XTI accelerates TriFan 600 development with supercomputer

Access to the advanced computing resources will refine the company's VTOL design optimisation process and improve efficiency for next-generation aviation.

XTI Aerospace is utilising the Frontier supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to advance the development of its TriFan 600 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Frontier, the world’s first exascale supercomputer, is managed by the Department of Energy’s ORNL and can perform over a quintillion calculations per second.

XTI plans to use Frontier’s computational power for detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, which will optimise the aerodynamic performance of the TriFan 600. These simulations aim to refine key design elements, such as the fan duct and the transition between vertical and horizontal flight modes, ensuring the aircraft achieves peak performance and efficiency.

"Gaining access to Frontier marks a significant leap forward in our mission to revolutionise air mobility," says David Ambrose, Vice President of Engineering at XTI. "The ability to perform high-fidelity CFD simulations at this scale will drastically enhance our design optimisation process. It brings us closer to realising the full potential of the TriFan 600, and we are deeply grateful to Oak Ridge National Laboratory for this invaluable opportunity."