How Boom uses software to accelerate hardware development
13 days ago
- #engineering
- #supersonic
- #innovation
- Boom Supersonic developed the XB-1, the world's first independently-developed supersonic jet, with a team of just 50 people and a fraction of the traditional budget.
- The company aims to apply lessons learned from XB-1 to develop the Overture airliner and Symphony engine more efficiently.
- Boom emphasizes rapid iteration in hardware development by reducing the cost of each engineering iteration.
- Software engineers are embedded within hardware teams to automate design workflows, fostering a culture of 'invent together.'
- mkBoom, Boom's proprietary airplane design software, automates whole aircraft level design analysis, significantly speeding up the engineering process.
- mkBoom allows for the evaluation of many more designs, leading to better overall aircraft performance and passenger experience.
- A joint simulation of Overture and Symphony in mkBoom led to a design optimization that recovered 1,000 miles of range, enabling a better cabin design.
- The optimized design also unlocked Boomless Cruise on Overture, allowing for quieter supersonic flights.
- Boom's approach to software and hardware integration creates more enjoyable engineering work and enables the formation of small, highly selective teams.