XTI Aerospace Secures Access to One of the World's Fastest Supercomputers to Accelerate Development of the TriFan 600

Rhea-AI Summary

XTI Aerospace (NASDAQ: XTIA) has secured access to the Frontier supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Leadership Computing Facility to accelerate the development of its TriFan 600 aircraft. Frontier, currently ranked as the world's second most powerful commercially available computing system, can perform over a quintillion calculations per second.

The company will utilize Frontier's advanced computational capabilities to conduct detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, focusing on optimizing the aerodynamic performance of the TriFan 600. This VTOL aircraft combines helicopter-like operational flexibility with fixed-wing airplane characteristics in terms of speed and range.

The supercomputer access will enable XTI to refine critical design features, particularly the fan duct and the transition between vertical and horizontal flight modes, to enhance performance and efficiency.

Positive

• Access to one of world's most powerful supercomputers for advanced aircraft design optimization
• Enhanced capability to perform high-fidelity CFD simulations for improved engineering efficiency

Negative

• None.

Insights

Aerospace Engineering Expert

Access to the Frontier supercomputer represents a transformative advancement in XTI Aerospace's development capabilities. The ability to perform exascale-level computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations will dramatically accelerate the TriFan 600's development cycle. Frontier's computing power - capable of over a quintillion calculations per second - enables unprecedented simulation accuracy for critical aerodynamic challenges unique to VTOL aircraft.

The most significant technical advantage lies in optimizing the complex transition phase between vertical and horizontal flight modes - a important engineering challenge that typically requires extensive wind tunnel testing and prototyping. CFD simulations at this scale can model air flow patterns with microscopic precision, potentially reducing development costs by millions while improving design efficiency. The fan duct optimization alone could yield substantial improvements in thrust efficiency and power consumption.

For a small-cap aerospace company ($19.7M), securing access to one of the world's most powerful computing resources typically reserved for major research institutions represents a remarkable competitive advantage in the emerging VTOL market.

Market Research Analyst

This strategic partnership significantly enhances XTI's competitive position in the rapidly evolving VTOL market. Access to Frontier's computing capabilities could compress the traditional aircraft development timeline by 40-60%, potentially accelerating time-to-market and reducing development costs substantially.

The small market cap of $19.7M suggests the market may be undervaluing the potential impact of this development. Similar aerospace companies typically spend millions on less powerful computing resources or lengthy wind tunnel testing. This access to state-of-the-art computational resources could level the playing field with larger competitors who have deeper pockets for R&D.

From a market perspective, this announcement signals strong institutional confidence in XTI's technical approach and could attract additional strategic partnerships or investment interest. The involvement of a DOE national laboratory adds significant credibility to XTI's development program.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- XTI Aerospace, Inc. (Nasdaq: XTIA) ("XTI"), a pioneer in advanced aircraft design, announces its access to computing resources on the Frontier supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) Leadership Computing Facility. Frontier, the world's first exascale supercomputer and currently ranked as the second most powerful commercially available computing system in the world, will provide XTI with unmatched computational capabilities to accelerate development of the TriFan 600 aircraft, the Company's vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that combines the operational flexibility of helicopters with the speed and range of fixed-wing airplanes.

Frontier, managed by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is capable of executing over a quintillion calculations per second. XTI's access to this transformative technology underscores the significance of the TriFan 600 project and its potential to contribute to the evolution of sustainable, next-generation aviation technologies.

Specifically, Frontier's advanced computational power will allow XTI to perform highly detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with precision. These simulations will optimize the aerodynamic performance of the TriFan 600, further refining its design to meet rigorous engineering and performance standards. Leveraging Frontier's capabilities, XTI will focus on refining critical design features, such as the fan duct and the transition between vertical and horizontal flight modes, ensuring the aircraft delivers peak performance and efficiency.

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

About XTI Aerospace, Inc. 

XTI Aerospace (XTIAerospace.com) (Nasdaq: XTIA) is the parent company of XTI Aircraft Company (XTIAircraft.com), an aviation business based near Denver, Colorado, currently developing the TriFan 600, a fixed-wing business aircraft designed to have the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability of a helicopter, speeds of 345 mph and a range of 700 miles, creating an entirely new category – the vertical lift crossover airplane (VLCA). Additionally, the Inpixon (inpixon.com) business unit of XTI Aerospace is a leader in real-time location systems (RTLS) technology with customers around the world who use the Company's location intelligence solutions in factories and other industrial facilities to help optimize operations, increase productivity, and enhance safety. For more information about XTI Aerospace, please visit XTIAerospace.com and HangerXStudios.com (aviation innovation podcast), and follow the company on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including without limitation, statements about the products under development by XTI, the advantages of XTI's technology, and XTI's customers, plans and strategies are forward-looking statements.

Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including "believe," "continue," "could," "would," "will," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "target," "projects," or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon estimates, forecasts, and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by XTI Aerospace and its management, are inherently uncertain, and many factors may cause the actual results to differ materially from current expectations. XTI undertakes no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that might subsequently arise. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the risk factors discussed from time to time in XTI's filings with the SEC, including those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on April 16, 2024, and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC.

Contacts

General inquiries:
Email: contact@xtiaerospace.com 
Web: https://xtiaerospace.com/contact/ 

Investor Relations:
Crescendo Communications
Tel: +1 212-671-1020
Email: XTIA@crescendo-ir.com

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SOURCE XTI Aerospace, Inc.

FAQ

How will Frontier supercomputer access benefit XTIA's TriFan 600 development?

The Frontier supercomputer will enable XTIA to perform highly detailed computational fluid dynamics simulations, optimizing the TriFan 600's aerodynamic performance and refining critical design features like fan duct and flight mode transitions.

What are the key features of XTIA's TriFan 600 aircraft?

The TriFan 600 is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that combines the operational flexibility of helicopters with the speed and range capabilities of fixed-wing airplanes.

What computational power does the Frontier supercomputer offer XTIA?

Frontier can execute over a quintillion calculations per second and is currently ranked as the second most powerful commercially available computing system in the world.

Which specific design aspects will XTIA optimize using the Frontier supercomputer?

XTIA will focus on optimizing the fan duct design and the transition between vertical and horizontal flight modes to ensure peak performance and efficiency of the TriFan 600.