Who We Are

Wide Swath Research is a radar technology company focused on high-performance, FPGA-based digital backends — often called software-defined radar. We build advanced SDR hardware, firmware, and software products, alongside integration and design services, to support demanding radar applications across ground, airborne, and space platforms.

Our Story

WSR began in 2010 as our founder’s side project while working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Early projects were modest — even a medical device controller and treadmill computer — but these laid the groundwork. By 2014, WSR was winning contracts with NASA and defense primes, growing into a trusted engineering partner for remote sensing systems.

In 2022, Brandon re-connected with Torry, a longtime mentor from their University of Kansas radar lab days. With Torry’s experience, WSR shifted from being purely a services company to pursuing its bigger vision: building radar products of our own while continuing to serve customers through engineering contracts.

What We Build / Offer

Today, WSR offers:

• Astra SDR Product Line — high-performance, multi-channel, FPGA-based software-defined radars with optional Astra OS.
• Radar Testbed / Environment Simulator — flexible test equipment for lab validation, algorithm development, and scene playback.
• Engineering Services — FPGA and radar backend design, system integration, and consulting.

Why We Do It

With more than 50 years of combined experience, our team has developed digital subsystems for radars and radiometers spanning NASA missions, defense systems, and commercial instruments. We’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and where the technology is headed. At WSR, we’re channeling that experience into building flexible, powerful radar platforms while staying true to who we are: a small, hands-on team that cares about the details and takes pride in our work.

Company Principals

Brandon Heavey: President

Role @ WSR: Brandon is the founder and President of Wide Swath Research, responsible for both company growth and execution while remaining a key technical contributor.

Employment History: Brandon began his career in the Radar Section at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He designed both RF and digital electronics for a wide range of instruments, including UAVSAR (airborne L-band), GLISTIN (Ka-band DBF demonstration system), and the Mars landing radar for the Curiosity rover (Ka-band). His breadth of experience led him to serve as Instrument Engineer (JPL’s role with overall responsibility for an instrument and its engineering team) for the AirMOSS airborne P-band radar. After 10 years at JPL, he founded Wide Swath Research, which has since consulted for organizations large and small, including NASA, prime defense contractors, and start-ups.

Education: Brandon holds an M.S. in Electrical Engineering (2005) and a B.S. in Computer Engineering (2003) from the University of Kansas, where he was named Outstanding Graduate and awarded a NASA fellowship supporting his radar research — including field campaigns in Greenland and Antarctica.

Summary: With more than 20 years of radar experience, Brandon’s work has ranged from integration and test of the 35 GHz Mars landing radar, to real-time FPGA signal processing, to leading multiple aircraft radar developments. Beyond WSR, he has also co-founded two other successful businesses in unrelated industries.

Torry Akins: Principal Engineer

Role @ WSR: Torry is Principal Digital Engineer at Wide Swath Research, providing technical leadership across digital architectures. He specializes in high-performance, reconfigurable, FPGA-based radar subsystems, and ensures that WSR’s hardware, firmware, and software efforts meet exacting standards.

Employment History: Torry began his career in the radar section at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, focusing on new technology development. He then joined the University of Kansas’ Radar & Remote Sensing Laboratory, where he led digital hardware development (and mentored WSR’s future founder, Brandon). Later, he joined Garmin International as Team Leader of the Transponders Group in the Aviation Hardware Department, before moving on to Remote Sensing Solutions as Principal Hardware/Firmware Engineer, where he led the digital design of their ARENA platform.

Education: Torry earned both his M.S. (1998) and B.S. (1996) degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kansas.

Summary: With over 25 years of radar experience, Torry has contributed to commercial, government, and academic programs spanning ground-based, airborne, and satellite sensors. His work includes everything from waveform generators and high-speed data acquisition systems to advanced signal processors, with hands-on involvement in hardware, firmware, and software.