Asters: Leveraging AI to Elevate Emergency Preparedness

Asters is building smarter, more adaptive virtual environments that move beyond the limitations of traditional simulations to elevate emergency preparedness and homeland security training.

Joshua Waite and Ani Ramesh first met while working together on an NSF-funded project. During this time, they discovered a shared vision for tackling one of the biggest challenges in simulation technology: the inability of traditional tools to adapt to real-world complexities. That partnership deepened when they mentored Suraj Joshi, a rising talent in applied math and computer science, during a summer internship. Together, the trio laid the foundation for Asters, a startup focused on creating AI-powered digital twins that elevate emergency preparedness and homeland security training.

Now, Asters is building smarter, more adaptive virtual environments that move beyond the limitations of traditional simulations. “Current tools depend on rigid, pre-programmed behaviors, which severely limit their ability to replicate unpredictable events or realistic human behavior,” said Ani Ramesh. “We’re creating environments where AI agents can perceive, learn, and act intelligently within high-fidelity digital twins.”

The team’s innovative approach blends proprietary reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms, seamless data pipelines, and immersive environments built with Unreal Engine. “Our modular software architecture enables us to tailor simulations for specific use cases,” added Ramesh. “This flexibility is critical for addressing real-world challenges in homeland security and beyond.”

The timing couldn’t be better for Asters. Advancements in large language models (LLMs), vision language models (VLMs), and physical AI foundational models like NVIDIA Cosmos are unlocking new possibilities in 3D simulation technology. These breakthroughs allow AI agents to achieve unprecedented levels of understanding, perception, and control within virtual environments. “This is an exciting era for simulation technology,” said Joshua Waite. “Our expertise and entrepreneurial drive uniquely position us to harness these advancements and create solutions with real impact.”

Asters has already caught the attention of key players in the industry. Feedback from SENTRY, a DHS Center of Excellence, and DHS program managers has been overwhelmingly positive. The team is preparing for a pilot study of their product and plans to engage with SENTRY’s Industry Advisory Board—which includes major companies like Raytheon and Cambridge Consultants—for critical feedback.

The company’s immediate focus is delivering its first product iteration, tailored for emergency preparedness simulations, to DHS stakeholder partners. “Securing end-user feedback is vital for refining our solutions and prioritizing features that meet market demands,” said Waite. Beyond emergency preparedness, Asters has its sights set on broader applications, from defense simulations like war games and logistics modeling to enterprise operations simulations.

Looking ahead, the team envisions expanding their impact across multiple industries. “Our ultimate goal is to create simulations that can adapt to any scenario, from training autonomous systems to testing interoperability,” said Ramesh. “We want to provide organizations with the tools to prepare for the unexpected and make informed decisions in real-time.”

Through the Transform program, Asters hopes to accelerate its growth by leveraging the resources of the University of Chicago. “We’re eager to collaborate with UChicago’s ecosystem, including DSI scientists and Polsky’s corporate partners, to advance our research and refine our technology,” said Ramesh. The team also looks forward to developing a robust go-to-market strategy with guidance from the Booth School of Business and connecting with potential investors through the program’s extensive network.

With a team driven by innovation and a clear vision for the future, Asters is well on its way to redefining what’s possible in emergency preparedness and simulation technology. As Ramesh put it, “We’re not just building better simulations—we’re empowering organizations to be ready for whatever challenges come their way.”