Grant to provide computational modeling support for hypersonic vehicles

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – HySonic Technologies LLC, which specializes in the development of computational models for the simulation of flow problems of interest to the defense industry, has received a federal grant worth $140,000.

The startup, founded by Carlo Scalo, a Purdue University assistant professor of mechanical, and aeronautical and astronautical engineering, courtesy appointment, received a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Navy.

Scalo said the funding will be used to provide computational modeling support toward designing long-lasting and sustainable hypersonic vehicles. Hypersonic vehicles are capable of flying at least six times the speed of sound. At those extreme speeds, structural integrity of the vehicle is the primary concern.

“We are leveraging years of fundamental research carried out in my research group at Purdue sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.” Scalo said.

HySonic Technologies last year won a $20,000 “Black Award” investment through the Elevate Purdue Foundry Fund, a joint venture between Elevate Ventures , a private venture development organization, and the Purdue Foundry, an entrepreneurship and commercialization accelerator. Scalo said that funding helped HySonic Technologies be competitive for this SBIR award.

“Purdue and the Purdue Research Foundation provided valuable support needed to help get HySonic Technologies started. We will work feverishly to compete for Phase 2 funding, which could provide up to $1 million in funding to advance our company,” Scalo said.

The technology aligns with Purdue’s Giant Leaps celebration, acknowledging the university’s global advancements in space as part of Purdue’s 150th anniversary. It is one of the four themes of the yearlong celebration’s Ideas Festival, designed to showcase Purdue as an intellectual center solving real-world issues.

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The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires property; protects Purdue’s intellectual property; and promotes entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Purdue. The foundation manages the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Research Park and Purdue Technology Centers. The foundation received the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Innovation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at [email protected].

Writer: Tom Coyne, 765-588-1044, [email protected]

Sources: Carlo Scalo, [email protected]