The Draper Scholars Program emphasizes empowering students in 16 key research areas to make the greatest impact. We encourage applicants to align their research with these topics.
Digital Engineering
Digital Engineering (DE) leverages model-based engineering and information technology infrastructure with the goal of establishing a complete digital representation of a system for all uses throughout the system’s life cycle. Draper is working to more fully incorporate DE across many engineering domains, from mechanical and electrical design through system-level modeling and simulation including software, hardware, and human-in-the-loop design and testing, and for biotechnology-based systems.
Technical Point of Contact
Research Interests
Digital Engineering and Artificial Intelligence
Interest areas include more efficient methods for developing digital system representations and to expand models into more complex areas such as hypersonic vehicle applications and digital twins. We are interested in the use of Artificial Intelligence along with digital system representations. Of particular interest is bridging multiple sources of truth using data integrator technology, providing semantic and syntactic interoperability across model-based engineering domains.
Trade Space Exploration
Draper is interested in R&D innovations in trade space exploration that includes rapid generation of representative mission and system environment models, as well as cost models for development, production, and sustainment.
Offensive Cyber Security
Draper provides hardened-electronic capabilities for applications ranging from quantum computing, spacecraft hardware, safety critical systems, secure systems, and avionics. Engineering solutions need to encompass mission critical, high reliability electronics for the harshest environments including high temperature and radiation. Full lifecycle efforts executed at Draper address these challenges by implementing advanced PCBs, MEMS, multi-chip modules, system-on-chip, and custom ASIC designs for: analog, digital, mixed-signal and RF components.
Adversarial Mission Simulation Environments
It is one thing to develop a system to operate in benign and uncontested mission conditions. Draper is interested in R&D concepts to efficiently and effectively include harsh and contested environment representations into analysis, design, and test simulations.
AI and Systems Engineering
Draper is interested in the use of rapidly advancing AI/ML capabilities to aid the Systems Engineering process. In particular, we are interested in the use of Large Language Models along with the use of SysML V2 to accelerate development timelines.
Have Any Questions?
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