Editing Draper Laboratory (section)

==Notable projects==
[[File:USS George Washington (SSBN-598) underway at sea, circa in the 1970s.jpg|thumb|The {{USS|George Washington|SSBN-598}} relied on inertial navigation while submerged and its [[UGM-27 Polaris]] missiles relied on inertial guidance to find their targets.]]

Project areas that have surfaced in the news referred to Draper Laboratory's core expertise in [[inertial navigation]], as recently as 2003. More recently, emphasis has shifted to research in innovative space navigation topics, intelligent systems that rely on sensors and computers to make autonomous decisions, and nano-scale medical devices.

===Inertial navigation===
The laboratory staff has studied ways to integrate input from [[Global Positioning System]] (GPS) into [[Inertial navigation system]]-based navigation in order to lower costs and improve reliability. Military inertial navigation systems (INS) cannot totally rely on GPS satellite availability for course correction (which is necessitated by gradual error growth or "drift"), because of the threat of hostile blocking or jamming of signal. A less accurate inertial system usually means a less costly system, but one that requires more frequent recalibration of position from another source, like GPS. Systems which integrate GPS with INS are classified as "loosely coupled" (pre-1995), "tightly coupled" (1996-2002), or "deeply integrated" (2002 onwards), depending on the degree of integration of the hardware.<ref name="Schmidt">{{cite journal| last =Schmidt| first =G.| author2 =Phillips, R.| title =INS/GPS Integration Architectures| journal =NATO RTO Lecture| volume =Advances in Navigation Sensors and Integration Technology| issue =232| pages =5-1–5-15| publisher =NATO| date =October 2003| url =http://ftp.rta.nato.int/public/PubFullText/RTO/EN/RTO-EN-SET-064/EN-SET-064-05.pdf| access-date =2013-12-28| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234614/http://ftp.rta.nato.int/public/PubFullText/RTO/EN/RTO-EN-SET-064/EN-SET-064-05.pdf| archive-date =2013-12-30}}</ref> {{As of|2006}}, it was envisioned that many military and civilian uses would integrate GPS with INS, including the possibility of artillery shells with a deeply integrated system that can withstand 20,000 [[g-force|g]], when fired from a cannon.<ref name = "NATO"/>

===Space navigation===
[[File:STS-134 International Space Station after undocking.jpg|thumb|right|The operation of the [[International Space Station]] employs several Draper Laboratory technologies.]]
In 2010 Draper Laboratory and MIT collaborated with two other partners as part of the Next Giant Leap team to win a grant towards achieving the [[Google Lunar X Prize]] send the first privately funded robot to the Moon. To qualify for the prize, the robot must travel 500 meters across the lunar surface and transmit video, images and other data back to Earth. A team developed a "Terrestrial Artificial Lunar and Reduced Gravity Simulator" to simulate operations in the space environment, using Draper Laboratory's guidance, navigation and control algorithm for reduced gravity.<ref name = "Talaris">{{cite web| last = Klamper| first = Amy| title = Draper, MIT Students Test Lunar Hopper with Eyes on Prize| publisher = Space News| date = 13 April 2011| url = http://www.spacenews.com/article/draper-mit-students-test-lunar-hopper-eyes-prize| access-date = 2013-12-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Wall| first = Mike| title = Coming Soon: Hopping Moon Robots for Private Lunar Landing| publisher = Space.com| date = 27 January 2011| url = http://www.space.com/10705-private-moon-hopping-robots-funding.html| access-date = 2013-12-24 }}</ref>

In 2012, Draper Laboratory engineers in [[Houston]], Texas developed a new method for turning the [[International Space Station]], called the "optimal propellant maneuver", which achieved a 94 percent savings over previous practice. The algorithm takes into account everything that affects how the station moves, including "the position of its thrusters and the effects of gravity and gyroscopic torque".<ref name = "ISS">{{cite journal| last = Bleicher| first = Ariel| title = NASA Saves Big on Fuel in ISS Rotation| journal = IEEE Spectrum| date = 2 August 2012| url = https://spectrum.ieee.org/nasa-saves-big-on-fuel-in-iss-rotation| access-date = 2013-12-23}}</ref>

{{As of|2013}}, at a personal scale, Draper was developing a garment for use in orbit that uses Controlled Moment Gyros (CMGs) that creates resistance to movement of an astronaut's limbs to help mitigate bone loss and maintain muscle tone during prolonged space flight. The unit is called a Variable Vector Countermeasure suit, or V2Suit, which uses CMGs also to assist in balance and movement coordination by creating resistance to movement and an artificial sense of "down". Each CMG module is about the size of a deck of cards. The concept is for the garment to be worn "in the lead-up to landing back on Earth or periodically throughout a long mission".<ref name = "V2Suit">{{cite news | last = Kolawole | first = Emi | title = When you think gyroscopes, go ahead and think the future of spacesuits and jet packs, too | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | date = 1 June 2013 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2013/06/01/when-you-think-gyroscopes-go-ahead-and-think-the-future-of-spacesuits-and-jet-packs-too/ | access-date = 2013-12-25 }}</ref>

In 2013, a Draper/MIT/NASA team was also developing a CMG-augmented spacesuit that would expand the current capabilities of NASA's "Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue" (SAFER)—a spacesuit designed for "propulsive self-rescue" for when an astronaut accidentally becomes untethered from a spacecraft. The CMG-augmented suit would provide better counterforce than is now available for when astronauts use tools in low-gravity environments. Counterforce is available on Earth from gravity. Without it an applied force would result in an equal force in the opposite direction, either in a straight line or spinning. In space, this could send an astronaut out of control. Currently, astronauts must affix themselves to the surface being worked on. The CMGs would offer an alternative to mechanical connection or gravitational force.<ref name = "CMG suit">{{cite web | last = Garber | first = Megan | title = The Future of the Spacesuit—It involves gyroscopes. And better jetpacks. | publisher = The Atlantic | date = 30 May 2013 | url = https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/05/the-future-of-the-spacesuit/276321/ | access-date = 2013-12-25 }}</ref>

=== Commercial Lunar Payload Services ===

{{Further|Commercial Lunar Payload Services}}

On November 29, 2018, Draper Laboratory was named a [[Commercial Lunar Payload Services]] (CLPS) contractor by [[NASA]], which makes it eligible to bid on delivering science and technology payloads to the Moon for NASA.<ref name="CLPS_win">{{cite web |title=NASA Announces New Partnerships for Commercial Lunar Payload Delivery Services |date=29 November 2018 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-new-partnerships-for-commercial-lunar-payload-delivery-services |publisher=NASA |access-date=November 29, 2018}}</ref> Draper Lab formally proposed a lunar lander called ''Artemis-7''.<ref>[https://spacenews.com/draper-developing-technologies-for-lunar-landings/ Draper developing technologies for lunar landings.] Jeff Foust, ''Space News''. 18 July 2019.</ref><ref name='CLEPS Artemis 7'>[https://spacenews.com/draper-bids-on-nasa-commercial-lunar-lander-competition/ Draper bids on NASA commercial lunar lander competition]. Jeff Foust, ''Space News''. 10 October 2018.</ref> The company explained that the number 7 denotes the 7th lunar lander mission in which Draper Laboratory would be involved, after the six Apollo lunar landings.<ref name='CLEPS Artemis 7'/> The lander concept is based on a design by a Japanese company called [[ispace (Japanese company)|ispace]], which is a team member of Draper in this venture.<ref name='CLEPS partners'>[https://www.draper.com/news-releases/draper-unveils-team-nasas-next-moonshot Draper Unveils Team for NASA's Next Moonshot].  Draper Laboratory press release on 9 October 2018.</ref> Subcontractors in this venture include [[General Atomics]] which will manufacture the lander, and [[Spaceflight Industries]], which will arrange launch services for the lander.<ref name='CLEPS partners'/><ref>[https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/05/21/nasa-to-soon-announce-first-commercial-lunar-lander-mission/ NASA to soon announce winner of first commercial lunar lander competition]. Stephen Clark, ''Spaceflight Now''.  May 2019.</ref> As of September 2023, Draper and ispace are developing a lunar lander called [[APEX 1.0]] to deliver CLPS payloads to the moon 
in 2026.<ref>{{cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |url=https://spacenews.com/ispace-revises-design-of-lunar-lander-for-nasa-clps-mission/ |title=Ispace revises design of lunar lander for NASA CLPS mission |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=29 September 2023 |access-date=30 September 2023}}</ref>

===Intelligent systems===
Draper researchers develop artificial intelligence systems to allow robotic devices to learn from their mistakes, This work is in support of [[DARPA]]-funded work, pertaining to the Army [[Future Combat System]]. This capability would allow an autonomous under fire to learn that that road is dangerous and find a safer route or to recognize that its fuel status and damage status. {{as of|2008}}, Paul DeBitetto reportedly led the cognitive robotics group at the laboratory in this effort.<ref name = "Autonomous">{{cite journal| last = Jean| first = Grace V.| title = Robots Get Smarter, But Who Will Buy Them?| journal = National Defense| publisher = National Defense Industrial Association| date = March 2008| url = http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2008/March/Pages/RobotsGet2328.aspx| access-date = 2013-12-23| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131225064229/http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2008/March/Pages/RobotsGet2328.aspx| archive-date = 2013-12-25| url-status = dead}}</ref>

{{As of |2009}}, the US [[Department of Homeland Security]] funded Draper Laboratory and other collaborators to develop a technology to detect potential terrorists with cameras and other sensors that monitor behaviors of people being screened. The project is called [[Future Attribute Screening Technology]] (FAST). The application would be for security checkpoints to assess candidates for follow-up screening. In a demonstration of the technology, the project manager Robert P. Burns explained that the system is designed to distinguish between malicious intent and benign expressions of distress by employing a substantial body research into the psychology of deception.<ref name ="FAST">{{cite web| last = Johnson| first = Carolyn Y.| title = Spotting a terrorist—Next-generation system for detecting suspects in public settings holds promise, sparks privacy concerns| work = [[The Boston Globe]]| date = September 18, 2009| url = http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/09/18/spotting_a_terrorist/| access-date = 2013-12-24}}</ref>

As of 2010 Neil Adams, a director of tactical systems programs for Draper Laboratory, led the systems integration of [[Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]]'s (DARPA) Nano Aerial Vehicle (NAV) program to miniaturize flying reconnaissance platforms. This entails managing the vehicle, communications and ground control systems allow NAVs to function autonomously to carry a sensor payload to achieve the intended mission. The NAVS must work in urban areas with little or no GPS signal availability, relying on vision-based sensors and systems.<ref name="Hummingbird">{{cite web| last = Smith| first = Ned| title = Military Plans Hummingbird-Sized Spies in the Sky| publisher = Tech News Daily| date = 1 July 2010| url = http://www.technewsdaily.com/712--military-plans-hummingbird-sized-spies-in-the-sky.html| access-date = 2013-12-24| archive-date = 2014-02-23| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140223113306/http://www.technewsdaily.com/712--military-plans-hummingbird-sized-spies-in-the-sky.html| url-status = dead}}</ref>

===Medical systems===
[[File:Microfluidics.jpg|thumb|upright|Microfluidic devices have the potential for implantation in humans to deliver corrective therapies.]]
In 2009, Draper collaborated with the [[Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary]] to develop an implantable drug-delivery device, which "merges aspects of [[microelectromechanical systems]], or MEMS, with microfluidics, which enables the precise control of fluids on very small scales". The device is a "flexible, fluid-filled machine", which uses tubes that expand and contract to promote fluid flow through channels with a defined rhythm, driven by a micro-scale pump, which adapts to environmental input. The system, funded by the [[National Institutes of Health]], may treat hearing loss by delivering "tiny amounts of a liquid drug to a very delicate region of the ear, the implant will allow sensory cells to regrow, ultimately restoring the patient's hearing".<ref name = "MEM">
{{cite journal | last = Borenstein | first = Jeffrey T. | title = Flexible Microsystems Deliver Drugs Through the Ear—A MEMS-based microfluidic implant could open up many difficult-to-treat diseases to drug therapy | journal = IEEE Spectrum | date = 30 October 2009 | url = https://spectrum.ieee.org/flexible-microsystems-deliver-drugs-through-the-ear | access-date = 2013-12-23}}</ref>

{{As of|2010}}, Heather Clark of Draper Laboratory was developing a method to measure blood glucose concentration without finger-pricking. The method uses a nano-sensor, like a miniature tattoo, just several millimeters across, that patients apply to the skin. The sensor uses near-infrared or visible light ranges to determine glucose concentrations. Normally to regulate their blood glucose levels, [[diabetics]] must measure their blood glucose several times a day by taking a drop of blood obtained by a pinprick and inserting the sample into a machine that can measure glucose level. The nano-sensor approach would supplant this process.<ref name = "Blood">
{{cite web | last = Kranz | first = Rebecca  |author2=Gwosdow, Andrea | title = Honey I Shrunk the...Sensor? | work = What a Year | publisher = Massachusetts Society for Medical Research| date = September 2009 | url = http://www.whatayear.org/09_09.html | access-date = 2013-12-24 }}</ref>