Creating Total Solutions

The Digital & Systems Engineering Sector drives defense and industrial digital transformation with cutting-edge expertise in AI, quantum computing, autonomous systems, sensing, power and energy management solutions, and Model-Based Systems Engineering to deliver innovative capabilities and speed solutions.
A UDRI Researcher tests a virtual reality training program.

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

When our customers experience operational challenges, our solutions begin by listening and evaluating. Using AI and Machine Learning, we’ll leverage your experience and data to develop the software systems that will provide insights into solving your challenges much more efficiently than teams can do alone.

Machine Learning

UDRI researchers develop and implement flexible systems that automatically adjust to the needs of users according to the input they provide. Our systems see connections between data sources and user inputs, and use these connections to map to a desired output, enabling them to learn to understand how data products are developed, foster outside-the-box learning for users, and improve workflows.​

Deep Learning

UDRI researchers apply their expertise in deep learning in order to develop algorithms that train neural networks to learn unsupervised from collected data and make specific predictions. These algorithms then improve user awareness of available data, suggest areas for further investigation, and make connections between users and information to ensure analyses have more breadth and depth than a single user working alone. Our systems learn to understand how data products are developed, foster outside-the-box learning for users, and improve workflows.

Digital, Systems and Mission Engineering
UDRI provides comprehensive engineering and strategic support, specializing in digital systems, model-based solutions, and mission engineering. We drive transformation across the lifecycle and integrate advanced systems to address aerospace, energy, and logistics challenges—uniting MBSE, digital systems engineering, and mission engineering with rapid prototyping and sustainment to deliver decision-quality solutions.

Model-Based Systems Engineering

Building mission-ready systems begins with models that connect design intent to outcomes

We apply MBSE to ensure systems are designed, validated, and delivered with accuracy and clarity across their entire lifecycle. Our models integrate requirements, architectures, and performance data into a unified digital thread, allowing stakeholders to track progress and verify compliance at every stage.

Digital Systems Engineering

The digital backbone that powers transformation and connects design to mission

We embed digital engineering practices into every stage of system development, creating connected data environments that allow information to flow seamlessly across organizations. Our work integrates AI/ML, IoT, and digital materiel management into the lifecycle to ensure engineering data is actionable and accessible.

Mission Engineering & Battlefield Simulation

Mission success starts with engineering that connects concepts to outcomes

We lead with Mission Engineering to define and analyze model-based mission threads that show how operational needs map to system capabilities. This approach clarifies dependencies and risks across system-of-systems architectures, giving decision-makers insight into where investments create the greatest impact.

Rapid Reaction Engineering

Speed matters—especially when the mission can’t wait.

Our rapid reaction teams partner with clients to solve urgent aerospace and logistics challenges with precision and speed. We deliver quick-turn prototypes, test solutions in real-world conditions, and adapt them rapidly to evolving mission needs.

Engineering Systems

Complex challenges require integrated system solutions.

We design, prototype, and test systems that seamlessly connect hardware, software, and payloads. Our engineering approach bridges multiple technical domains, ensuring new capabilities integrate smoothly with existing platforms and infrastructures.

Systems Maturation & Transition

Innovation only matters when it successfully transitions to the mission

We bridge the gap between laboratory research and operational use by maturing technologies through readiness levels and ensuring smooth adoption into enterprise practice. Our work reduces technical risk, supports certification, and enables long-term sustainment.

Support Equipment & Vehicles

UDRI’s Support Equipment and Vehicles (SE&V) engineers provide sustainment and engineering of specialty equipment and vehicles. We leverage UDRI’s 60-plus years of innovative client support to solve today’s most challenging specialty equipment and vehicle problems. Our work extends the service life of current and aging equipment, define future requirements and deliver turnkey solutions for our valued partners.

Sensors & Data-Based Solutions
When the best solution to your challenge isn’t clear, sensors can bring it into view. We leverage and develop advanced sensor and software technologies to capture, analyze and interpret information from and about your systems and processes—with unmatched speed and efficiency—converting noisy, complex or obscure data into invaluable knowledge and an actionable path forward to improve quality, performance and production.

Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance

UDRI’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) personnel conduct remote sensing research focused mostly on radio frequency (RF) and Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) sensors. However, our expert researchers also undertake important work in radar systems and components; processing, detection, and data products; Electro-Optics (EO); LADAR; target phenomenology; electromagnetic effects and environment; and other related areas.

Sensor Processing and Exploitation

UDRI’s Sensor Processing and Exploitation experts provide research, development, integration and exploitation solutions for military and industrial sponsors. We have novel solutions in artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomy, change detection, image enhancement multi-int fusion and automated target tracking.

Position, Navigation & Timing

UDRI Positioning, Navigation and Timing researchers perform software development, integration and testing support of ongoing PNT research.

Open Architectures & Government Reference Architectures

UDRI’s Open Architectures and Prototyping for ISR Deployment (RAPID) researchers apply agile software engineering principles to rapidly develop Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) solutions. We integrate a wide range of government and industry standards to promote interoperability among mission systems, payloads, and platforms as we build, deploy, and maintaining multi-sensor and multi-mission systems in support of our nation’s defense.

Scalable Computing

UDRI’s Scalable Computing researchers work in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) processing acceleration, which leverages the latest available advanced computing hardware and languages to accelerate SAR image formation and processing.

Sensor & Test Evaluation

UDRI Sensor Test and Evaluation researchers assess commercial electro-optical, infrared, and synthetic aperture radar sensor systems against client-specified requirements. We primarily provide aerial and ground imaging subject matter expertise to support sensor technology evaluation, sensor acquisition, implementation, and data analysis activities.

Autonomy Systems
We extend the warfighter’s reach by taking mission-specific expressions of intent from across the echelons of command and enacting them at the autonomous platform. Our autonomy product lines provide decision aiding for operational planning, pilot teaming and command and control, and provide autonomous execution of tactical decisions, behaviors and maneuvers.

Unmanned Aerial Systems and Embedded Systems

UDRI’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Embedded Systems researchers focus on providing automation technologies, sensor control, system integration, and exploitation capabilities across a wide range of UAS platforms.

Decision Aids

UDRI develops cognitively inspired autonomous intelligent agents within government research programs. The agents we develop use domain and procedural knowledge to compose and select between alternative courses of action for platform autonomy applications.

Human-Machine Teaming
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence has created a pressing need to find the most effective AI tools for your needs. We’ll show you how to turn AI into a collaborative partner to support your teams and improve the performance of your legacy and emerging assets.

AR/VR Training

UDRI researchers develop both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies for practical application and real-world problem solving.

Human Factors

Our researchers undertake Human Performance analysis through human testing and usability within various domains such as Human-Machine Teaming, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), and software use.

Space & Power Systems
We’re pushing the boundaries of innovation to pioneer the next generation of power systems and advanced technologies to enable sustainable, resilient and high efficiency systems and solutions supporting exploration from inner space to the farthest reaches of the solar system.

Advanced Power Components

UDRI’s Advanced Power Components (APC) researchers provide device to system-level solutions for problems plaguing aerospace electronics by developing materials and supporting technologies for power systems.

Battery Development

UDRI conducts both fundamental and applied research in battery and battery system technologies. Our groundbreaking work includes thin film coating; processing (small to large format); custom li-ion design, fabrication and testing; and independent evaluation of batteries and battery system technologies for application in wearables, drones, electronics, vehicles, space equipment, and much more.

Software Solutions
We develop custom software solutions for government and commercial partners, enabling them to achieve their goals more efficiently. We specialize in delivering tailored systems that enhance and expand your capabilities, helping you stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly complex operational landscape.

Software Architecture

UDRI specializes in software architectures that enable advances in interoperability. Our software researchers have a wide knowledge of commercial and government software platforms and frameworks and are active in the technical community on a variety of projects, which gives them the expertise necessary for best-fit solutions.

Enterprise Software Solutions

UDRI's Enterprise Software researchers, architects, designers, and developers build robust software systems to solve any enterprise-wide challenge. We provide requirements development, technical consulting, and software development and maintenance, including modifications, optimizations, enhancements and knowledge transfer.

Cyber & Intelligent Systems

UDRI engineers apply strong research expertise and technical capabilities to deliver quality software solutions in Intelligent Systems and Data Fusion. We have developed multiple systems now in use at major commercial firms and throughout the U.S. Department of Defense.