The 秘密直播 Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and Purdue University have signed an agreement that will allow both institutions to harness one another鈥檚 capabilities and expertise in the field of hypersonics. The agreement centers on hypersonic research and related technologies.

The partnership aims to foster collaboration between the institutions, with focus on hypersonic materials, guidance and navigation control systems, and sensors. APL, which brings decades of experience developing systems and technology solutions in the precision strike and air and missile defense arenas, and Purdue鈥檚 Institute for Global Security and Defense Innovation will be able to work together on research in microelectronics, quantum information, integrated data science, artificial intelligence and robotics.

As part of the agreement, APL will also provide Purdue University faculty and students with access to its facilities, including APL鈥檚 robust additive manufacturing hub at its Laurel, Maryland, campus, as well as its subject-matter experts in the Laboratory鈥檚 Force Projection and Air and Missile Defense Sectors, and Research and Exploratory Development Department. APL also hopes to work further with graduate and doctoral students from Purdue through internships, mentoring and other avenues.

鈥淭his is a natural opportunity for our institutions to work together to expand our collective knowledge about hypersonic capabilities and more,鈥� said APL鈥檚 Precision Strike Mission Area Executive (MAE) Kirk Shawhan. Along with Shawhan, APL鈥檚 Strategic Deterrence MAE Stephen Lewia, Air and Missile Defense MAE Vishal Giare, and Research and Exploratory Development MAE Andrew Merkle will oversee the strategic partnership.

鈥淲e are looking forward to fostering this relationship and creating a collaborative environment for APL and Purdue staff members and students,鈥� Shawhan said.

APL has collaborated with Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, on the Boundary Layer Transition (BOLT) Experiments, partnering with Purdue professors, researchers and graduate students on the project and utilizing Purdue鈥檚 unique facilities and wind tunnels. Purdue houses a 鈥渜uiet鈥� Mach 6 Ludwieg tube in the Boeing-Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Mach 6 Quiet Tunnel facility鈥攐ne of the world鈥檚 largest鈥攐n its campus. Under the new agreement, APL staff members will have enhanced access to Purdue鈥檚 wind-tunnel facilities for further projects.

鈥淚n a typical hypersonic wind tunnel, there are pressure waves 鈥� acoustic waves that come off the nozzle and into the test section 鈥� which can change the results of aerodynamic experiments significantly,鈥� said Joseph Jewell, assistant professor in Purdue鈥檚 School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. 鈥淥urs is designed so that the level of those disturbances is up to 200 times smaller. This agreement with APL will allow us to collaborate in a way that鈥檚 much smoother and easier in the future.鈥�