Hypersonix signs MoU with Nominal Systems for digital twin prototype

Sydney-based Hypersonix Launch Systems, a global leader in hypersonic unmanned aerial systems, has signed a MoU with Nominal Systems, the next generation digital twinning platform.

Hypersonix is teaming with Nominal Systems to develop Hyper Twin X TM a digital twin concept demonstrator of Hypersonix’s DART AE hypersonic vehicle. The vehicle is set to launch in 2024 and has gained attention by US Defence players such as the Defense Innovation Unit and Kratos Defense.

DART AE is a 3.5 m long hypersonic aircraft that is powered by a single SPARTAN scramjet engine and makes significant use of 3-D printed high temperature metal alloys. It uses hydrogen fuel and will fly at Mach 7.

Andy Mulholland, Head of Product at Hypersonix said, “Hypersonic flight is an extremely hostile environment and simulating the physics at these speeds is a complex but important aspect of mission success. We have built a unique high performance simulation capability and we’ll be capturing lots of flight data once DART AE takes to the sky. Combining these things into a hypersonic digital twin will allow us to fly DART AE virtually, see the impacts of mission concept changes, and allow customers to train hypersonic detect & intercept systems. “

A digital twin is a 1:1 virtual representation of a real-world asset – geometry, performance, behaviour, and condition. Hypersonix and Nominal Systems are not just building a digital twin of the flyer, but also of the atmospheric environment that it operates in.

Current hypersonic flight programs take a long time and are costly and there’s no guarantee of flight success. A hypersonic digital twin opens the possibility of endless virtual flight tests to prove out missions before the real flight vehicle is built.

Combining this with actual flight data to be collected in DART AE’s maiden flight in 2024, will be taking things to a new level and enable the next generation of hypersonic technology development.

Michael Smart, CTO and Head of Engineering at Hypersonix says: “This is an exciting collaboration. The learning and data we gain from the flight of DART AE will be a game changer for the development of our future product portfolio including VISR and Delta-Velos Orbiter, but also for our clients to use.”