Summary
Proven Track Record in National Security
RPRC’s Research Drives Advancements that Enable Competitive Edge.
Mason’s Rapid Prototyping Research Center was established to further advance research and innovation development that requires accelerated processes combined with specialized expertise to meet national security and defense objectives. RPRC, working in conjunction with our other research affiliates and technology partners has created a proven and repeatable technology development program, uniting engineers, students, mentors, and technology vendors to deliver rapid and resilient solutions.
Eric Vollmecke is the Director of RPRC.
OnAir Post: RPRC -Rapid Prototyping Research Center
News
George Mason University’s College of Engineering and Computing Rapid Prototype Research Center (RPRC) successfully completed a demonstration of an advanced heavy-lift autonomous aircraft called UAS-(L) at Fort Pickett, Virginia.
The K-MAX® helicopter, made by Kaman Corporation of Bloomfield, Connecticut, was outfitted with an automation system and actuators to control the aircraft (the system is named TITAN UAV aerial system). The UAS-(L) autonomous vertical-lift helicopter system demonstration was sponsored and supported by the US Airforce Research Laboratory (AFRL) and by the US Navy’s NAVAIR division.
“The successful UAS-(L) demonstration has shown that autonomous heavy-lift helicopters can conduct logistics and reconnaissance missions in front line areas eliminating the risk to helicopter pilots, while maximizing mission flexibility. We are very excited about this new technology, and we look forward to working with the Navy and Marines to move it into a transition-able form,” says Eric Vollmecke, Maj. General USAF (ret), director of Mason’s RPRC. GMU RPRC is the Prime contractor for the program providing program management, systems engineering and integration expertise, and engineering-based modeling and simulation services for the program. “The KMAX program, yet again, demonstrates that the GMU RPRC can successfully deliver rapid prototyping of advanced systems and capabilities for DOD in the C4I and autonomy areas,” commented Art Pyster, Associate Dean, GMU College of Engineering and Computing.
The K-MAX® aircraft can carry up to 6,000 lbs. of payload as a sling load and the TITAN UAV aerial system variant can carry up to 4,500 lbs. of payload. An autonomy system, called Peregrine, made by Near Earth Autonomy, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was integrated with the TITAN UAV aerial system to control the aircraft at take-off and approach for delivery of a payload to a remote location and return to base, without operator or pilot input. The system uses a laser radar sensor (LIDAR) for ‘visualization’ of the surroundings. That sensor data, in conjunction with other aircraft sensors, allows the autonomy system to make decisions on obstacle avoidance, drop zone evaluation, drop zone sling-load placement, landing zone evaluation, and safe landing areas. In its final form, the UAS-(L) system can take off from a location and according to a mission plan, fly autonomously to a forward location, deliver supplies, and then return to base.
Also demonstrated, was a W-band collision avoidance radar system, produced by Pacific Antenna Systems, of Camarillo, California, and their subcontractor Maxentric of Fort Lee, New Jersey. During the demonstration, the radar discerned small targets such as a power line and an 18-inch tethered drone while the K-MAX® aircraft was airborne. The W-Band radar, due to its extremely high operating frequency of 94 GHz, can detect very small objects even in the presence of significant ground clutter, providing a capability to ‘see’ objects that could be hazards or threats to the aircraft even when visibility is poor.
Finally, a beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) Ka-Band satellite terminal was successfully demonstrated, carrying high-definition video, and supporting data rates up to four Mbps from the aircraft to a surrogate satellite to a local ground terminal. The compact antenna which measures about 30 inches in diameter has a gain of 40 dBi making it the smallest mobile Ka-Band high-gain satellite terminal in existence. The terminal was tested with its transmissions being interrupted by the K-MAX® dual intermeshing rotor system which was just feet away from the antenna aperture—without disruption of the signal. The antenna is designed to be compatible with military satellites such as the Wideband Gap Filler (WGS) system or with some small modifications to operate over commercial Ka-Band satellite systems. The advance airborne satellite system weighs 52 lbs., and it is made by Pacific Antenna Systems of Camarillo, California.
The demonstration was supported by UAV-Pro of Blackstone, VA, who provided independent, third-party safety and all of the on-site logistics support and coordination at the U.S. Army’s Fort Pickett Installation.
RPRC is an applied research center that focuses on systems engineering, systems integration, program management, and military transition of advanced technologies. Located in Springfield, Virginia, the RPRC is near many federal agencies and works primarily with the U.S. military including the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Air Force.
Kaman Aerospace Corporation conducts business in the aerospace & defense, industrial and medical markets. Kaman produces and markets proprietary aircraft bearings and components; super precision, miniature ball bearings; proprietary spring energized seals, springs and contacts; complex metallic and composite aerostructures for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft; safe and arming solutions for missile and bomb systems for the U.S. and allied militaries; subcontract helicopter work; restoration, modification and support of our SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters; manufacture and support of our K-MAX® manned and unmanned medium-to-heavy lift helicopters
Near Earth Autonomy, Inc. develops solutions for manufacturers and users of low-flying aircraft. The Company produces a suite of tools to enable partial automation of aircraft. Its application areas include industrial inspection and cargo delivery.
Pacific Antenna Systems designs antennas from 1 to 100GHz. PAS specializes in R&D and rapid prototyping.
MaXentric Technologies, LLC, is an advanced research, development, and consulting company with a portfolio of technologies that service both commercial and government markets working on several components of the next generation of mobile platforms.
UAV Pro is a small business located in Blackstone, VA specializing in unmanned systems safety, target development, and presentation, as well as logistics support at Military installations throughout the United States.
About
Advancing Research through Rapid Capability Integration
George Mason’s Rapid Prototyping Research Center (RPRC) operates under Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing (CEC). The center supports independent academic research for the DoD and other agencies with a focus on rapid prototyping & fielding of new and developing technologies into existing national infrastructure to solve intractable problems while minimizing cost and time, delivering enhanced capabilities and value within a framework for enabling our nation’s competitive advantage.
The RPRC focuses on providing its Department of Defense sponsors a unique perspective on rapid prototyping that aligns with Section 804 in the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act. Specifically, rather than developing a new system to satisfy intractable problems on the battlefield, the RPRC integrates new technology into existing infrastructure while maintaining overall mission resiliency . This unique approach reduces acquisition costs since the sustainment tail is in place. It also reduces the time to field intractable solutions to the battlefield from 10-14 to 1-3 years and provides assurance that the prototype involved is integrated with the latest technology, not dated technology due to lengthy acquisition delivery timelines.
Our Mission
Advance Research through Rapid Capability
Our Focus
Warfighter Operations Advancements that Improve Overall Mission Efficiency
Our Vision
Capabilities and Value within a Framework of Enabling our Nation’s Competitive Advantage
Our Strategy
Take New and Innovative Technologies, Contextualize for Mission Success
The RPRC Team
Bringing new and innovative technologies to defense operations takes leading industry experts and the RPRC proven process to transform those technologies that benefit homeland security and warfighter objectives.
Mason’s RPRC team consists of a recognized and unique blend of talent that spans several government and commercial market sectors with impressive depth of experience in their areas of expertise.
This mix of academic leaders, scientists, engineers, and industry experts enables RPRC to deliver technology to our sponsors that consistently exceed expectations and timelines
RPRC Contract Vehicles
Mason’s RPRC contract vehicles enable us to serve our sponsors through partnership with the following organizations to further address their needs through use of government-based services contracts and administrative services. Mason has served as prime, and subcontractor on many contracts.
Contact
Email: Center
Locations
George Mason University
Rapid Prototyping Research Center
College of Engineering and Computing
4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: (571) 396-0400
Web Links
Areas of Expertise
Areas of Expertise and Active Mission Research
Rapid Prototyping of Technologies that Bring Efficiency to Defense and Mission Objectives
Bringing new and innovative technologies to Defense Operations takes industry experts and the RPRC proven process to transform them that benefit homeland security and warfighter. The GMU RPRC team consists of recognized and unique blend of talent that spans several government and commercial entities, and have applied our expertise in the following areas of defense and mission objectives
Advanced Waveforms, Antennas, and Radios
New antenna technologies have major advances in protocols and efficient utilization of RF spectrums creating great opportunities for both commercial and military applications in wireless communications. Fully integrated direct radiating radio arrays can now include hundreds of transceiver and antenna elements.
RPRC has extensive expertise in both basic and applied research in the design and development of Phased Array Antennas emerging waveforms to include Ku-Band, Ka-Band, W-Band, 5G, and Free Space Optics frequencies. This includes research and development of both hardware and software systems for advanced and multiple communication protocols and systems. RPRC research has emphasized digital beamforming, null steering, and Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) development for airborne and space-borne vehicular communication systems.
Aircraft Autonomy and Advanced Navigations
With the advancements in Radar and AI, aircraft manufacturers, autonomous applications developers, FAA, and RPRC sponsors have begun to recognize the reality of autonomy in aviation and pilot-less navigation.
RPRC brings extensive experience with aircraft autonomy through our integration of W-Band and Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technologies that enables UAV helicopters to operate autonomously near obstacles, along with unassisted takeoff and landings
RPRC utilization of W-Band radar technology augments both Unmanned and Manned flights to provide detection of very small objects, like drones, or power lines. W-Band, when coupled with AI, and tracking capabilities, can save lives, through advanced collision avoidance, something current Radar technology is unable to provide.
RPRC’s intelligence of spatial awareness is provided through research with LIDAR in conjunction with AI, provides awareness of environmental conditions, giving you high resolution obstacle avoidance, and decision support during takeoff and landing, whether with manned or unmanned flights.
RPRC’s autonomy brings a world-class test team that ensures demonstration planning, execution, and success to aircraft manufacturers, commercial and military sponsors.
Cyber Resilience
Resilience is the “ability to respond, absorb and adapt to, as well as recover in a disruptive event.” An organization has cyber resilience if it can defend itself and limit the effects of a security incident while guaranteeing continuity of operation through management of risk. Thus cybersecurity and risk management have evolved into an essential element of any organization’s information assurance activity. The challenge is to realize and identify vulnerabilities, and develop processes for managing data privacy and security/operational risks that include information security categorization, control selection, assessment, and implementation.
RPRC, working closely with George Mason University’s award-winning Cyber Engineering Program, conducts basic and applied research in all areas of Defensive Cyber and development of secure wireless communications systems. Through our independent and academic partners programs, RPRC has extensive cyber resilience experience in designing systems with embedded cyber security and streamlining the cyber approval processes in, for example, the DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF) process.
Virtual Network Management and Cloud Services
Virtualization has redefined the cyber domain, particularly in the area of networking, facilitating the ability reach across and replicate physical architectures with ease. Albeit highly effective, this capability introduces new challenges to IT administrators to include ownership conflicts between network and server administrators, management/monitoring of virtual and cloud network traffic, and overall network control found with physical hardware such as switches, routers and firewalls. Virtual networking is the foundation for cloud architectures and applications, as it enables the ability to access, connect, secure, and modify cloud resources.
RPRC has proven basic and applied research in virtualization of all aspects of network management and edge cloud computing with specialization in airborne prototypes and 5G-like technologies. RPRC’s research also includes “all-cloud-to-the-edge” with emerging Cloud technologies and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.
Cognitive Networking and Artificial Intelligence
Cognitive Networks and Artificial Intelligence (AI) allows users to empower their systems to make proactive decisions based on current and perceived future conditions. Proactive network management provides significant benefits to our sponsors in terms of security, assured uptime, and network management efficiency and costs. Autonomy improves automation to allow devices/platforms to assess a situation and based upon constraints take the best course of action.
RPRC’s research in Cognitive Networking and related algorithms crosses all areas of AI with emphasis on command and control communications and networking. RPRC has a proven track record of demonstrated capabilities through multiple airborne prototype efforts. In addition RPRC is working aircraft/drone autonomy for example in assessment of a landing area for obstacle avoidance and best are to land.
RF Engineering, Modeling and Simulation
RPRC’s basic and applied research and engineering in emerging RF technologies employs the latest RF Modeling and Simulation tools to ensure successful prototype demonstrations.
Our Engineering and Modeling creates a rapid virtual representation of real-world Radio Frequency (RF) systems that enables software and hardware development and analysis.
RPRC’s process creates instant value through our ability to create complete RF system simulation versus component level testing and prototypes alone. The result for our sponsors is improved quality and expedited system design, thereby reducing post-design efforts.
Partners
Technology Partners
Mason’s RPRC has partnered with defense industry leaders along with emerging technology providers to create a consortium of expertise across a wide range of solution providers. This partnership allows to meet our sponsors demands for the rapid transformation of technology from concept to prototype innovations in the areas of advanced communications, command and control, cybersecurity, network/cloud management, and Artificial Intelligence.
Kaman Corporation conducts business in the aerospace & defense, industrial and medical markets. Kaman is the producer of the K-MAX® manned and unmanned medium-to-heavy lift helicopters. Learn More
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. For 35 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments around the world communicate. Learn More
Near Earth’s technology allows aircraft to autonomously take-off, fly, and land safely, with or without GPS. Their solutions enable aerial mobility and inspection applications for partners in the commercial and defense sectors. Learn More
MaXentric Technologies is an advanced research, development, and consulting company with focus on next generation mobile platforms. Learn More
CSCI supports the Dept of Defense to manage risk. CSCI provides training, network & systems engineering, & systems administration to strengthen military security & cybersecurity. Learn More
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) Group is a global leader in the research, design, and manufacture of first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems for critical defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide. Learn More
Scaled Composites is an American aerospace company that develop experimental aircraft, the company now focuses on designing and developing concept craft and prototype fabrication processes for aircraft and other vehicles. Learn More
Raytheon Solipsys is an industry leader in the development of integrated Command and Control (C2) Network-Centric solutions for the Domestic and International DoD and Homeland Security.Learn More
Edgewater Computer Systems specializes in the architecture design and engineering of real-time high-performance multiprocessor systems for all phases of the development life cycle with recognized expertise in HW/SW specification, theory, analysis, modeling, and simulation. Learn More
Coastal Helicopter has over 100 years of combined experience in maintenance, overhaul and parts support for both commercial and DoD aircraft. Learn More
Pacific Antenna Systems (PAS) utilizes state of the art computer electromagnetic modeling and simulation tools to design elegant and affordable antenna systems for communications, SATCOM, radar, and high power microwave/EW applications. Learn More
The Boeing Company is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide, along with leasing and product support services. Learn More
(TUG) is a customer focused system engineering and software development company dedicated to providing innovative and cost-effective solutions. Learn more
Cubic is a technology-driven, market-leading provider of integrated solutions that increase situational understanding for transportation, defense C4ISR and training customers worldwide to decrease urban congestion and improve the militaries’ effectiveness and operational readiness. Learn more
UAV Pro is comprised of highly experienced personnel with a proven track record of exemplary achievements with unmanned vehicles. UAV Pro assists partners in achieving their program goals by providing operations, engineering and training support personnel on a contract or in-house basis. Learn More
Airborne Imaging is among the most experienced in the world at Research & Development flight programs. With more than 40,000 combined flight hours, their pilots, supported by their seasoned maintenance and support staff are committed to the success of each and every mission. Learn More
Ultra Electronics, Advanced Tactical Systems specializes in designing, manufacturing and supporting tactical command and control systems, subsystems and products for defense and homeland security applications worldwide. Learn More
Fuse supplies innovative communications, networking, and computing solutions that improve the sharing of information, video, text, and voice among warfighters distributed throughout the airborne, maritime, and ground environments. Learn More
FIRST RF is an advanced technologies company specializing in antennas and radio frequency systems, and has become an industry leader in the development and delivery of affordable, high-quality antenna and RF systems products. Learn More
Fregata Systems provides communications flight testing services to the US Government via government contracting vehicles. Fregata provides a line of business to provide advanced communication architecture services. Learn More
Assurance Technology Corporation is a leader in the design, development, delivery and support of Advanced RF, Optical, Processing and Power Systems key to space, avionics, shipboard and terrestrial operations in support of the US Military, NASA, NOAA and the commercial sector. Learn More
Academic Partners
WORKING TOGETHER TO ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY
GMU’s RPRC is a member of a broad community of Mason’s research centers, each having a specific focus and expertise, the combination of which creates a homogenous entity for the advancement of technologies that address homeland security, global defense, and societal needs as a whole.
The Cyber Security Engineering Department is focused on academics and research for the cyber security engineering of integrated cyber-physical systems. The department prepares students with a foundation in cyber security engineering, and is most appropriate for students with a strong mathematics and science background. Learn More
Mason’s Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA) is focused on connecting our world class research community with other communities to engage in cutting edge work to shape the future of our digital society, promoting equality, wellbeing, security and prosperity. Learn More
Mason’s Center for Secure Information Systems (CSIS) provides a dedicated environment to encourage the development of expertise in both the theoretical and applied aspects of information systems security. CSIS emphasis on information security makes it unique among the institutions of higher learning in this country. Learn More
Mason’s Center for Assurance Research and Engineering (CARE) CARE’s multidisciplinary approach to cybersecurity encompasses the fields of technology, policy, business and leadership. Through partnerships with government and private industry, our innovative research is translated into practices and policies used in real-word settings. Learn More
The Center for Infrastructure Protection and Homeland Security (CIP/HS) conducts comprehensive analyses and research to improve the safety and security of the United States and its allies across all critical infrastructure sectors. Learn More
The National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School aims to be the intellectual powerhouse supporting a robust American national security posture—dedicated to incorporating a realistic assessment of the threats facing the United States and finding real-world answers to hard national security questions and providing them to policymakers in way they can easily consume. Learn More
The Criminal Investigations and Network Analysis Center (CINA), is a multidisciplinary academic consortium led by George Mason University that pursues innovative strategies and solutions to advance criminal network analysis, forensics, and investigative processes. CINA researchers are developing tools and technologies, as well as innovative educational and training solutions to advance our nation’s abilities to counter transnational criminal activities. Learn More
