IronClad: NDAA-Compliant UxS Controller

IronClad is a low-SWaP-C (size, weight, power, and cost) UxS controller and compute module designed to deliver cybersecure, platform-agnostic capabilities to unmanned systems across air, land, and sea.

What Does IronClad Do?

Developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of War (DoW) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), IronClad offers a highly vetted and American-made capability that seamlessly supports multi-rotor, fixed-wing, and hybrid UAS, as well as ground and maritime robots.

Its modular design allows for easy upgrades or platform-specific expansions, ensuring adaptability to evolving mission needs. With robust onboard CPUs and GPUs, IronClad provides advanced autonomy features, video processing, and AI/ML applications, all while maintaining a high level of embedded hardware and firmware security.

IronClad Key Features

IronClad offers numerous benefits to entities operating unmanned systems, including, the ability to extend the service life of legacy unmanned systems through retrofitting, the ability to offer a common interface for mixed UAS fleets, and the ability to reduce operator requirements for complex tasks.

Its integration of open-source autopilot software, vetted through academic and industry research, allows for tailored configurations that meet mission-specific demands. With Hardware-In-The-Loop (HWIL) simulation capabilities, IronClad enables risk-reduced flight control refinement and payload testing, making it a trusted solution for OEMs and operators seeking an agile, secure, and cutting-edge controller for unmanned systems.

Made in the USA

IronClad was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of War and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The IronClad UxS controller is designed and made in the USA.

Robust Embedded Hardware

IronClad includes robust CPUs/GPUs allowing for advanced autonomy features, video processing/conversion, and a variety of other applications requiring onboard computing modules.

Modular Design & Common Interfaces

Additional processor types and digital I/Os can easily be added to IronClad via expansion ports and common interfaces reduces training time and the quantity and variety of ground control equipment necessary on-site.

Security

Embedded hardware and firmware security. “Security Umbrella” for payloads and applications. Vetted by DoW and DHS. Passed multiple DoW and 3rd-Party security assessments.

Platform Agnostic

IronClad UxS controllers are suitable for Multi-Rotor UAS, Fixed-Wing UAS, Hybrid UAS, Ground Robots, and Maritime USVs and UUVs. Its modular design allows for simple base configuration or platform-specific expansion boards.

Open-Source Autopilot

Autopilot software is vetted and allows for tailored packages. Software is informed by academic and industry research. Can be considered Government-Off-The-Shelf (GOTS) system.

Integrated HWIL Simulator

Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulation capability allows for risk-reduced flight control refinement and payload development testing.

Reduce Required Personnel

For complex tracking and targeting tasks.

Service Life Extension

Extend the service life and upgrade the capabilities of older UAS through retrofitting.

Where Can IronClad Be Used?

Program of Record

Upgrade Your Fleet: IronClad comes with common ground control station interfaces, flight controls, mission planning, cybersecurity Authority to Operate (ATO), training, and logistics.

OEM Integration

Upgrade Your Product: In need of a Pixhawk replacement? Upgrade from Pixhawk hardware while using the same codebase. Looking for an NDAA-compliant, cybersecure controller for your UxS? Choose IronClad.

R&D Contracts

Research & Development: IronClad is well-suited for R&D efforts with fault- and damage-tolerant flight controls, onboard collision avoidance autonomy packages, and capabilities to enable autonomous flights in urban and other severe geographic environments.

IronClad Specifications

FMU Computer Specs

Main Cores:

4 x Arm Cortex-A53 @ 1.6Ghz
1 x Arm Cortex-M7 @ 800 Mhz

Neural Processing Unit:

Up to 2.3 TOPS

Graphics Processing Unit:

16GFLOPS (high precision) OpenGL® ES 3.1/3.0, Vulkan®, OpenCL™ 1.2 FP, OpenVG™ 1.1

Video Processing Unit:

Hardware Video Encoding

Cryptographic Acceleration & Assurance:

True Random # Generator
Symmetric – AES-128/192/256
Asymmetric – RSA (up to 4096), Elliptic Curve (up to 1023)

Size

Dimensions – 4.4” x 2.2” x 1.0”
Weight – 75g (Enclosed Kit – 150g)

Onboard Sensors

3 x IMUs, Temp-Controlled, 9DOF
2 x Barometer

Environmental

-40°C to 85°C

Electrical

Input Voltage – 4-40V DC

Expansion

Gigabit Ethernet RGMII
MIPI-CSI2 4-lane (x2)
HDMI Output
USB 2.0 & USB 3.0
PCI 2.0 1-Lane

Explore Related Products And Solutions

Learn more about IronClad.

Contact our team today to learn more about our platform designed to deliver cybersecure, platform-agnostic capabilities to unmanned systems across air, land, and sea