Our research labs and centers are leading the battle against cybercrime. They focus on wireless communications, 5G technology, sensors, artificial intelligence, and more. Take a look at the capabilities and infrastructure available in our laboratories.
Control, Communications, Computing, Intelligence, and Cyber (C4I & Cyber)
C4I & Cyber is the nation’s first and only civilian university-based entity offering a comprehensive academic and research program in military applications of information technology and cybersecurity. The center has broad spectrum of research interests, including sensing and fusion, C4 architectures, communications and signal processing, command support and intelligent systems, modeling and simulation, and information systems. It provides a bridge between the College of Engineering and Computing faculty expertise and the needs of government/defense/intelligence information technology users. Conducts active outreach programs to government and industry. Director: Paulo Costa.
Living Cyber Innovation Lab (Arlington)
The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Northern Virginia Node Cyber Living Innovation Lab will be housed on Mason Square. Adjacent to Mason’s new Institute for Digital InnovAtion (IDIA), the lab will include approximately 4,000 square feet of dedicated space for cybersecurity research, training, and experiential learning.
The Living Innovation Lab will include robotic platforms to evaluate 5G performance and security vulnerabilities. It will study the impact of 5G on industry, internet of things or Industry 4.0, and smart manufacturing, as well as the vulnerability of the supporting power grid. The lab will include autonomous vehicle sensor study, 5G performance, and security vulnerability. These platforms will support LIDAR, radar, stereo, and night-vision cameras that will be deployed on the NoVa Node’s fleet of vehicles that simulate autonomous driving.
Radar and Radio Engineering Lab (RARE)
Duminda Wijesekera, director of the Radar and Radio Engineering Lab (RARE), and Paulo Costa, associate director, how to apply physics to radio waves to determine the causes of accidents. The RARE team works with control systems security to protect transportation infrastructure, including airplanes, trains, and automobiles, from cyber-attacks.
Rapid Prototyping Research Center
The Rapid Prototyping Research Center (RPRC) focuses on providing its Department of Defense sponsors a unique perspective on rapid prototyping that aligns with Section 804 in the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act. Specifically, rather than developing a new system to satisfy intractable problems on the battlefield, the RPRC integrates new technology into existing infrastructure. This unique approach reduces acquisition costs since the sustainment tail is in place. It also reduces the time to field intractable solutions to the battlefield from 10-14 to 1-3 years and provides assurance that the prototype involved is integrated with the latest technology, not dated technology due to lengthy acquisition delivery timelines.
