XTI Aerospace taps Oak Ridge supercomputer in development of its TriFan 600 VTOL
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - XTI Aerospace, Inc., in Englewood, Colo., announced developments in the design of its TriFan 600 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, completing more than 1,500 complex computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Frontier supercomputer. The simulations are enabling XTI’s engineering team to analyze and refine the aircraft’s aerodynamic performance across a range of flight conditions in preparation for wind tunnel testing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification process.
The Frontier supercomputer, capable of performing over a quintillion calculations per second, allowed the company to digitally simulate the TriFan 600 in a variety of configurations, attitudes, and mission profiles. The high-speed analysis helped confirm design expectations and will support future optimization efforts for flight safety, efficiency, and responsiveness.
"As we pioneer the Vertical Economy, our collaboration with Oak Ridge gives XTI a critical advantage: compressing and accelerating the work of our engineering teams while de-risking key aspects of our TriFan 600 xVTOL design," said Scott Pomeroy, Chairman and CEO of XTI Aerospace.
XTI Aerospace, VerdeGo Aero sign MOU to explore hybrid-electric propulsion for UAS applications
Drivetrain deals
In a parallel effort, XTI announced it has selected three key suppliers to develop the TriFan 600’s drivetrain system. Triumph Geared Solutions, headquartered in Macomb, Mich., will be responsible for designing and manufacturing the primary and secondary gearboxes that distribute power across the aircraft’s propulsion system. Kamatics Corporation, based in Bloomfield, Conn., will design and produce the precision shafts that link the dual turboshaft engines to the aircraft’s three ducted fans. Formsprag Clutch, located in Warren, Mich., will develop the clutch mechanisms critical to the drivetrain’s function.
In a separate development, XTI also signed a memorandum of understanding with VerdeGo Aero, a Daytona Beach, Fla.-based producer of hybrid-electric propulsion systems for aviation. The agreement outlines a technology collaboration to evaluate hybrid-electric propulsion options for future TriFan variants intended for both military and commercial uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).
XTI plans to assess how VerdeGo’s hybrid powerplants could be integrated into certain planned aircraft variants, with an emphasis on maximizing performance and efficiency. The collaboration will allow XTI to tailor these designs from the ground up to take full advantage of hybrid propulsion capabilities.
Jamie Whitney
Jamie Whitney joined the staff of Military & Aerospace Electronics and Intelligent Aerospace. He brings seven years of print newspaper experience to the aerospace and defense electronics industry.
Whitney oversees editorial content for the Intelligent Aerospace Website, as well as produce news and features for Military & Aerospace Electronics, attend industry events, produce Webcasts, oversee print production of Military & Aerospace Electronics, and expand the Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics franchises with new and innovative content.
