Unmanned Systems

Air forces around the world are increasingly looking for ways to expand combat capability without placing additional pilots in harm’s way. Modern fighter aircraft...

Military planners are increasingly looking for alternatives to expensive missiles and large unmanned systems. The goal is to field platforms that can be produced...

The unmanned systems market continues to expand, but alongside developing new platforms, manufacturers must also overcome challenges related to financing, production, and international market...

Maintaining reliable communications in congested or contested environments remains a growing challenge for military and unmanned systems. Most fielded radios still rely on omnidirectional...

When someone falls overboard, time becomes the most critical factor in survival. Ships traveling at speed require time to stop, launch rescue craft, and...

Engineers have long looked to origami and kirigami for inspiration when designing lightweight structures that can transform shape without relying on complex mechanical systems....

Integrating heavy weapons onto compact robotic ground vehicles has become a growing focus for modern militaries, but the engineering challenge is significant. Small unmanned...

Modern combat increasingly depends on the rapid movement of information between units. Drones, helicopters, artillery systems, and ground troops all generate large amounts of...

For decades, combat aircraft programs have largely followed the same model: highly complex manned platforms developed over long timelines by a small group of...

As defense technology becomes increasingly software-driven, military organizations are looking beyond traditional defense contractors and toward companies specializing in autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, sensors,...

The growing variety of drone threats is creating a new challenge for air-defense operators. Modern battlefields can include everything from commercial quadcopters and first-person-view...

As unmanned systems expand across air and land domains, underwater autonomy is becoming an increasingly important area of military development. Traditional submarines remain highly...

First-person-view (FPV) drones have become increasingly important for reconnaissance and strike missions, but controlling them often requires bulky ground equipment. Traditional ground control stations...

The drone threat continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Explosive drones and loitering munitions have become some of the most significant threats facing...

Controlling insect-based robots has long been an area of interest for researchers looking to combine the mobility and efficiency of living organisms with the...

Soft robots are often praised for their flexibility, safety, and ability to interact with delicate environments. But many of these systems still depend on...

Building small flying robots that move like insects has long been a challenge for engineers. Flapping-wing systems are highly agile and energy efficient, but...

Modern electronic warfare increasingly revolves around one challenge: finding signals that are designed not to be found. Advanced radar systems now use low-probability-of-intercept waveforms,...

Modern infantry units are carrying more equipment than ever before. Alongside weapons and ammunition, soldiers now operate radios, batteries, sensors, protective gear, and targeting...

Most robots are designed around familiar biological forms. Engineers often model machines after humans, dogs, insects, or other animals, relying on centralized software and...

Foldable structures are widely used in engineering because they can transform from compact flat sheets into larger three-dimensional forms. But most existing designs face...

Modern artillery systems are under growing pressure to operate faster, strike farther, and survive in increasingly transparent battlefields. Counter-battery radars, drones, and long-range surveillance...