DRA is prepared to team as prime or subcontractor to provide a successful partnership to meet contract requirements and exceed customer expectations. DRA is well versed in the SBIR/STTR process and has transitioned several through to SBIR Phase III contracts. Below are some of many previous and current customers and partners.

Partners

At DRA, there are multiple laboratories on site with state-of-the-art technology to conduct research and development of prototypes such as the Test and Integration Laboratory, the Optics Laboratory, and the Systems Integration Laboratoy (SIL). DRA also builds Data Acquisition Units to support sensor/system testing and analysis.

With every project at DRA, the engineers work with the customer to understand the primary objectives of the project. Systems engineering principles are used throughout the product development lifecycle to refine the requirements and validate the results. Throughout the project, the engineers employ the following systems engineering techniques:

DRA uses a systems engineering approach to all engineering disciplines. The lead engineers work with the customer to fully understand their requirements, goals, constraints, and priorities of the project. Next, trade studies are performed to understand alternative solutions to develop a detailed design for the system. In many cases, interacting subsystems strongly affect one another and DRA finds a balanced solution that optimizes system performances and cost as part of these trade studies. The system design is partitioned into the appropriate engineering disciplines needed to produce a prototype. A prototype of the design is implemented and tested through unit, subsystem, and system level testing. Ultimately, the performance of the system is validated by demonstrating the system in a relevant environment. The customer is involved throughout the process to ensure the implementation of an efficient, effective and high-quality solution.

DRA has developed a Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL) with both custom software and hardware to enable hardware/software integration testing in a static free and environmentally controlled workspace. Work surfaces are covered with properly grounded anti-static mats, the lab has its own thermostat and HVAC system. Custom computers were built that have the ability to either record live sensor data, or playback previously recorded sensor data.

DRA has extensive experience developing models and simulations of real-world problems such as:

Digital Twin is a virtual model which can be simple as a representation of projectile motion or a culmination of multiple simultaneous physical phenomena. The primary goal of modeling is to inexpensively, safely, and quickly iterate potential solutions to the system being modeled. The benefits of creating and using virtual models include: better research and development for creating the most optimal solution, lower maintenance costs as issues are predicted and corrected before production, and safely performing system scenarios. DRA uses digital twins, models and simulations where possible to produce the best solution.

Under NATO research program, DRA developed multi-physics models for electro-mechanical systems subject to external gravitational and aerodynamics forces. With the integration of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and computer aided designs (CAD), DRA generated artificial image distributions of UASs to be used in training counter-UAS (CUAS) detection algorithms under DARPA. Along with this, DRA has implemented system physical models for real-time hardware-in-the-loop testing of aircraft components.

DRA has extensive experience building novel model-based algorithm designs using Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, and other optimization techniques. DRA engineers can develop quantitative problem descriptions and model the problems in a meaningful way. Engineers can then evaluate multiple approaches to solving the problem while analyzing tradeoffs between computational constraints and performance requirements. Using a spiral design approach, iterative lessons learned are used to shape concepts into algorithms that provide the best solutions. This approach has assisted DRA in developing algorithms to solve challenging problems in the following areas:

DRA has the experience to develop the right software solution for your project needs. Embedded systems using real-time operating systems (RTOS) or desktop Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), DRA has broad experience in all aspects of software development. DRA can apply the following software languages, tools, techniques, and standards to ensure a successful result:

DRA has diverse software experience through project development in the DoD and commercial sectors. DRA uses a spiral development approach in developing complex multi-box systems communicating over custom interfaces. DRA has also developed software following documented standards such as FACE and VICTORY.

The variety of software development tools available allows DRA to choose the best ones for the job. Recent examples include:

• Qt Designer and Python were used to create GUI-based tools for testing, analysis and simulations.
• A multi-tasking detection and tracking application was developed using VxWorks and C/C++
• Designers used PetaLinux and Python-based libraries to create HTTP browser-based graphical control interfaces for RFSoC and MPSoC.

DRA’s expertise in passive and active remote sensor development allows DRA to design and simulate custom Electro-Optical solutions for specialized sensing challenges. As part of the optical design process, DRA employs the following tools and techniques:

DRA can generate build to print spec sheets for optical fabrication vendors, who verify performance and manufacturability. DRA’s designs demonstrate great control over optical aberrations and imaging performance over a wide set of wavelength, field of view and package limited scenarios.

Most optical sensor development goes through testing in DRA’s Optics Lab, which supports testing via free space optics, diffractive elements, filters, fiber-optics, lasers, a monochromator, an integration sphere and various photodetectors, cameras, sources and test targets for evaluating image quality and performance. DRA follows the EMVA1288 international standard for evaluating sensors.

DRA offers comprehensive Hardware Design Services with leading edge expertise in Xilinx Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Multiprocessor System-on-Chip (MPSoC), and Radio Frequency System-on-Chip (RFSoC) technologies. The digital team uses the following tools and techniques including the latest technologies from Xilinx and third parties for code generation, simulation, and hardware-in-the-loop testing:

DRA can translate and optimize customer provided C/C++ and MATLAB algorithms into FPGA parallel-processing architectures to support real-time processing needs. DRA can provide turnkey hardware solutions that leverage Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) development boards, or design custom electronics as needed such as backplanes and FPGA, MPSoC, and RFSoC processing board and modules.

DRA has a proven background in developing custom MPSoC software and FPGA firmware for numerous applications that include compact Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) image processing systems, portable laser detection systems, and large-scale, ground-based Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR) systems.

DRA services provide product support and related services to enable our customers to develop and enact sound and effective product support strategies. Through collaborations with stakeholders, customers can rely on DRA to provide optimal solutions and mitigation strategies to problems and challenges presented throughout the product lifecycle. Employees use the following expertise to cover both DoD hardware and software platforms and systems:

Many projects have physical requirements and constraints which need to be considered in the overall system design. DRA’s engineers apply mechanical models during development to understand the physical interdependencies of the components and to ensure a successful build of the product. DRA utilizes the following tools and techniques to aid in the mechanical design process:

SolidWorks provides solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) capabilities. 3-D renderings are produced, along with animations to evaluate the form-fit-function of a design prior to manufacturing. This includes taking industry standards STEP files from commercial products all the way to DRA custom OrCard PCB board layouts and incorporating them into an integrated design. DRA uses established procedures for the conversion of 3-D renderings into 2-D mechanical diagrams to support the manufacturing process. Partnerships with local machine shops as well as working relationships with additive manufacturing companies produce everything from rapid prototypes to high-quality, low-cost, custom fabricated solutions.