About Lincoln Laboratory

As a Department of Defense Research and Development Laboratory, MIT Lincoln Laboratory conducts research and development aimed at solutions to problems critical to national security.

Lincoln Laboratory photo

Three areas constitute the core of the work performed at the Laboratory: sensors, information extraction (signal processing and embedded computing), and communications, all supported by a broad research base in advanced electronics.

Research at the Laboratory includes projects in air and missile defense, surveillance technology, biological-chemical defense, and communications and information technology. The Laboratory takes projects from the initial concept stage, through simulation and analysis, to design and prototyping, and finally to field demonstration.

Technical staff perform tests on an unmanned aerial vehicle at the
RF System Test Facility.

Two of the Laboratory’s principal technical objectives are (1) the development of components and systems for experiments, engineering measurements, and tests under field operating conditions and (2) the dissemination of information to the government, academia, and industry.

Lincoln Laboratory also undertakes government-sponsored, nondefense projects in areas such the development of systems the Federal Aviation Administration relies on to improve air-traffic control and air safety and systems that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration uses in weather surveillance.

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