Advanced Technology > Autonomous Control & Intelligent System (ACIS)

The Autonomous Control and Intelligent Systems Division at ARL has extensive experience in all aspects of fully autonomous and manual systems. This is embodied in the four departments within the division:
  • The Embedded Systems and Technology Department
  • The Intelligent Control Systems Department addresses the tactical and mission control of the systems once the signals have been processed. This includes development of technology for autonomous unmanned vehicles, including UUVs, UAVs, USVs, and UGVs.
  • The Intelligent Sytems Lab
  • The Operations Research Department
  • The Signal Processing Department conducts all of the sensor and signal processing and research associated with these systems. The department's long term goal is to provide underwater weapon system designers with a means of testing broadband signals and signal processing algorithms in shallow ocean scenarios where time and frequency (T/F) spread are often significant. This capability is required for sonar signal processing optimization and wideband signal and processor design

ACIS Capabilities - An illustrative view of the capabilities within ACIS

ACIS has developed simulated and real-time systems with advanced processing and control technologies that range from unmanned underwater vehicles, ship-board automation, unmanned air vehicles, medical advisory systems, fault recognition capabilities, and more.

ACIS has proven capabilities in acoustic and non-acoustic sensors, waveform design, navigation, embedded systems, system integration, systems analysis, at-sea testing, system simulations, and data analysis. ACIS supports improvements to Navy surface ships, submarines, and unmanned off-board systems and has extensive experience in guidance, navigation, and control of unmanned systems.

Areas of Expertise

  • Sonar Engineering
  • Acoustic Sensors
  • Non-acoustic Sensor
  • Signal Processing (see TAB above)
  • Detection/Classification Theory
  • Tracking Algorithms
  • Intelligent Control (see TAB above)
  • Navigation
  • Auto Pilots and Vehicle Control
  • Guidance Laws and Tactics
  • Embedded Real-Time Software
  • Real-Time Signal Processing Architectures
  • COTS Hardware and Software
  • Computer-Aided Software Engineering
  • Digital Simulation and Analysis
  • Systems Integration
  • Multi-Sensor Data Fusion
  • Non-Linear Control
  • Rapid Prototyping