Free, Powerful, and Ready for Research: RTI Connext DDS University Licensing

When I was in college, I could download software suites for free or at a fraction of their retail price. I once purchased MATLAB and LabVIEW—complete with the Signal Processing and Communications Toolboxes—at under $150. Those tools were not only valuable educational resources, but they also became essential skill sets on my résumé and in the projects I later tackled. Mastering a robust software package—and one that enables communication between disparate, heterogeneous systems—has proven invaluable in the workplace and when confronting large‑scale data challenges.

Through RTI’s University Program, qualified university students, researchers, and classrooms receive a license for the latest full Connext DDS Professional package—identical to the version offered to our paying customers, with no hidden limits or throttles. It’s absolutely free.

Curious how our University Program users employ RTI Connext DDS in academia? Check out the PLANET Project profile. The Platform for the Deployment and Operation of Heterogeneous Networked Cooperating Objects (PLANET) runs out of the Universität Duisburg‑Essen in Germany. The project uses Connext DDS as middleware to enable seamless communication between heterogeneous cooperating objects—UAVs, UGVs, and ground sensor networks. They built a suite of PLANET services on Connext DDS to simplify deployment, operation, and maintenance of these systems.

The PLANET initiative is just one of many university projects powered by RTI Connext DDS. It exemplifies how the University Program enables students to learn course objectives, build marketable skill sets, and create sophisticated systems that translate into real‑world jobs.

MATLAB and LabVIEW integrate tightly with Connext DDS, streamlining distributed application development. Install the RTI DDS Toolkit for LabVIEW directly from the VI Package Manager or via this link. MATLAB classes for Connext DDS are available at this page, and Simulink blocks can also be downloaded there. All of these resources are free—both for University Program members and the broader community. If you’re interested in how Connext DDS can work alongside LabVIEW and Simulink, watch this brief 2‑minute video where Sara explains the RTI DDS Toolkit for LabVIEW.

To apply for your free University license, visit our website. If you have any questions, post them to our Community Forum—we’re happy to help!