Southwest Research Institute
About
About Southwest Research Institute
Southwest Research Institute, founded in 1947 and based in San Antonio, Texas, provides multidisciplinary applied research and engineering services to government and commercial clients. Its robotics and intelligent-systems work includes manipulation, custom robots and end effectors, automated inspection, mobile autonomy and human-machine cooperation. The institute manages the ROS-Industrial Americas Consortium and develops software tools that connect modelling and motion planning with physical robot execution.
Its SWORD toolkit lets engineers configure robots, tools and work cells in a FreeCAD-based environment, plan collision-aware motions and convert simulated paths into hardware commands. Other programs address autonomous systems for maritime and space applications. The internally funded Hierax research system combines event-based cameras with custom software for counter-drone sensing and proposed autonomous interception. SwRI also collaborates on lunar-construction research and Earth-based test infrastructure, combining technology development with testing and transfer to external customers.
Team
- Ben Thacker - Chief Operating Officer - Directs the Institute’s technical divisions and internal research programme.
- Matt Robinson - ROS-Industrial Joint Industry Project Manager - Manages the ROS-Industrial Joint Industry Project and advances open-source robotics capabilities for industrial users.
Research
- SwRI introduces Hierax neuromorphic counter-drone research system
2026-10-14 - Research Publication - Event-based sensing tracks pixel-level brightness changes, supporting fast-moving target detection with lower compute requirements than conventional optical systems. The kit uses a hardware-agnostic, modular open-systems design intended to support interoperability across U.S. defence platforms. Passive optical sensing emits no radio-frequency signal and supports reduced sensor size, weight and power.
Source
Timeline
Events
- 2026-10-14 - Research Publication - SwRI introduces Hierax neuromorphic counter-drone research system
Event-based sensing tracks pixel-level brightness changes, supporting fast-moving target detection with lower compute requirements than conventional optical systems. The kit uses a hardware-agnostic, modular open-systems design intended to support interoperability across U.S. defence platforms. Passive optical sensing emits no radio-frequency signal and supports reduced sensor size, weight and power.
Source - 2026-06-15 - Partnership - SwRI signs lunar-research initiative MoU with Astroport and WEX
The proposed test site covers approximately 180 acres of SwRI-owned property near its San Antonio campus. The initiative would simulate lunar terrain and Artemis Moon Base configurations for testing, risk reduction and workforce training.
Source - 2025-05-13 - Demonstration - SwRI demonstrates SWORD robotics programming at Automate
SWORD is a FreeCAD plugin that configures robot models, fixtures and end-of-arm tooling. The toolkit links 3D visualisation to ROS software and collision-aware motion planning for industrial applications.
Source - 2024-05-06 - Product Launch - SwRI releases SWORD robotics-development toolkit at Automate 2024
Users can import robot, fixture and tooling models, then manipulate joints and test collision geometries. Custom planning pipelines support Cartesian or joint waypoints, motion groups and supplementary commands. The software was released with licensed seats and a trial available on request.
Source - 2024-04-09 - Capability - SwRI details new Space Robotics Center and in-space automation research
The new centre includes an air-bearing table, motion capture, a seven-degree-of-freedom robot arm and test fixtures. Ranger ground-facing cameras guided a rover across simulated lunar regolith during localisation research. Other studies evaluated cave navigation with stereo cameras and low-power FPGA computing for space-ready object detection.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- Astroport Space Technologies
Technology Collaborator - SwRI and Astroport signed an MoU for a proposed National Lunar Research Center supporting infrastructure and autonomous construction research.