgility is a leading designer & manufacturer of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The company’s drones utilize artifcial intelligence and machine learning so they can perceive their surroundings, which enables them to map areas, track objects and provide analytical feedback in real-time. Powered by Artifcial Intelligence, Airgility’s drones go further and faster and are capable of autonomous, selfdirected fight and navigation in complex environments, such as earthquakes and fres to complete tasks, which may include search and rescue, disaster recovery, or security missions.
The DS-1 Minotaur™ is a highly maneuverable and agile quadcopter drone designed to navigate the most complex of environments. Equipped with Autonomous Sensory Intelligence powered by Airgility, it achieves an advanced understanding of its environment and is capable of making intelligent decisions through sensor-based mapping in GPS-denied areas.
Airgility’s co-founders are graduates of the University of Maryland, College Park is a spinout of UM Ventures with a patent portfolio that includes one owned by UMD. “The location in the UMD Discovery District provided ready access to a pipeline of talented engineering students as interns, and the beneft of utilizing UMD’s UAV testing facility.”
Pramod Raheja, CEO, and Co-Founder
SEA
American Robotics
American Robotics focuses on providing strategic solutions that enable safe, effcient, and successful UAV operations in the most challenging environments while ensuring unmatched support for a new era of aerial exploration and industrial applications.
Known for their premier drone-in-a-box Optimus System and the integration of Kestrel, its advanced Detect and Avoid (DAA), airspace safety and surveillance, and Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) solution, American Robotics is commited to delivering strategic solutions that redefne the possiblities of UAV and UAS operations.
AUVSI XPONENTIAL
2021 FINALIST:
XCELLENCE IN OPERATIONS
ENTERPRISE SOLUTION
DEPLOYMENT AND SERVICE
PROVIDER
AlarisPro, UAS Fleet Management, AlarisPro Fleet Management
SaaS
AlarisPro
AlarisPro’s core capabilities of managing feets and tracking operations and maintenance down to the component level enables users to confdently monitor the status of an aircraft and how it will perform, increasing safety, reliability, and effciency on every fight. AlarisPro’s Safety Ecosystem™ offers more than just an individual safety solution, AlarisPro built a collaborative system that aggregates and utilizes component, aircraft, and incident data generated from its broad user base, creating a unique safety net for your operations. Founded in Baltimore in 2014, AlarisPro is proud to serve hundreds of UAS manufacturers and operators around the globe.
HurleyIR
A leading, woman-owned, manufacturer of infrared and visual camera systems, HurleyIR is a top echelon infrared, security, and engineering company. HurleyIR’s precision camera systems are used in a wide range of applications, have been tested under the harshest conditions, and exceed military specifcations for operational and environmental integrity maintaining an under 1% failure rate. HurleyIR systems are trusted to .trusted to protect major US ports, airports, and military installations across the globe.
Maxtena
Maxtena was founded in 2007, fueled by the desire to create the frst commercially viable digitally steerable antenna. Several years of conducting research has culminated in the creation of Dynamic Aperture Technology (DAT™). Using DAT, Maxtena designs extremely lightweight and highperformance helical, patch, and LTE antenna solutions for wireless communications. Maxtena offers off the shelf products as well as fully customized integrations and can provide expert assistance in any antenna integration.
PSI Cases
Located in Baltimore, PSI Cases is an ISO 9001 certifed company that designs and manufactures systems integration packages and container solutions for both private companies and government agencies. With over 50 years combined experience in design, engineering, development, manufacturing, and sales, PSI has installed the latest fabrication equipment and rotational manufacturing to ensure timely deliveries at competitive prices. Whether it’s one piece or 1,000, the choice is yours.
LAND
STEER
Designed to save time, reduce frustration and create a seamless transportation experience, STEER’s aftermarket full-service platform provides an autonomous parking solution that allows drivers to safely park or summon their car using the STEER app on their smartphones.
Making its debut at CES 2021, the technology allows a car to self-park in designated STEER parking lots without a driver using a combination of smart sensor fusion, trustworthy hardware, and communication, high availability redundant systems to ensure driver/car safety, with superior vision systems and policy mechanisms to ensure pedestrian safety. STEER works with most cars produced after 2012. Users input their car make and model on the STEERtech.com website to fnd out if their car is compatible.
Sites must be pre-mapped for the system to work, but a site can be mapped in about 15 minutes. Then from an app, users can command the car to drive into a parking garage, fnd a spot, all the while looking out for obstacles and pedestrians or other vehicles. It will obey stop signs and then park. When you want to retrieve the car, you summon it and it picks you up at a set location. The car can actually drop you off at the airport and fnd a parking spot.
Forterra
Once a small team of former NIST scientists specializing in the development of solutions to meet the unique needs of our armed forces, Forterra, formerly known as Robotic Research, has grown into a household name in commercial and government autonomous operations. Located in Clarksburg, MD, the company is an industry leader with a proven track record:
u 1st company DoD-approved to operate autonomously around pedestrians
u 1st wartime deployments of unmanned systems
u 1st unmanned autonomous trucks delivered for Army logistics applications
u 1st prototype SAE Level-4 transit bus
u 1st automated heavy-duty mass transit bus used in revenue service
FORTERRA ANNOUNCES $228 MILLION SERIES A FUNDING ROUND TO SCALE AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALLY
Forterra has successfully deployed autonomous and robotics solutions on roadways around the globe as well as in the industry’s harshest, unstructured environments. The company’s vehicle-agnostic autonomy kit, AutoDrive®, has already been integrated into a variety of vehicles including North America’s frst automated heavy-duty transit bus, Class 8 trucks, and yard trucks. AutoDrive® can be used on-road, off-road, or in the yard, making it uniquely suited to provide a 360° autonomous driving solution that spans a variety of complex operational design domains (ODDs).
A startup company out of Annapolis, STEER created the frst fully-autonomous parking technology that transforms an everyday car into a driverless vehicle that parks itself.
SEA
Maritime Applied Physics Corporation
Maritime Applied Physics Corporation (MAPC) has a 32-year history of designing and building advanced technology systems for both commercial and government sponsors, including twenty years of unmanned surface vessel work.
MAPC has specifc experience with the design of electronic systems for advanced vehicles including ground robots, hydrofoils, passenger vessel motion reduction systems, rudder and autopilot systems, watercraft launch and recovery.
MAPC’S UD-GARC A FORCE MULTIPLIER
BLOCK SPACE FOR 150 words from MAPC and a photo/waiting on copy and photos
U.S. Navy tests conducted in the Chesapeake Bay in February 2022 demonstrated the potential of the new Unmanned Diesel Greenough Advanced Rescue Craft (UD-GARC) to serve in a counterterrorism role, mitigating and eliminating threats to military vessels operating at sea. UD-GARC could become a force multiplier. The system’s remote operation requires minimal manning, allowing sailors that would normally be needed for the operation to handle other mission critical tasks.
Designed by Maritime Applied Physics Corporation, Baltimore, Md, the vessel’s semiautonomous nature could potentially keep personnel a safe distance from dangerous situations. The UD-GARC can be outftted with various payloads, including a remote weapons system (RWS) controlled from a different location. The RWS, coupled with an advanced range system, could conceivably offer end users leverage in an environment that is perpetually changing.
Phoenix International
Phoenix International Holdings, Inc. (Phoenix) is an employeeowned, ISO 9001:2015 Management System certifed marine services contractor providing worldwide manned and unmanned underwater operations and engineering services to a diverse set of clients worldwide. Headquartered in Largo, Maryland Phoenix operates from eight regional support facilities on the East, Gulf, and West Coasts of the United States.
Phoenix provides a full range of underwater services to accomplish complex operations from the surface to water depths of 6,000 meters. These operations involve subsea intervention systems, including our Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), deepwater sonar systems and other robotic systems, and subsea tooling in support of our deep ocean search and recovery efforts, geophysical surveys, and other subsea operational related services.
In addition to the operation and maintenance of the Phoenix feet of ROVs and subsea survey equipment, the company operates and maintains several U.S. Navy-owned ROVs and underwater search equipment through a contract with the Naval Sea Systems Command. All of these systems are housed at the Largo facility and deployed globally for deep ocean search and recovery operations.
Phoenix International CURV 21, in-house designed and built ROV.
RDT&E STRENGTHS
Maryland encourages and supports a multi-domain network of unmanned transportation enterprises, cultivating research and development in Air | Ground | Sea Autonomous Vehicles and Systems. The state has RDT&E contributors in all three autonomous domains and is actively coalescing these separate, but interconnected industries under an overarching multi-domain canopy.
Maryland’s RDT&E and prototype development resources within the UV space are multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. Fields and expertise include:
Advanced Computational Sciences
Autonomous Systems and Robotics
Artifcial Intelligence
Engineering Disciplines
Machine Learning
A PIONEERING LIFE-SAVING FLIGHT
Manufacturing
Materials Sciences
Software and Algorithm Development
Systems Integration
The University of Maryland (UMD) UAS Research and Operations Center
The UMD UAS Research and Operations Center is a national leader in UAS research, development, and training. Modeled after requirements in manned aviation and military drone applications, airworthiness evaluations conducted by the UMD UAS Research and Operations Center are among the most rigorous in the UAS industry. With expertise in command control, propulsion, and fight operations, UMD UAS Research and Operations Center experts can help partners develop and execute rigorous testing and evaluation plans as well as needs assessment and consultation.
University of Maryland unmanned aviation pioneers received the AUVSI annual XCELLENCE Award and HAI Golden Hour Award for a fight in April 2019 that resulted in the frst-ever delivery of a viable organ in collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the University of Maryland Medical Center as a winner in the Humanitarian and Public Safety category.
With access to restricted military airspace and special FAA authorizations for research and test activities, the UMD UAS Test Site Flight operations and services enable businesses, public agencies, and researchers to conduct operations beyond those allowed under FAA Part 107. Partners looking for customized vehicles capable of carrying specifc sensors, cameras, communication devices, or other payloads can tap into UAS Test Site systems design and integration expertise and unique facilities to demonstrate feasibility.
The Teal Group predicts worldwide military UAS spending of $197.6 billion over the next decade in its 2021/2022 UAV market profle forecast.
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD)
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) is one of two product centers within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), headquartered in Patuxent River, Maryland. NAWCAD facilities support research, development, test, evaluation, engineering, and feet support of Navy and Marine Corps air vehicle systems and trainers. The NAWCAD is the steward of the ranges, test facilities, laboratories, and aircraft necessary to support the Fleet’s acquisition requirements. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division provides a variety of services to the Department of Defense, other Federal agencies as well as non-Federal customers.
The MQ-25 T1 test asset refuels the Navy F/A-18 during June 4, 2021 fight. This test marked the frst-ever aerial refueling operation between a manned aircraft and an unmanned tanker. (Photo courtesy of Boeing)
NAVAIR’s unmanned products include the close-range UAS Aerosonde, manufactured by Textron Systems Unmanned Systems, and Boeing’s MQ-25™ Stingray, the world’s frst operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft with critical aerial refueling and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
ARL AND UMD ENTER $68M COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO ACCELERATE AI, AUTONOMY
Army Research Laboratory
Pioneered by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, the Army Research Laboratory, the program facilitates the development of unique algorithms, techniques and tools to improve how
Built on a 25-year partnership between the University of Maryland and the Army Research Lab, researchers entered into a $68 million, fve-year cooperative agreement to drive advances in next-generation technologies for artifcial intelligence (AI) and autonomy. The agreement brings together a large, diverse group, leveraging the University System of Maryland’s national leadership in engineering, robotics, computer science, operations research, modeling and simulation and cybersecurity.
“It’s a very exciting alliance that leverages the university’s decades-long research partnerships with ARL to forge a critical pipeline for research innovation and commercialization in the booming ecosystem of robotics, AI and autonomy,” said Laurie L. Locascio, UMD vice president for research. The cooperative agreement will also open up shared access to unique university and federal assets and facilities. For example, it will grant the UMD and UMBC teams access to ARL’s Robotics Research Collaborative Campus (R2C2), which includes a one-of-a-kind, 200acre, reconfgurable, multiple-terrain outdoor testing laboratory just north of Baltimore for scalable AI, autonomy and robotics research.
autonomous vehicles navigate complex environments. The integration of AI is bringing more autonomy to military applications, particularly in unmanned machines and robots. These range from aerial autonomous vehicles to unmanned ground vehicles that can function with the help of environmental sensors and AI with little to no human intervention.
Salisbury Airport (SBY) frst UAS Center of Excellence on East Coast
The SBY UAS Automation Innovation Center (UAS AIC) is home to the frst public use Unmanned Aircraft Systems dedicated hanger on the East Coast. Sentinel Robotic Solutions is the operator of the new, 5,000 square foot hanger. Other features include:
u The frst airport in Maryland with regular commercial air traffc to open a facility solely dedicated to testing and evaluation of unmanned air vehicles.
u Daily onsite operation services include logistics management, project support, air traffc coordination, aviation, and ground safety.
u The UAS Center of Excellence focuses on supporting UAS companies in the development and testing phases with the possiblity for expansion to support manufactuing capabilities.
u Kilroy Aviation is also headquartered at SBY and is one of the few companies dedicated to assisting aircraft manufacturers with the FAA Type Certifcation process.
MAGIC supports technology ecosystem in Carroll County
The Mid-Atlantic Gigabit Innovation Collaboratory (MAGIC) is a leader in the local technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem of Carroll County. MAGIC supports the community’s tech ecosystem by building relationships between the educational institutions in Carroll County, the tech community, corporate partners, and local government. Through collaboration, MAGIC
provides the resources and opportunities necessary to prepare residents for success as innovators and entrepreneurs by pursuing strategic initiatives to increase the depth and diversity of the tech ecosystem in Carroll County.
One of MAGIC’s initiatives is the Autonomous Corridor Project which is creating a public-private partnership to develop a virtual twin of the City of Westminster as the next evolution of the city’s fber infrastructure enabling Autonomous and Smart City technologies. The goal is to increase connectivity in the Westminster community by attracting new businesses and innovators, as well as creating careers and research opportunities.
Chesapeake Unmanned Aircraft System Route Network
With the maturing of UAS operations and technologies aviation/UAS subject matter experts are proposing an initiative to create a Chesapeake UAS Route Network (CURN) overlying the Chesapeake Bay that supports government, civil, and commercial operations; research; and public safety. The principal objective is to enable operational users to achieve safe, repeatable, and routine on-demand network access to non-segregated airspace with current and future UAS and network communications, navigation and surveillance infrastructure technologies.
CURN, once approved, will be the only UAS route network in the nation to provide for operations within some of the most congested and complicated airspaces in the country.
Maryland’s Connected & Automated Vehicles Technology
The life-saving benefts of Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technology are designed to protect the safety of all who travel Maryland’s transportation network. Connected Vehicle (CV) technologies enable all types of vehicles, roadways, and mobile devices to communicate and share vital transportation information. Several mediums will provide connectivity, including satellite radio, commercially available cellular, and dedicated short-range communications.
The Maryland Department of Transportation CAV working group is the central point of coordination for the development and deployment of emerging CAV technologies in Maryland. Support pathways for research, testing and implementation of CAVs in Maryland include:
u Submitting an Expression of Interest to engage in communication, coordination, and collaboration with MDOT and the CAV working group
u Learning about available test sites by visiting Locations to Enable Testing Sites (LETS)
u Building CAV implementation plans using the Maryland CAV Strategic Framework as a guide for end-to-end mobility through continued collaboration
u Reaching out to the Maryland CAV team at CAVMaryland@mdot.maryland.gov
Together with the UMD Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site — a Clark School facility that has been operating next door to USMSM since 2014—the new building forms “the southern node of an AI and autonomy network spanning the state of Maryland.”
Derek Paley, Willis H. Young Jr. Professor of Aerospace Engineering Education, Director, Maryland Robotics Center
Academic UV Systems Research Lab and Centers
SMART Building Spurs Autonomy Research
The University of Maryland (UMD), already a leader in autonomy and unmanned systems research, opened a new state-of-the-art facility in St. Mary’s County at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM). The new Southern Maryland Autonomous Research and Technology (SMART) building is an $86 million, 84,000 square-foot academic and research facility that will nearly double the educational footprint of USMSM, create autonomous systems research space, and spur economic activity and job growth.
The facility will make the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland the USM’s only regional higher education center with a research component.
Located in the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (USMSM) Southern Maryland Autonomous Research and Technology (SMART) Building, MATRIX Lab features state-of-the-art facilities for autonomous vehicle research including an 80’ by 60’ open air-land lab with an amphibious pool, a hydrology lab featuring a circulating water channel with an 80 cm by 130 cm cross-section, an AR/VR capable research space, roof-top antenna farm, and outdoor ground and air vehicle testing.
Former UMD UAS Site Director Matt Scassero was named Director of Research, Innovation, and OUtreach for the USMSM MATRIX Lab. Scassero will provide leadership for the Clark School’s educational and research programs at USMSM. John Slaughter was hired in 2022 to take over as Director for the UMD UROC.
Johns Hopkins Autonomous Systems, Control, and Optimization Laboratory (ASCO)
ASCO is part of the Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics at JHU. The research goal of the lab is to create robots with unprecedented agility and robustness that can fully exploit their dynamical and sensing abilities to operate in natural environments.
The lab performs research in analytical and computational methods at the intersection of dynamical systems and control, optimization, and statistical learning, and in the design and integration of novel mechanisms and embedded systems. Current application areas: 1) autonomy in mobile (ground and aerial) robots and small spacecraft, and 2)computational tools for control and optimization of multibody mechanical systems.
Johns Hopkins University Institute for Assured Autonomy (IAA)
The IAA is a national center of excellence ensuring the safe, secure, reliable, and predictable integration of autonomous systems into society by covering the full spectrum of research across the three pillars of technology, ecosystem, and policy and governance. Its goal is to ensure that autonomous systems will be trusted to
operate as expected, to respond safely to unexpected inputs, to withstand corruption by adversaries, and to integrate seamlessly into society.
Morgan State University, Urban Mobility & Equity Center
The Urban Mobility & Equity Center (UMEC) is federally funded as a Tier 1 research center through the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. UMEC seeks to bolster the scientifc foundation and discern equity implications for policies that focus on urban mobility.
UMEC’s core and competitively awarded research projects center on three research themes:
u Transit/paratransit and freight planning and operations to improve mobility, access, and cost-effciency
u Buyer acceptance, affordability, and government promotion of connected and automated vehicles, including social equity considerations during diffusion of technology
u Distribution of transportation costs and benefts, including equity of user fees and taxes that fund infrastructure and services
