Real-Time Innovations (RTI), the leading software framework company for autonomous systems, has announced that it has been awarded a $1.25M contract by AFWERX to enhance RTI Connext for Air Force cybersecurity. This contract is part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II program and aims to address the critical challenges faced by the Department of the Air Force (DAF).
In this project, RTI will focus on leveraging the semantic level information available within the OMG Data Distribution Service (DDS) communications protocol to develop a deeper understanding of data movement and activities within a network. By harnessing this information, RTI aims to enhance threat and anomaly detection capabilities, enabling more efficient and targeted responses to cyber-attacks, equipment failures, and human errors.
The increasing cyber threats faced by defense and industrial networks make this research crucial for building more secure systems. Dr. Paul Pazandak, Director of Research at RTI, emphasizes the significance of the project in leveraging data-centric networking to strengthen security. The additional funding will enable RTI to explore advanced concepts in three-dimensional visualization of distributed systems, as well as semantic level threat analysis and response frameworks. This research will benefit both commercial and defense sectors.
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process, facilitating faster proposal-to-award timelines and expanding opportunities for small businesses. The RTI contract is a result of the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program initiated by the DAF in 2018 to fund a wider range of innovations.
RTI, known for its expertise in developing intelligent distributed systems, is committed to ensuring the success of its customers in deploying production systems. With over 2,000 designs and its software being utilized in various industries, RTI’s technology powers autonomous vehicle programs, controls major power plants, facilitates combat management on U.S. Navy ships, supports medical robotics, enables flying cars, and provides vital intelligence for hospitals and emergency medicine.
The company specializes in developing products compliant with the Object Management Group (OMG) Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, setting the industry benchmark. Privately held and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, RTI also has regional offices in Colorado, Spain, and Singapore.
The collaboration between RTI and AFWERX will contribute to strengthening the national defense of the United States of America. As RTI embarks on this journey, it aims to create innovative capabilities that address the evolving challenges in cybersecurity and enhance the nation’s defense ecosystem.
For more information on RTI’s advanced research activities, visit the official RTI website.
About Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL):
AFRL is the leading organization overseeing the planning and execution of science and technology programs for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. With a worldwide coalition comprising government, industry, and academia, AFRL is at the forefront of discovering, developing, and delivering revolutionary technologies. Its mission is to equip air, space, and cyberspace forces with cutting-edge capabilities. AFRL employs approximately 10,800 military, civilian, and contractor personnel across 17 research sites, managing an annual budget of $4 billion.
For more information, please visit the AFRL website.
About AFWERX:
AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force (DAF), functions as a directorate within AFRL. Its primary focus is to bring the ingenuity of American small businesses and start-ups to address the most critical challenges faced by the DAF. AFWERX employs around 215 military, civilian, and contractor personnel across five hubs and sites, managing an annual budget of $1.4 billion. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed more than 4,671 contracts worth over $2 billion, boosting the U.S. defense industrial base and facilitating rapid technology transition to operational capability.
For more information, please visit the AFWERX website.
