MacCready Works | Autonomy, AI, Machine Learning, Robotic Systems

DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE SINCE 1971

For more than 50 years, AV has pioneered advanced technological innovations, seamlessly integrating AI and cutting-edge computer vision into agile, effective solutions that redefine what’s possible on Earth and beyond.

From Dr. Paul B. MacCready Jr.’s groundbreaking work in human-powered flight to today’s state-of-the-art Switchblade loitering munition system, MacCready Works continues to lead with passion, resilience, and a relentless drive to deliver disruptive innovations that solve the toughest challenges for our customers.

We’re Engineering Tomorrow’s Intelligent Systems

Robotics // AI-Driven Vision // Advanced Analytics // Connectivity

By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and mission-relevant computer vision, we’re creating autonomous systems that operate with unprecedented intelligence across multiple domains and platforms. These innovations position our customers at the forefront of interconnected systems, driving them to new heights. Discover how we’re embracing the impossible with unwavering determination.

Explore our Technology Areas

Perception & Autonomy

Novel Systems

High-Altitude

Space Ventures

Perception & Autonomy

ARK™ [Autonomy Retrofit Kit] | Accelerated Autonomy

ARK is a quick-connect payload that brings AV’s accelerated autonomy to fielded Group 1+ UAV assets and future uncrewed platforms, providing critical advantages to warfighters.

Directly compatible with Puma™ 3 AE and Puma™ LE, operators can task single, or multi-agent teams with a wide range of mission capabilities:

Multi-region Search // Area Survey // Overwatch // Track and Follow // Tripwire Cross-Cue // and more

Planck ACE™ | Autonomous Control Engine

PLANCK ACE vision-based navigation solution enables fully autonomous operation, including push-button takeoff and precision landing from confined spaces, moving vehicles, and moving vessels. ACE provides high-precision GPS-denied relative navigation to VTOL sUAS. This optical guidance system enables fully autonomous UAS launch and recovery onto a small passive optical marker, without GPS.

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SPOTR-Edge™ | Visionary Intelligence

Featuring edge compute for AI perception models and mission applications, ARK includes AV’s computer vision software SPOTR-Edge for onboard detection, classification, localization and tracking of operationally relevant objects including people, vehicles and maritime vessels – day or night.

AVACORE™ | Autonomy Software

AVACORE™ is AV’s autonomy software providing an open framework for rapid development and adoption of new autonomous missions for unmanned systems. It features a modular set of interfaces such as autopilots, radios, sensors, and supports integration with new platforms and applications.
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Novel Systems

Wildcat

Built to Spec, Engineered for Extremes

Downselected for DARPA’s ANCILLARY program, Wildcat is a novel Group 3 VTOL UAS that will launch and recover from Navy ships, while leveraging autonomy, computer vision and a high-degree of controllability to operate anywhere, anytime.

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High-Altitude

Solar HAPS

Do More In The Stratosphere
More payload. More intelligence. More communications.

AV pioneered the first solar-powered high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) in the 1980s and has been a leader in the space since. Through a joint venture with Japanese telecommunications provider SoftBank, we built the first Sunglider™ designed to provide telecommunications coverage from the stratosphere to people worldwide who lack basic wireless communications.

Today we’re continuing to push boundaries with even more capabilities, multiple high-swap payloads and new mission sets – all without the need to reconfigure the aircraft.

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Space Ventures

Ingenuity Mars Helicopter

Going Above and Beyond

AV co-designed and co-developed Ingenuity with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Designed to be a technology demonstration consisting of five test flights in 30 days, Ingenuity surpassed all expectations and eventually completed 72 flights in just under three years.

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