Testing and Prototyping to Accelerate Maritime R&D
Who We Are
At Charles River, our mission for marine systems is clear: to provide agile, expert engineering solutions to develop and test intelligent maritime technologies.
We don’t make your UUV—we make your UUV better.
Since the founding of our Marine Systems Test Facility in 2012, we have developed our expertise in hands-on maritime R&D, specializing in on-water and in-water testing, rapid system integration, and rigorous evaluation in real-world environments. Our team blends deep technical expertise with operational maritime experience, and we ensure that emerging technologies are not just innovative on paper but proven at sea.
Marine Systems Integration and Test Facility
Our dedicated Marine Systems Test Facility provides year-round access to littoral testing waters in the Point Judith Harbor of Refuge and Block Island Sound in Rhode Island. At this location, we can conduct rapid, iterative testing and evaluation in relevant environments.
We provide full-spectrum testing support for marine systems, including:
- Deployment, operation, and evaluation of uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) from 3–30 feet in length and uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs)
- Assembly, transport, and maintenance of ruggedized and underwater sensor systems
- Integration and testing of surface platforms and custom underwater devices
Advanced Maritime Prototyping
Beyond testing, our hardware-focused engineers design and develop custom prototypes and integration solutions for a range of maritime applications.
Our expertise includes:
- Integration of UUV communication, navigation, and control systems
- Assembly and hardening of ruggedized and waterproof electronics
- Design, fabrication, and assembly of depth-rated subsea pressure-vessels
- Development of electrical and mechanical systems for underwater platforms
- Design and support of launch and recovery vessels and devices
- Integration of sensor payloads and assembly of scientific testing rigs
- Development of the full software stack, from sensor drivers and computer vision to communications layers, user interfaces, and integration with the client’s existing front-end systems.
- Leverage the client’s existing software to operate hardware while adding features and improving functionality.
- 3D printed prototypes and end-use parts
With in-house fabrication, software development, wiring, and integration, we move quickly from concept to prototype to sea trial, reducing timelines and increasing technical confidence.
Point Judith Facilities
Our Marine Systems facility, located on the grounds of the Point View Marina, combines advanced engineering resources with direct ocean access. Our configurable workspaces support rapid assembly, integration, and disassembly of large complex systems.
Electronics laboratory
for fabrication and testing
Coastal location
with immediate access to
offshore testing environments
Design center
for software, electrical,
and mechanical engineering
4,000 square-foot
high-bay warehouse
Dockage with 24-foot beam and haul-out support for vessels up to 100 feet/70 tons
Our infrastructure enables us to support complete equipment logistics for our partners, from heavy-lift material handling and operations to navigating compliance approvals.
In-Water Testing and Evaluation
In-water testing is central to our mission. With thousands of hours at sea, we’ve refined a proven approach to testing and evaluation, driven by mission requirements and flexibility.
We specialize in:
- Rapid integration of new technologies into marine platforms
- Incremental risk-reduction and validation of critical systems
- Adaptability across autonomy frameworks, ensuring compatibility with evolving uncrewed systems
Every test is designed and run by our team members who understand both the engineering challenges and the operational realities of maritime missions.
At Charles River, our value is clear: we accelerate innovation by proving systems in the environments where they’ll be deployed. Whether you’re advancing autonomy, testing new sensors, or refining complex platforms, we help bridge the gap between development and deployment.
Our Team
Our Marine Systems team is a cross-disciplinary group of engineers specializing in ocean engineering and ocean robotics as well as systems, electrical, mechanical, operational, and software engineering.
- Licensed mariners
- Experienced UUV/USV operators and crew
- Scientists and engineers who are experienced in maritime operations and marine testing
Our unique blend of technical skill and operational capability ensures that every prototype is engineered to meet precise specifications and validated under real-world conditions.
- With over 14 years of operations at our Point Judith facility, we bring real-world maritime testing experience in challenging environments
- Direct access to coastal and offshore testing waters in Point Judith, Rhode Island
- Cross-disciplinary team of engineers, scientists, and licensed mariners
- Proven track record supporting both government and commercial maritime programs
- Expertise in advancing maritime autonomy for next-generation uncrewed platforms
- End-to-end equipment logistics, including heavy-lift material handling and compliance
Our team is flexible and responsive, able to adapt test plans and engineering approaches in real time to meet evolving program requirements and operational constraints.
Jeff Prisco
Director of Hardware Engineering
Yelena Randall
Software Engineer
Dan Conti
Operations Engineer
Jay Everson
Marine Operations Manager
Jacob Riedel
Robotics Engineer
Chris Bristow
Electrical Engineer
Tony Scudere
Senior Mechanical Engineer
Gabrielle Franzini
Robotics Engineer
Partner With Us
Whether you need a custom integration, a rigorous test program, or advanced prototyping, the Charles River’s Marine Systems team is ready to help you succeed at sea.
Charles River Analytics uniquely combines agile innovation and leading-edge research with a decades-long track record of hardened engineering in austere environments to create best-in-class solutions to diverse, challenging problems.
To learn more about our services and pricing, reach out to:
MarineSystems@cra.com
Jeff Prisco
Director of Hardware Engineering
401.795.5003
Jay Everson
Marine Operations Manager
401.795.5001
