FSU research center secures $88M Navy contract to support development of future naval ship power systems

Florida State University’s Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) has secured an $88 million contract from the U.S. Navy to develop advanced modeling, simulation and testing capabilities for the next generation of shipboard power and energy systems through 2031.

“FSU’s Center for Advanced Power Systems is a national leader in highly specialized research and development that supports the U.S. Navy’s most advanced technology needs,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “This major award reflects the Navy’s confidence in FSU’s expertise and underscores the important role our university plays in advancing power systems research with real-world impact.”

CAPS is led by Interim Director Sastry Pamidi, a professor in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. CAPS research faculty members Harsha Ravindra and James Langston are leading the new effort.

The contract, awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), will support a broad research and development effort for the Navy.

Through the project, CAPS will develop digital models and architectures for advanced ship systems and evaluate next-generation electrical power and energy systems before they are implemented on physical vessels.

“Modern naval vessels are essentially moving microgrids, facing energy demands that were unimaginable a few decades ago,” Ravindra said. “This partnership with NAVSEA allows us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in modeling and simulation (M&S) as well as testing of advanced power system components in controller- and power- hardware-in-the-loop environment for shipboard electrical design, rapid prototyping and deployment on ships. The expertise provided by CAPS supports the Navy in design and risk reduction of ships that are faster, more resilient, and exponentially more energy efficient.”

The work is expected to be completed by June 9, 2031, with options that could provide the university an additional $11.5 million in funding for a cumulative $99.5 million award. CAPS also will collaborate with its extensive national network of partners on individual projects that support the broader research agenda.

“Collaborating with leading institutions and industry partners across the country requires a deeply integrated approach,” Langston said. “CAPS has the unique infrastructure, expertise and computational power to serve as the anchor for this nationwide research effort. It’s incredibly rewarding to lead a project that tackles real-world engineering challenges that directly impact national security.”

CAPS and the Navy have a long-standing history of collaboration.

Established in 2000 with support from the Office of Naval Research, CAPS has spent more than 25 years advancing power systems technology. During that time, the center has secured hundreds of millions in grants, trained more than 100 doctoral students who have gone on to careers in academia and industry and pioneered more than 60 patented technologies.

In 2016, CAPS became the first university test site accredited by the U.S. Navy to perform power hardware-in-the-loop simulation testing of megawatt-scale power equipment for surface combatants.

Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson said the award reflects the caliber of CAPS researchers and the center’s world-class capabilities.

“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Ravindra, Dr. Langston, Dr. Pamidi and the entire CAPS team for their leadership and hard work,” Patterson said. “Through this partnership with NAVSEA, FSU is helping shape the future of naval power systems, advancing national security innovation and demonstrating how our researchers translate groundbreaking ideas into real-world solutions.”