EpiSci selected by NTIA to develop and test 5G Sidelink for improved wireless communications
POWAY, Calif., April 1, 2025 – EpiSci, an Applied Intuition company and leader in software for next-generation autonomy solutions, today announced it has been awarded a grant by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to develop and test advanced 5G Sidelink technology. This work will enable collaborative autonomy by allowing autonomous systems to communicate directly, even in limited or restricted environments where traditional networks are unavailable.
The grant, worth $8.2 million over three years, is part of a second batch of grants awarded under the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, which will invest up to $1.5 billion over the next decade to support wireless innovation. EpiSci will build 5G Sidelink for Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) to create a more flexible and resilient communication system. This work will improve how devices communicate directly with each other and enhance overall network performance, ultimately boosting 5G and future 6G networks.
“The wireless solutions we are pioneering are transcending traditional civilian and military boundaries,” Dan Javorsek, president of EpiSci, said. “At Applied Intuition Defense and EpiSci, we are thrilled to continue leveraging dual-use capabilities to tackle tough problems in all domains. It’s exciting to know that the solutions we are developing go beyond just supporting our servicemen and women on the battlefield but also helping emergency responders, hikers in our national parks, or even future astronauts on the moon.”
Normally, devices need to connect to a base station to communicate. EpiSci’s 5G Sidelink will allow, for example, autonomous platforms to communicate directly without a stable link to a command and control node. At the same time, O-RAN ultimately makes 5G more resilient by “opening up” the network, breaking it into different parts that can be developed by different companies. This is foundational to meeting the Services’ requirements to prepare the Joint Force for operational missions using collaborative autonomy.
“The Sidelink is the enabling technology to 5G that will directly enhance reliability and connectivity,” Tamal Bose, co-founder of EpiSci, said. “Think of it like high-tech walkie-talkies, but with the speed and reliability of 5G, enabling data sharing even when there’s no service from the base station.”
Beyond emergency situations and defense, the benefits of 5G Sidelink can extend to other sectors like the automotive industry. Using 5G Sidelink, vehicles will be able to communicate directly with each other without needing a cell tower, providing major benefits for safety, efficiency and future autonomous driving. Cars will be able to instantly share real-time data quicker and more reliably than using current vehicle-to-vehicle communication, which often relies on cloud networks.
About EpiSci
EpiSci, an Applied Intuition company, develops next-generation, tactical autonomy solutions for national security problems. EpiSci’s autonomy software is technology agnostic, operationally informed, tactically relevant and has piloted swarms of uncrewed aerial systems and tactical fighter aircraft. Additional applications include crewed-uncrewed teaming for air dominance, cognitive sensors and networks for advanced communications systems, as well as battle management command and control for informed decision-making. EpiSci delivers unmatched speed, cost-efficiency and scalability as the preferred partner for defense agencies and industry teams seeking mission-critical autonomy solutions.
About Applied Intuition Defense
Applied Intuition Defense is a software supplier that accelerates the deployment of next-generation autonomous capabilities to the warfighter. Based out of Washington, DC, Applied Intuition Defense is a business of Applied Intuition, which provides advanced vehicle software technology to the automotive, trucking, mining and construction industries globally. Today, Applied Intuition Defense provides rapid, agile software development best practices from the commercial automotive industry to major programs across the Department of Defense.