The Autonomous Capabilities Suite (ACS, pronounced aces) is a modular software framework for unmanned systems that enables the sensors, payloads, and behaviors to be self-contained and vehicle independent.

ACS benefits include:

• Robotic applications can be built as a collection of independent software modules
• Re-use of software for cross-platform compatibility across mission applications
• Rapid development and integration of new capabilities
• Flexibility to incorporate future advances in computational hardware, sensors, and autonomy research
• Interoperability with open-source software (e.g, ROS, MOOS-ivP, CARACaS); allows leveraging of open-source community and Government testing with minimal risk
• Independence from communications protocols (e.g., JAUS/SAE, STANAG 4586); enables integration with multiple vehicle types

ACS was developed by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SPAWAR) and is Government owned.

ACS was developed in order to:

• Provide easy collaboration with other Government labs, industry, and academia
• Enable addition of 3rd party modules with minimal integration costs
• Allow simultaneous integration with multiple proprietary systems