We believe that complex systems should be built safely from the ground up.
Edge Case Defense is the trusted system-safety partner for programs developing cutting-edge automation and autonomy. We help acquisition programs measure, manage, and communicate the safety of complex systems used to conduct real-world missions.
“The Department of Defense is committed to protecting personnel from accidental death, injury, or occupational illness and safeguarding defense systems, infrastructure, and property from accidental destruction, or damage while executing its mission requirements of national defense.”
MIL-STD-882E // Department of Defense Standard Practice: System Safety
How Edge Case works with you
We support the builders of complex systems. Whether you’re at a defense contractor or a government program office, Edge Case Defense is here to help you build, maintain, and deliver a MIL-STD-882E Safety Assessment Report to risk acceptance authorities.
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Edge Case prepares you for safety success by helping you assemble the right stakeholders into a system safety working group, setting clear goals for a system safety program, and establishing an effective safety management plan.
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System safety isn’t a “bolt on” activity for automated and autonomous systems. Complex systems must be built safely from the ground up. Edge Case works with your engineering teams to define a feasible safety concept that mitigates real-world risks.
We can ensure that your system safety and software safety processes address the expectations of MIL-STD-882E, including software level-of-rigor tasks and the evidence they require.
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System safety efforts are documented in a Safety Assessment Report (SAR). Government risk acceptance authorities evaluate the contents of your SAR to make a formal assessment of the residual risks posed by your systems in its operational context.
Edge Case helps you create your SAR and works with you to ensure that it remains up-to-date as your program develops. We also interface with relevant government agencies to answer questions they might have about our assessments.
The Edge Case approach starts with MIL-STD-882E
Live It Right
Success depends on strong safety culture. Plan a feasible roadmap for achieving safe autonomy throughout your system’s lifecycle. Incorporate processes, policies, and controls that support safety standards suitable for complex systems.
Engineer It Right
Don’t let complexity get in the way of using rigorous engineering techniques. Multiply your system safety experience along with the right hazard analysis tools to accurately assess and then reduce risks.
Operate It Right
“Walk the walk” by operating according to your safety plan. Continuously monitor your risk with the right combination of expert judgment and automated data analysis. Quickly understand and mitigate new risks identified in the field.
Featured Program
Expedient Leader / Follower
Edge Case led safety assessment for the Automated Ground Resupply and Expedient Leader / Follower programs. We worked with the Government team alongside contractors such as Robotic Research, Oshkosh Defense, and Lockheed Martin to produce feasible safety concepts compatible with autonomous operation and delivered Safety Assessment Reports to the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command.
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Edge Case’s ExLF safety concept mitigated risks during the development and testing of semi-autonomous trucks driving in convoy formation. The ExLF safety concept can inform many other applications, including automated commercial freight lines and mine sites.
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Edge Case has experience assessing the safety of numerous Army ground vehicles. Our team features experts with decades of experience with Army test, evaluation, and safety programs.
Featured Program
NAVAIR Guardian
Guardian is a sense-and-avoid technology that increases situational awareness for ground-based unmanned aircraft operators. Edge Case supports the development and assessment of Guardian’s system safety concept through a variety of activities, including software robustness testing.
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Edge Case’s safety concept defines the effective and safe operation of Guardian within a larger airspace protection system. Our robustness testing technology supports hazard analysis processes.
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Edge Case uses safety cases to define, measure, and manage the safety of operations in the real world. Safety cases have a long history of use in the aviation industry. Our safety case frameworks and tools help our customers succeed with complex and novel systems such as Guardian.
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Frank Fratrik
Vice President and General Manager, Edge Case Defense
Frank brings impressive leadership and experience to directing Edge Case Defense. He has a demonstrated history of working in the military and commercial industries in the areas of autonomy, robotics, vehicles, and weapon systems. Prior to joining our team, Frank worked for nearly fifteen years at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center.
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Eric Felix
Director of Defense Sales
Eric leads business development efforts for Edge Case Defense. A former artillery officer, he brings a combination of a customer-first mentality, understanding of DoD procurement requirements, and a data science background to better serve our customers. Eric holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.
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Michael Wagner
CEO, Edge Case Research
Michael has been at the forefront of the autonomy industry for over twenty years, originally starting at Carnegie Mellon. He oversees product and business strategy at Edge Case.