As processing has accelerated, the value of data has become increasingly evident. Using machine learning and AI, FTL mines unseen insights from large database repositories.
All sensors create data, and this is often processed into an output available on a device, like a thermometer or a multimeter. But the power of data often lies in keeping prior data, and multiplying data sources to the extent that now gigabytes of data are generated for every hour that a commercial aircraft is flying, a manufacturing or inspection operation is carried out, or images and videos are generated. FTL began in the world of “big data” through fluid monitoring, creating a one-of-a-kind fuel contaminant database that makes our fluid monitoring devices smarter with every measurement.
Once the power of such approaches was unlocked, FTL found applications in huge data packages that accompany aerospace metallic 3D prints, biomechanical analysis including measurement and modeling of joint angles during walking. Most recently, FTL has worked with the Air Force, Navy, and aerospace primes to develop 3D scanning technologies that capture enormous data sets and mine them for quality control items during manufacturing and similar processes, reducing manpower requirements and improving tempo and effectiveness. Currently FTL is working with the Navy to automate, store, and make searchable condition and maintenance data for all aircraft depot services.
While additive manufacturing systems, especially metal, bring revolutionary capabilities and have the potential to reduce supply chain issues and enable new designs through unique layer-by-layer fabrication capabilities, defects such as porosity, inclusions, large-scale voids, and chemical inconsistencies can inhibit the functional performance of a part and reduce confidence in designing parts for AM.
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV’s) are anticipated to play an important role in future Naval systems. These vary from very small systems deployed by hand from boats, to very large vessels, as large as a manned battleship, but operated entirely remotely.
FTL developed “DADTMA”, Distributed Acquisition Digital Twin Maintenance Architecture, is a software solution for accelerating data acquisition and management of maintenance data in the field and for analyzing maintenance and inspection data for a specific aircraft or fleet over time in a Digital Twin framework.
DroneDraft is a mission planning tool developed for the U.S. Army to streamline drone deployment in complex environments. It offers geospatial visualization, flight path optimization, and real-time coordination features to enhance operational efficiency and situational awareness.
This contamination detection system was developed to identify and analyze fluid-fluid interactions in critical aerospace systems. Using advanced sensors and automated diagnostics, it enables early detection of cross-contamination events to prevent system failure and ensure mission continuity.
FODHAT was developed in collaboration with Northrop Grumman, and uses neural network-enhanced 2D and 3D imaging for autonomous inspection guidance during manufacturing.
FTL’s “FRAMER” (Fast Reconstruction of Architectural Models from Existing Resources) system has been developed for the Chemical and Biological Defense (CBD) program of the DoD. It combines specially trained neural networks with advanced 3D processing algorithms and intelligent data exports to enable high quality building model generation from both blueprints and photographs, and parameter exports for accurate transport and dispersion simulation.
MetaWrap is a general-purpose software tool that uses CAD-compatible solid models as inputs and outputs, and that can wrap any planar periodic structure over any surface while preserving the electromagnetic performance of the unit cells. This technology is critical for next-generation airborne platforms that make extensive use of planar periodic lattice structures to manipulate electromagnetic interactions with the vehicles’ surfaces.
OilEye is a real-time fuel monitoring system developed to detect contamination and performance issues in military aircraft. It combines sensor data with predictive analytics to enhance maintenance efficiency and reduce the risk of in-flight engine failures.
SDARIT (Structural Damage and Repair Inferencing Tool), is an automated inventory, inspection, and repair planning software tool for condition monitoring of assets such as piers, bridges, roads, tunnels, dams, and other structures. SDARIT employs custom AI algorithms for detecting and identifying structural elements and damage caused by wear, seismic effects, fatigue, battle damage, and other environmental factors.
FTL’s SharpScan is a radar and high speed data acquisition system utilizing a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) for advanced beam-sharpening.
FTL Labs’ SHR3DR (Sub-Seafloor High Resolution 3D Reconstruction) is a
hardware and software solution for the automatic detection of problems such as voids forming in the subterranean environments beneath Navy waterfront facilities.
SoundFit is an ultrasound tool that assists technicians fitting persons with amputation with prosthetic limbs by assessing fit quality. This tool measures relative bone motion to quantify the performance of mechanical energy transfer between the prosthetic limb and the user’s skeletal structure, guiding adjustments to the prosthetic socket geometry.
Sponsored by the Defense Health Agency, FTL’s SPARO (Sensorized Prosthetic Alignment Read-Out) provides clinicians and researchers a tool that enables quantitative measurements of prosthetic alignment and the effects it has on the rest of the body’s motions and dynamics through whole body gait and movement analysis.
FTL’s SpearFish system leverages JPL’s CARACaS autonomy architecture in a new enabling technology for Patrol boat sensing, perception, and Command-and-Control (C2). SpearFish applies advanced high-bandwidth sensor fusion to enable unmanned patrol boats that will reduce risks and enable new operational capabilities within the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF).
Telemachus is a command-and-control dashboard developed for autonomous system oversight in defense operations. It consolidates real-time telemetry, mission planning, and decision support into a single interface to enhance situational awareness and operational efficiency.
FTL developed “TRAIDMA”, Transit Reliability and AI-Driven Maintenance Architecture, as a predictive maintenance software platform built upon its proven DADTMA fleet maintenance tool. TRAIDMA enables transit agencies and fleet operators to optimize maintenance activity by leveraging advanced predictive modeling and intuitive data visualization.
VAME (Virtual Assessment and Modeling Environment) is a simulation platform designed to support digital twin development for defense systems. It enables virtual prototyping, behavioral analysis, and performance optimization across a range of operational scenarios.
