The Research Institute for Tactical Autonomy (RITA) continues to advance its mission through innovative research, strategic collaboration and workforce development across its nine-university consortium.
RITA’s 2026 Impact at a Glance highlights the institute’s growing research in tactical autonomy and the contributions of researchers, faculty and students across its partner institutions.
RITA by the Numbers
As of October 2026, RITA’s collective impact includes:
- 154 U.S. Citizen Student Participants
- 40+ U.S. Citizen Principal Investigators and Co-Principal Investigators
- $17M+ in Research Investment in 2026
- 37 Research Projects
Beyond the numbers, highlights include recognition of researchers across the consortium, the hosting of the AAAI Spring Symposium this spring and increased Carnegie Research Designations across all nine RITA institutions. Looking ahead, new state-of-the-art research facilities scheduled to launch in 2027 will further support the consortium’s research efforts.
Together, these milestones reflect RITA’s continued progress in advancing tactical autonomy, strengthening research collaboration and developing the next generation of scientists and engineers. As the institute looks ahead, these collective achievements provide a strong foundation for continued innovation and impact.
