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Advancing technology for national security
Joining forces to maintain the United States’ tech leadership
As the contest for global leadership in emerging technologies heats up, our country’s national security and international stability is at stake as the U.S. strives to maintain its technological leadership. To help the U.S. stay ahead of the technological curve, Arizona State University develops and advances emerging technologies such as microelectronics, quantum computing and artificial intelligence for accelerating speed to market. As ASU’s hub for defense research and development, Global Security Initiative matches the university’s unique capabilities with Department of Defense mission needs.
The future of wireless communications
ASU’s Center for Wireless Information Systems and Computation Architectures (WISCA) places the university at the research and development nexus of the next revolution in wireless communications and sensing systems. WISCA works across the research space: basic theory, novel system concepts, advanced algorithms, new advanced computing architectures, implementations and experimental validation. It provides the underlying technology for a wide range of applications, such as autonomous air and ground vehicles, multifunction low-cost satellites, next-generation communications systems and many more.
Among its projects, WISCA recently received a grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to help develop low-cost, high-speed, configurable optical data links that connect low Earth orbit satellites with each other and their earthbound proprietors from either the military, government, corporate or private sectors. WISCA is the only university research center recipient of a Space-BACN (or Space-Based Adaptive Communications Node) project, with the others going to major corporations.
Quantum information science and engineering
ASU’s Quantum Collaborative is a major 21st century initiative poised to bring new discoveries and applications in advanced quantum information science and engineering. By introducing new types of computational, communication and sensory capability, quantum technologies will upgrade entire industries while improving data security for society and enhancing global competitiveness.
ASU’s Quantum Collaborative aims to promote understanding, forge academic and industry partnerships to advance innovation, and ensure the emergence of a highly diverse and well-trained quantum workforce.
Quantum Collaborative industry partners include IBM, Dell Technologies, Quantinuum, Google
Quantum AI, SandboxAQ and CR8DL. Academic partners include Purdue University, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Virginia Tech and The University of Texas at San Antonio. Beyond industry and academic organizations, ASU has partnered with the Quantum Economic Development Consortium and other major research organizations, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Internationally, the Quantum Collaborative is working with The University of New South Wales through the ASU PLuS Alliance and organizations across Netherlands, Germany and Japan.
Microelectronics
Diminishing microelectronics manufacturing in the United States and supply chain disruptions pose national economic and security risks because virtually every military and commercial system relies on microelectronics. Addressing the need for secure microelectronics sources, ASU’s Secure, Trusted, and Assured Microelectronics (STAM) Center investigates new technologies and methodologies to offer opportunities for designing secure computing devices and systems, targeting applications of national security importance. Meanwhile, DARPA has funded two advanced computing projects, both of which are producing reimagined “chips” or microprocessors — one that provides an alternative processing pathway for greater power efficiency and another that improves mobile and satellite communications — at ASU’s Center for Wireless Information Systems and Computational Architectures (WISCA).
Securing the cyber frontier
From data breaches to ransomware groups shutting down national pipelines, there are near-daily headlines about cybersecurity attacks. To help address the long-term cybersecurity challenges facing the nation and the world, ASU’s Center for Cybersecurity and Trusted Foundations (CTF)
aims to keep infrastructures, users and their data safe. CTF does this by closely coupling the center’s large-scale research portfolio with novel, hands-on education opportunities for a pipeline of learners at varying levels of experience, alongside entrepreneurial efforts to ensure new cybersecurity techniques are able to transition from the lab into use.
Technology as a trusted teammate
Humans are increasingly working together with synthetic agents, both robotic and softwarebased, to carry out essential national security functions, and yet helping people and technology collaborate well is no easy feat. ASU’s Center for Human, Artificial Intelligence, and Robot Teaming (CHART), a unit of the Global Security Initiative, is providing much-needed research on everything from how these teams communicate verbally and nonverbally, to how to coordinate swarms of robots, to how they can effectively collaborate on space exploration missions. While the role of artificial intelligence is increasing in military, government and private sectors, people working with these systems may have low trust in them. An ASU Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency (CAOE) team is working to address that concern by testing a tool that could help government and industry identify and develop trustworthy AI technology.
Creating resilient energy systems
Renewable energy and storage — including solar, wind, bio-based and geothermal technologies; advanced energy storage; electronic engines and power grid integration — add resilience and flexibility to DOD operations. ASU’s Laboratory for Energy and Power Solutions (LEAPS) assisted the Marine Corps Installations Command in understanding problems and developing solutions related to base resiliency in the areas of energy, food, water, communications and mobility. LEAPS creates technical and business solutions that facilitate the global transition to a resilient lowcarbon economy. It takes energy innovations from concept to construction with a focus on energy access, microgrids, grid modernization, resilient infrastructure and workforce development. Inside its one-acre microgrid test bed and computational laboratory, simulation-based design is combined with hands-on fabrication to create next-generation energy solutions.
Space technologies
A U.S. Space Force partner, ASU brings its extensive experience in space exploration, engineering and defense research to help secure the nation’s interests and maintain an advantage in space. ASU’s faculty, researchers, staff and students have participated in more than 20 space missions. The university leads two NASA space missions, Psyche and LunaH-Map, and developed and runs instruments for scientific missions to the moon, asteroids and planets. ASU scientists and engineers are advancing various projects for current and future space missions, including:
• LunaH-Map, a small, shoebox-size spacecraft built at ASU to analyze water content at the lunar south pole to set up conditions for future exploration.
• The Psyche mission, which will seek answers to how planets are formed by analyzing the metal-rich Psyche asteroid orbiting the sun between Jupiter and Mars.
• Europa Clipper, which includes the Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System built by ASU scientists and engineers to investigate Jupiter’s moon Europa.
