Advanced Test Platform Software to Accelerate Hypersonic Testing

In the proposed Phase II STTR program, APEX Turbines and its university partner, The University of Notre Dame (UND), will develop and demonstrate a Digital Engineering for Test capability that will enhance and accelerate Hypersonic and other high-performance aerospace systems testing and development.  This includes developing capabilities for advanced data fusion and real-time processing, data visualization, and integration with physics-based models.  This dual-use software technology will aim to accelerate test and engineering design activities by 30-50%. The new software product, DX+, will be matured and validated via testing on a 3D-printed sub-scale hypersonic model – initially at the University of Notre Dame high-speed wind tunnel, and a final test demonstration conducted at AEDC’s VKF high-mach test facility (Wind Tunnel D) in partnership with AEDC’s 717th Test Squadron and AFRL/RQH.  APEX and UND will demonstrate the ability to conduct real-time high speed data processing, data visualization, and integration with physics-based models for real-time comparison between test data and performance simulations.  To support the Phase II program, AEDC is funding the VKF rig test for DX+ software demonstration & validation. APEX is also partnering with re-usable hypersonic system developers Hermeus, Venus Aerospace, and Velontra, and will demonstrate the DX+ software’s new Digital Engineering capabilities as part of their planned vehicle system development tests. Following the Phase II program, the DX+ software system will be integrated with AEDC’s enterprise System for Test data Acquisition, Recording and Redistribution (eSTARR) and other test IT Data Systems in partnership with AEDC 717th Test Squadron and AFRL/RQH.  These customers & end users are currently the lead test organizations for DAF hypersonics testing.  APEX has secured letters of support from Venus Aerospace and Velontra as well as Customer Memorandum and Phase III funding commitments from AEDC, who is a 20+ year customer of other APEX software products.