In 1958, a spin-off from the MIT Lincoln Laboratory called MITRE was established in Bedford, MA. The think tank was tasked with developing what would become crucial for the United States’ defense strategies during the Cold War: the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system. SAGE was a network of computers that would coordinate radar from sites spread across the country, processing the data into a single image. It gave the country a defensive view of aerial space in the advent of any incoming aerial threats. SAGE became the catalyst for air traffic control and MITRE’s long history of developing government-funded technologies.

Today MITRE operates more than 60 locations, of which 6 are fully federally funded research and development sites. They employ more than 9,000 individuals and hold 524 patents with 337 of them being active. As proudly stated on their website, the goal of MITRE is to “apply systems thinking across government, industry, and academia to solve whole-of-nation challenges.” With the progression of the drone industry, MITRE became a vital partner with the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). MITRE has been responsible for developing the technology that will support the safe integration of drones in shared airspace for the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).

To support NextGen, MITRE opened the National Range in Orange County, VA, a drone-proving ground with hundreds of acres of secure land and 16 acres of dedicated airspace. According to MITRE, the National Range “provides users the opportunity to test, evaluate, and prototype drone technologies within a controlled environment.” With extensive labs, government funding, and the National Range, MITRE’s commitment to drone technologies extends beyond the goals of NextGen. One such project was the development of a drone system to be used by emergency responders in hazmat scenarios.

“Handheld hazardous material (hazmat) sensors, such as radiation or multi-gas detectors, are used ubiquitously by our nation’s first responders, yet these devices are often difficult or impossible to operate remotely,” explains MITRE. “Typically, first responders hand-carry sensors into dangerous environments to collect data, continuously checking the sensor and verbally relaying data to their team and incident command.” To solve this issue, MITRE created the HAZMAT Auxiliary Unit (HAU). Rather than being a complete drone system that would be used in addition to or to replace drones currently being used by emergency responders, HAU is a drone-platform agnostic that seamlessly integrates into existing systems.

Recently, MITRE licensed the HAU system to Detectix, one of the nation’s leading hazmat solution companies. Detectix provides emergency responders with the equipment needed for hazmat protection and data collection. They call the HAU system Canary, in reference to how coal miners would rely on the sensitivity of canaries to let them know if it was safe to enter a mine. When attached to a drone, the Canary can carry traditional hand-held hazmat sensors to be remotely operated. A secure network transmits all data collected in real time from the drone back to the operator working from a safe distance.

The HAU Canary system fulfills all of MITRE’s goals. It solves a national problem, the addressing of hazmat scenarios, through innovation and collaborative teamwork. It is a cost effective, easy to use solution that protects the lives of emergency workers while improving their work performance. “Part of MITRE’s mission is to understand the operational environment, connect government needs with industry solutions, and solve whole-of-nation problems,” said Yorsy Barsoum, Vice President and Director of MITRE’s Center For Securing The Homeland. “By licensing this technology, we’re ensuring innovative solutions like the HAU are not just concepts but become vital tools that enhance the safety and capabilities of first responders.”

Upon announcing the collaboration, Nicholas Guilbeault, founder of Detectix, went on to say, “This technology represents a significant leap forward in how we manage hazardous material incidents. By licensing and commercializing the HAU, we’re advancing response capabilities and ensuring that this life-saving innovation reaches more first responders, enhancing their ability to handle emergencies more safely and effectively.”

MITRE was once called the most important company you never heard of, an ideal they are proud of. For the thousands of people who have been working for MITRE over the last 6 decades, recognition was never needed. Having worked at MITRE since 1988, eventually moving up to become the company’s Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Stephen Huffman said it best when he told the publication Fast Company, “We don’t make products. Our goal is to get our technology out and available.”

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