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On Point: Q&A With Marjorie Quant

Marjorie Quant is the chief operating officer (COO) of The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., an independent nonprofit engineering innovation company that provides engineering services directly to government, industry and academia. Draper specializes in strategic systems such as ballistic missile guidance, space systems, microelectronics and biotechnology. Quant’s experience spans advanced technologies, electronic warfare, startups, defense applications and research.

Marjorie Quant, COO of The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., speaks on influential emerging technologies. Credit: Ahmed-adobestock.com generated by AI

Which emerging technologies will most influence the future of warfare?
Artificial intelligence (AI), microelectronics, materials and sensors, and biological systems will have great influence on the future of warfare. We can assume that AI will continue to change how we consume information and make decisions as well as how we employ the concentration of mass and economy of force. The ability to execute decisions will continue to advance to the edge of our sensors.

Our reliance on microelectronics will continue to grow with our increasing incorporation of AI. Increases in efficiency of compute driven by new techniques or material changes will also alter our execution of warfare.

Increased accuracy, precision and miniaturization of existing and new sensor mechanisms will also drive emerging technologies. Advancements in material science will alter our approaches from fabricating large machines to changing how we design and build microelectronics. Quantum sensors and advancements in clocks will drive how we navigate and communicate.

One of the most significant areas of technological change in the past 10 years has been in the field of biological systems. The merging of biological systems with mechanical systems not only allows us to advance our understanding of human health but it also allows us to think about using biological systems in unconventional ways.

Which of Draper’s core technology areas is seeing the most innovation and why?
Draper is delivering innovation in its primary area of expertise—guidance, navigation and control (GN&C) for the nation’s strategic deterrence systems and space exploration. These systems need to provide a high degree of accuracy without the benefit of GPS while operating under some of the most challenging conditions imaginable. To meet these demands, Draper is constantly improving its radiation-hardened electronics and precision sensors while pushing the limits of miniaturization.

At the opposite end of the scale, Draper is innovating at the cellular and genetic level with the development of microphysiological systems that simulate the activities, mechanics and physiological response of an entire organ or multi-organ system. This work focuses on detection of threats from pathogens, toxins and emerging infectious diseases and the rapid development of medical countermeasures to meet these threats.

What contribution(s) will artificial intelligence make to science and technology research?
Artificial intelligence has become an indispensable tool in modern scientific research. It handles large data sets efficiently, enables faster data analysis, and identifies patterns and insights that human researchers might miss. By automating repetitive tasks, AI allows researchers to focus on high-level analysis and generating new ideas.

If you consider how we delegate decision authorities today based on an individual’s position, span of responsibility and insight, as well as experience, you can imagine similar bounds placed on AI agents to balance advancing the speed of decision with the responsibility to control risk decisions at appropriate levels.

Every member of our military executing in a combat environment are well trained on acceptable rules of engagement (ROEs). These ROEs change as the combat environment and desired objectives change. Properly using an AI agent will require proper bounds on the AI agent’s ability to execute decisions in line with appropriate delegations of authority and ROEs.

What are Draper’s areas of growth and how do they fit with current core capabilities?
While Draper is experiencing growth across our four markets of strategic systems, space systems, electronic systems and biotechnology systems, the strongest growth is in the strategic systems business where we provide reliable and resilient GN&C solutions to the U.S. Navy and Air Force. This work includes sustainment and modernization of the nation’s strategic and missile defense capabilities. Draper is also developing GN&C capabilities for evolving threats and increasingly challenging environments.