Breault Research Organization (BRO)

What Breault Research Organization (BRO) does

Breault Research Organization (BRO) is a privately held optical engineering firm founded in 1979 by Dr. Robert Breault in Tucson, Arizona. The company develops and commercializes the ASAP non-sequential raytracing engine, a proprietary kernel refined over more than 40 years that powers its flagship optical simulation software suite: ASAP (standalone), APEX (a SolidWorks add-in), and ReflectorCAD (a segmented reflector design tool), along with add-on modules such as ELTM for automotive lighting compliance (SAE, ECE, FMVSS), the BIO Toolkit for biomedical optics (Advanced Human Eye Model, Realistic Skin Model), and a CATIA V5 translator. The kernel handles scattering, diffraction, ghost reflections, thermal emissions, and coherent propagation, and ships with over 800 example scripts plus a Light Source Library of thousands of source models.

BRO sells primarily through perpetual software licenses with a required annual Software Support/Maintenance plan, complemented by subscription-based student bundles (APEX+ASAP at $15-$22/month), live and on-demand training courses ($750-$3,100), optical engineering consulting services, and two hardware products (the Gas Detection Sensor and the Luminous Intensity Meter). Distribution combines a direct sales force in the Americas with regional value-added resellers covering Canada, China, Australia, India, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, plus software trials and the BRO Software Academy on-demand platform.

The company serves aerospace and defense customers (NASA, U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, NOAA, FAA, JPL, plus legacy work on Hubble, LIGO, Cassini, Galileo), automotive lighting manufacturers, consumer electronics and display designers, bio-optics and medical device firms, telecommunications and fiber-optics engineers, and academic users. Customers in 35 countries are supported by an internal Technical Customer Service team. Operations are ISO 9001:2015 certified (valid through 2027), and the firm has adopted CI/CD development practices across its software team. Ownership remains concentrated with the founder and executive management; no institutional investment is indicated.

Name

Breault Research Organization (BRO)

Legal name

Breault Research Organization, Inc.

Website

https://breault.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Breault Research Organization (BRO) develops and licenses the ASAP optical simulation software suite, including APEX for SolidWorks and ReflectorCAD, serving aerospace and defense, automotive lighting, biomedical, and academic optical engineers across 35 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optical Engineering Simulation Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341), Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Rendering, Graphics & Simulation Middleware (MPAFAFAB)

Keywords

• Optical simulation software
• Non-sequential raytracing
• Stray light analysis
• Illumination design software
• Optical engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Perpetual Licenses: BRO sells perpetual (one-time) licenses for ASAP, APEX, ReflectorCAD, and ASAP modules (BIO Toolkit, ELTM, CATIA). A perpetual license remains valid as long as the license and host computer/network are functional. A Software Support Plan (Maintenance) is a required yearly purchase providing software updates, bug fixes, security releases, technical support, rehosting assistance, and free license re-issuance in event of hardware failure or catastrophic loss.
2. Student Subscriptions (APEX+ASAP Bundle): BRO offers subscription-based APEX+ASAP Student License Bundles with 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month options ranging from $15–$22/month. Includes license bundle, installation support, and student pricing on training courses. Must register with valid .edu email. Available in the US and Europe.
3. Engineering Services: BRO provides optical engineering consulting services including analysis, design, prototyping, and testing. Services span stray light analysis, illumination system design, coherent/diffractive systems, optical systems engineering, source modeling, and industry-specific solutions for aerospace, automotive, bio-optics, consumer electronics, displays, telecom, and metrology.
4. Hardware Products: BRO designs and manufactures proprietary hardware products including the Gas Detection Sensor (GDS), an aircraft-mountable two-phase gas/leak detection sensor for methane and ethane detection; and the Luminous Intensity Meter (LIM), a portable battery-powered photometric measurement instrument.
5. Software Support/Maintenance Plan: Annual Software Support Plan (Maintenance) provides access to software updates, bug fixes, security releases, technical support, rehosting assistance, and free license re-issuance. Also provides discounts on all training courses. Required for license protection against catastrophic loss.
6. Training Courses: BRO offers both live instructor-led and on-demand training courses for ASAP and APEX. Introductory and advanced courses cover ASAP Fundamentals, Stray Light, Wave Optics, Ghost Analysis, Automotive Lighting, Illumination Design, Bio Optics, and APEX Introductory. Pricing varies from $750–$3,100 depending on course level and subscription status.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Breault Research Organization develops and sells optical simulation software (ASAP, APEX, ReflectorCAD) powered by a proprietary non-sequential raytracing kernel for virtual prototyping, stray light analysis, and illumination design of optical systems. The company also provides optical engineering consulting services, professional training courses (live and on-demand via BRO Software Academy), and a small portfolio of proprietary hardware products (Gas Detection Sensor, Luminous Intensity Meter).

Product overview

BRO offers a suite of optical simulation software products centered around ASAP (Advanced Systems Analysis Program), the company's flagship optical engineering software. The portfolio includes APEX, a SolidWorks-integrated optical simulation add-in, and ReflectorCAD, a specialized reflector design tool. Add-on modules extend ASAP capabilities: ELTM for automotive lighting compliance testing, BIO Toolkit for biomedical optics simulation, and CATIA integration for CATIA V5 users. Beyond software, BRO provides engineering services, cybersecurity services, professional training (both instructor-led and on-demand via BRO Software Academy), and hardware products including the Gas Detection Sensor and Luminous Intensity Meter. The company operates under ISO 9001:2015 certification and serves customers globally through a network of regional representatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ASAP (Advanced Systems Analysis Program): Time-proven standard in optical software offering unmatched capability, flexibility, speed, and accuracy for optical system simulation.
• APEX
• ReflectorCAD
• BIO Toolkit
• ELTM (Exterior Lighting Test Module)

Products and services

• ASAP (Advanced Systems Analysis Program) Flagship non-sequential raytracing optical simulation software that accurately predicts real-world performance of virtually any optical system through ray tracing, stray light analysis, and beam propagation. Used by optical engineers and scientists across aerospace/defense, automotive, bio-optics, displays, telecom, and metrology.
• APEX Optical simulation and illumination add-in for the SolidWorks 3D-modeling environment, based on the ASAP raytracing engine, enabling design and analysis of optical and illumination systems with seamless CAD integration.
• ReflectorCAD (RefCAD) Graphical reflector design tool that allows click-and-drag adjustments to luminous intensity patterns corresponding to individual reflector segments, with automatic prescription updates. Includes over 200 source models, IGES import/export, and ASAP integration. Used for illumination and reflector design.
• ELTM (Exterior Lighting Test Module) ASAP add-on module providing SAE, ECE, and FMVSS compliance testing for automotive exterior lighting, designed to work with ASAP or as a stand-alone application.
• BIO Toolkit ASAP add-on comprising the Advanced Human Eye Model (AHEM) and Realistic Skin Model (RSM) for simulating light propagation and scattering in biological systems. Used for biomedical, retinal imaging, surgical lighting, and medical device design applications.
• CATIA V5 Integration Module ASAP module that opens native CATIA V5 files from within ASAP without requiring a separate concurrent CATIA installation; supports CATIA release versions r13-23.
• Optical Engineering Services Consulting and engineering services spanning analysis, design, prototyping, and testing for aerospace, automotive, bio-optics, consumer electronics, displays, telecommunications, and metrology. Includes stray light analysis, illumination system design, coherent/diffractive systems, source modeling, and optical systems engineering.
• Cybersecurity Services Cybersecurity advisory services including governance/risk/compliance (GRC) program development, cyber engineering, red/blue teaming, vulnerability and penetration testing, ISSO-as-a-service, and cybersecurity training.
• Software Support Plan (Maintenance) Annual maintenance plan providing software updates, bug fixes, security releases, technical support, engineering support, free license re-issuance for hardware/network failures, and discounts on training courses. Required for perpetual license holders.
• Software Training Courses Instructor-led (live) and on-demand training courses for ASAP and APEX, including Fundamentals, Stray Light, Wave Optics, Ghost Analysis, Automotive Lighting, Illumination Design, and Bio Optics courses taught by senior optical engineers.
• Gas Detection Sensor (GDS) Aircraft- or helicopter-mountable two-phased gas/leak detection sensor using Gas Filter Correlation Radiometry. Designed for pipeline inspection, leak detection, and hydrocarbon detection at 300-meter AGL operating altitude.
• Luminous Intensity Meter (LIM) Portable battery-powered photometric measurement instrument that measures light intensity emissions for compliance verification against light-pollution restrictions and safety specifications in stadiums, parks, and residential areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• BRO's stray light analysis of the Hubble Space Telescope increased Hubble's ability to see by a factor of 100,000
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature13 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered key, regional and core.

• MentorOptiX Solutions Inc.keyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 April 2025New distribution partnership (announced April 24, 2025) with MentorOptiX Solutions, founded by Kaiwen Cheng and based in Ontario, Canada. MentorOptiX serves as BRO's representative for software sales, software training, and technical support in Canada. Founded by Kaiwen Cheng, who has optical expertise and ASAP proficiency for addressing cutting-edge customer challenges. This represents BRO's commitment to expanding its global reach and enhancing support for Canadian customers.
• Wuhan Asdoptics Science and Technology Co., Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorValue-added reseller covering Australia and China. Provides software sales, training, demonstrations, and support. Contact: Jessen Lui at Building A, Optics Valley Times Square, Wuhan, China. Website: www.asdoptics.com.
• Lanika SolutionsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorValue-added reseller covering India. Provides software sales, training, demonstrations, and support. Located at TF-04, Gold Signature, No. 95, Mosque Road, Frazer Town, Bangalore, India 560005.
• OCTEC Inc.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorValue-added reseller covering Japan. Provides software sales, training, and support. Contact: Pierre Kopff. Located at HYATS2822 B1F 2-8-22, Nakane, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan 152-0031.
• Zernike InternationalregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorValue-added reseller covering Korea. Provides software sales, training, and support. Contact: Richard Cho. Located at 413 ho, A-dong, U Tower, 767, Sinsu-ro, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea 16827.
• Uotek Co., Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorValue-added reseller covering Taiwan. Provides software sales, training, and support. Contact: Ryan Hsiao. Located at No. 9, Fuxing 2nd Rd., Zhubei City, Hsinchu County, Taiwan.
• University of Arizona Wyant College of Optical SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRO participates in the University's Industrial Affiliates program, which connects industry with academia to advance student training and create a talent pipeline. BRO's software team attends the annual Industrial Affiliates Showcase and Workshop in Tucson. Summer internships available to students. BRO was founded by Dr. Robert Breault who earned his Ph.D. in Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ansys (Zemax OpticStudio): Ansys owns Zemax, the dominant optical design software used for lens and illumination system design. It is BRO's most direct competitor, addressing the same optical engineering buyer with a broader engineering simulation platform and greater R&D resources.
• Synopsys (CODE V): Synopsys CODE V is a leading optical design and analysis software package used for imaging system design. It competes directly with ASAP at aerospace, defense, and consumer optics accounts and is bundled into a much larger EDA/simulation portfolio.
• Lambda Research Corporation (TracePro): TracePro is a non-sequential raytracing and stray light analysis tool that overlaps directly with ASAP's core capabilities, particularly in illumination design and stray-light characterization for aerospace and lighting customers.
• Photon Engineering (FRED): FRED is an optical engineering software platform for virtual prototyping, illumination, and stray light analysis. Its feature set and target use cases (aerospace, lighting, defense) closely mirror ASAP, making it a like-for-like competitor.
• LightTrans (VirtualLab Fusion): VirtualLab Fusion is a physical-optics and raytracing simulator for optical system design with emphasis on wave optics, laser systems, and micro-optics. It targets overlapping optical engineering buyers and competes on advanced phenomena that ASAP also addresses.

Broad incumbents

• COMSOL: COMSOL Multiphysics is a broad physics-based simulation platform with an Optics Module that addresses ray tracing, heat transfer, and multiphysics coupling. It is a wider-portfolio incumbent overlapping with BRO in optical and illumination use cases rather than specializing in optics alone.

Emerging players

• OptiLayer: OptiLayer specializes in thin-film optical coating design and analysis, addressing a narrower subsegment of the optical design stack where BRO has limited dedicated tooling. It represents an adjacent competitive vector for account mind-share.

Others

• Dassault Systèmes (3DEXPERIENCE / CATIA): Dassault is BRO's integration partner via the CATIA V5 module and a major CAD vendor in the mechanical design ecosystem. It is included as an adjacent ecosystem player rather than a direct competitor; its platform reach influences BUY-side CAD/optics integration expectations.
• MathWorks (MATLAB): MATLAB is widely used by optical engineers for numerical computing, scripting, and post-processing of simulation outputs. It is an adjacent/ecosystem tool that can substitute for or complement ASAP scripting, impacting BRO's seat-by-seat competitive position.
• Wolfram Research (Mathematica): Wolfram Mathematica is a technical computing environment used in optical design and analysis. It is an enabling/adjacent tool for optical engineering workflows, included for its relevance to BRO's scripting and analysis use cases rather than as a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BreaultResearch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BreaultResearch
• Facebookfacebook.com/BreaultResearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/breault-research-organization

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Breault Research Organization (BRO)