Charles Stark Draper Laboratory
Encyclopedia
Draper Laboratory is an American
not-for-profit research and development organization in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. Draper focuses on the design, development, and deployment of advanced technology solutions to problems in national security, space exploration, health care and energy.
Originally created as the MIT
Instrumentation Laboratory, it was founded by Dr. Charles Stark Draper
in 1932. In 1973 the Lab separated from MIT and became an independent, non-profit organization.
Draper's expertise includes the areas of guidance, navigation, and control technologies and systems; fault-tolerant computing; advanced algorithms and software solutions; modeling and simulation; and MEMS and multichip module technology.
Draper is organized into seven areas of business:
in Tampa; Draper Multichip Module Facility in St. Petersburg, Florida; Washington, DC; and Huntsville, Alabama.
A primary focus of Draper’s efforts throughout its history has been the development and early application of advanced guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) technologies to meet the U.S. Department of Defense’s and NASA
’s needs. The Laboratory’s achievements includes the design and development of the world’s most accurate and reliable guidance systems for undersea-launched ballistic missiles as well as the highly precise, ultra-reliable GN&C systems needed to guide the Apollo astronauts to the Moon and back safely to Earth. Draper’s work has contributed substantially to the development of today’s complement of precise inertial sensors, software, and ultra-reliable systems critical for precision GN&C of commercial and military aircraft, submarines, strategic and tactical missiles, spacecraft, and unmanned vehicles.
, this international prize is the engineering profession's highest honor. It is given annually for engineering achievements that have significantly impacted society by improving the quality of life, providing the ability to live freely and comfortably, and/or permitting access to information. The $500,000 prize can be awarded for achievement in any engineering discipline.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
not-for-profit research and development organization in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. Draper focuses on the design, development, and deployment of advanced technology solutions to problems in national security, space exploration, health care and energy.
Originally created as the MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
Instrumentation Laboratory, it was founded by Dr. Charles Stark Draper
Charles Stark Draper
Charles Stark Draper was an American scientist and engineer, often referred to as "the father of inertial navigation." He was the founder and director of the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory, later renamed the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, which under his direction designed and built the Apollo...
in 1932. In 1973 the Lab separated from MIT and became an independent, non-profit organization.
Draper's expertise includes the areas of guidance, navigation, and control technologies and systems; fault-tolerant computing; advanced algorithms and software solutions; modeling and simulation; and MEMS and multichip module technology.
Business areas
Draper applies its expertise to autonomous air, land, sea and space systems; information integration; distributed sensors and networks; precision-guided munitions; biomedical engineering; chemical/biological defense; and energy system modeling and management. When appropriate, Draper works with partners to transition their technology to commercial production.Draper is organized into seven areas of business:
- Strategic Systems
- Space Systems
- Tactical Systems
- Special Programs
- Biomedical Systems
- Air Warfare & ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance)
- Energy Solutions
Locations
Draper has locations in six U.S. cities: headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts; NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas; Draper Bioengineering Center at University of South FloridaUniversity of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
in Tampa; Draper Multichip Module Facility in St. Petersburg, Florida; Washington, DC; and Huntsville, Alabama.
History
Draper’s roots date to the 1930s when Dr. Charles Stark Draper created a teaching laboratory at MIT to develop the instrumentation needed to make precise measurements of angular and linear motion. The Laboratory was renamed for its founder in 1970 and remained a part of MIT until 1973 when it became an independent, not-for-profit research and development corporation.A primary focus of Draper’s efforts throughout its history has been the development and early application of advanced guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) technologies to meet the U.S. Department of Defense’s and NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
’s needs. The Laboratory’s achievements includes the design and development of the world’s most accurate and reliable guidance systems for undersea-launched ballistic missiles as well as the highly precise, ultra-reliable GN&C systems needed to guide the Apollo astronauts to the Moon and back safely to Earth. Draper’s work has contributed substantially to the development of today’s complement of precise inertial sensors, software, and ultra-reliable systems critical for precision GN&C of commercial and military aircraft, submarines, strategic and tactical missiles, spacecraft, and unmanned vehicles.
Notable innovations
- Mark 14 Gunsight - improved gunsight accuracy of anti-aircraft guns used aboard naval vessels in WWII
- SPIRE - forerunner of autopilot systems now used in commercial aviation; advanced the accuracy and safety of airplane navigation
- GEORGE — World’s first algebraic compiler
- Q-guidanceQ-guidanceQ-guidance is a method of missile guidance used in some U.S. ballistic missiles and some civilian space flights. It was developed in the 1950's by J...
equation - Apollo Guidance Computer - first deployed computer to exploit integrated circuit technology of on-board, autonomous navigation in space
- Digital Fly-by-wireFly-by-wireFly-by-wire is a system that replaces the conventional manual flight controls of an aircraft with an electronic interface. The movements of flight controls are converted to electronic signals transmitted by wires , and flight control computers determine how to move the actuators at each control...
- control system that allowed a pilot to control the aircraft without being connected mechanically to the aircraft’s control surfaces - Fault-tolerant Computing – several computers work on a task simultaneously. If any one of the computers fails, the others can take over a vital capability when the safety of an aircraft or other system is at stake.
- Micro-electromechanical (MEMS) technologies
- Autonomous systems algorithms - autonomous rendezvous and docking of spacecraft; systems for underwater vehicles
- GPS coupled with inertial navigation system - allows for continuous navigation when the vehicle or system goes into a GPS-denied environment
Draper Prize
Administered by the National Academy of EngineeringNational Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
, this international prize is the engineering profession's highest honor. It is given annually for engineering achievements that have significantly impacted society by improving the quality of life, providing the ability to live freely and comfortably, and/or permitting access to information. The $500,000 prize can be awarded for achievement in any engineering discipline.
Technical education
The support of technical education is a key element of Draper's corporate mission and is manifested at all levels of learning. The research-based Draper Laboratory Fellow Program sponsors about 50 graduate students each year. Students typically go on to leadership positions in the government, military, industry, and education. Draper also supports on-campus funded research with faculty and principal investigators through the University R&D program. Undergraduate student employment and internship opportunities are available as well.Outreach
Draper Laboratory has an extensive STEM K-12 and community outreach program that was formalized in 1984 in order to invest in the local community's quality of life. Each year, more than $175,000 is distributed through Draper’s Community Relations Programs. Priority is given to advancing engineering and science education through community educational outreach programs—including internships, co-ops, participation in science festivals and the provision of tours and speakers-is an extension of this mission.Draper in the media
Draper is often featured in a variety of local and national news outlets. The organization’s website keeps an updated list of recent headlines.See also
- Apollo Guidance ComputerApollo Guidance ComputerThe Apollo Guidance Computer provided onboard computation and control for guidance, navigation, and control of the Command Module and Lunar Module spacecraft of the Apollo program...
- Future Attribute Screening TechnologyFuture Attribute Screening TechnologyFuture Attribute Screening Technology is a program created by the Department of Homeland Security. It was originally titled Project Hostile Intent...
- Charles Stark Draper PrizeCharles Stark Draper PrizeThe National Academy of Engineering annually awards the Charles Stark Draper Prize, which is given for the advancement of engineering and the education of the public about engineering. It is one of three prizes that constitute the "Nobel Prizes of Engineering" - the others being the Academy's Russ...
External links
- Draper Laboratory
- MIT and the Pentagon (TimeTime (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine, 1969) - Draper Prize