Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Draper Laboratory is an American not - for - profit research and development organization in Cambridge , Massachusetts . Draper focuses on the design , development , and deployment of advanced technology solutions to problems in national security , space exploration , health care and energy . The lab was created in the early 1930s by Charles Stark Draper at MIT as the Instrumentation Lab . It was renamed for its founder in 1970 and separated from MIT in 1973 to become an independent , non - profit organization . Draper ' s expertise includes the areas of guidance , navigation , and control technologies and systems ; fault - tolerant computing ; advanced algorithms and software solutions ; modeling and simulation ; and MEMS and multichip module technology . Business areas . Draper applies its expertise to autonomous air , land , sea and space systems ; information integration ; distributed sensors and networks ; precision - guided munitions ; biomedical engineering ; chemical / biological defense ; and energy system modeling and management . When appropriate , Draper works with partners to transition their technology to commercial production . Draper is organized into seven areas of business : Locations . Draper has locations in six U . S . cities : headquarters in Cambridge , Massachusetts ; NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston , Texas ; Draper Bioengineering Center at University of South Florida in Tampa ; Draper Multichip Module Facility in St . Petersburg , Florida ; Washington , DC ; and Huntsville , Alabama . History . Draper ’ s roots date to the 1930s when Dr . Charles Stark Draper created a teaching laboratory at MIT to develop the instrumentation needed to make precise measurements of angular and linear motion . During World War II , Draper ’ s lab was known as the “ Confidential Instrument Development Laboratory ” ( CID ) . Later , the name was changed to the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory . The Laboratory was renamed for its founder in 1970 and remained a part of MIT until 1973 when it became an independent , not - for - profit research and development corporation . A primary focus of Draper ’ s efforts throughout its history has been the development and early application of advanced guidance , navigation , and control ( GN & C ) technologies to meet the U . S . Department of Defense ’ s and NASA ’ s needs . The Laboratory ’ s achievements includes the design and development of the world ’ s most accurate and reliable guidance systems for undersea - launched ballistic missiles as well as the highly precise , ultra - reliable GN & C systems needed to guide the Apollo astronauts to the Moon and back safely to Earth . Draper ’ s work has contributed substantially to the development of today ’ s complement of precise inertial sensors , software , and ultra - reliable systems critical for precision GN & C of commercial and military aircraft , submarines , strategic and tactical missiles , spacecraft , and unmanned vehicles . Draper Prize . Administered by the National Academy of Engineering , this international prize is the engineering profession ' s highest honor . It is given annually for engineering achievements that have significantly impacted society by improving the quality of life , providing the ability to live freely and comfortably , and / or permitting access to information . The $ 500 , 000 prize can be awarded for achievement in any engineering discipline . Technical education . The support of technical education is a key element of Draper ' s corporate mission and is manifested at all levels of learning . The research - based Draper Laboratory Fellow Program sponsors about 50 graduate students each year . Students typically go on to leadership positions in the government , military , industry , and education . Draper also supports on - campus funded research with faculty and principal investigators through the University R & D program . Undergraduate student employment and internship opportunities are available as well . Outreach . Draper Laboratory has an extensive STEM K - 12 and community outreach program that was formalized in 1984 in order to invest in the local community ' s quality of life . Each year , more than $ 175 , 000 is distributed through Draper ’ s Community Relations Programs . Priority is given to advancing engineering and science education through community educational outreach programs — including internships , co - ops , participation in science festivals and the provision of tours and speakers - is an extension of this mission . Draper in the media . Draper is often featured in a variety of local and national news outlets . The organization ’ s website keeps an updated list of recent headlines .