FEBRUARY 2025AEROSPACEDEFENSEREVIEW.COM19The article is based on an interview between Aerospace and Defense Review and Carrie Haase.Thorough vetting of hardware and software integrations on the ground has enhanced safety and proven to be cost-effective. For example, Aurora's hardware-in-the-loop simulator (HILSIM) enables testing of autonomous behaviors and other new technologies using the same hardware and people as in a live flight test. So, by the time we get to the actual flight, we've already proved out the hardware and software integrations, making the process faster, safer, and more cost-effective.Challenges in Your Business That Current Services Are Unable to SolveWe are starting to implement automated analysis of real-time test data, and this is an area where we see a lot of room for advancement in the industry. Traditionally, we would have to analyze flight data after landing. Real-time analysis allows us to complete additional test points in a single flight. With this technology, we can seamlessly progress from one test point to the next, making our testing processes much more efficient. Real-time analysis is rooted in developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence. There is still so much untapped potential in the use of AI and ML. We are continuing to explore innovative ways to harness this technology for more advanced real-time analysis.Advantages Stand Out to You as Having the Greatest Impact When Flight Testing Operations Are Vertically Integrated with Aircraft Design EngineeringThe integration of flight-testing operations with aircraft design engineering offers significant advantages. With flight testing as an integrated part of the design-test cycle, we can incorporate the learnings of flight tests earlier, when it's easier and more cost-effective to make changes. Early identification and resolution of any potential issues minimize the need for rework and optimizing resources and timelines. Through integration, we are also able to accelerate the design-test cycle, taking new designs and revisions into simulation or into the air quickly and delivering fast feedback to the engineering team. This same functionality drives continuous improvement cycles, resulting in more reliable, mission-ready aircraft.Advice, Suggestions, and Warnings to Professionals in Your Similar Role Working In Other CompaniesThere are essentially three pieces of advice I'd give to others in the industry: 1. Prioritize safety, and never compromise safety for expediency. Make safety a non-negotiable aspect of every decision and operation.2. Stay up to date on emerging technologies. Adaptability to new advancements is crucial for staying ahead in the industry.3. Don't lose sight of the human element and how humans intersect with this technology. Through human-machine teaming, we find ways to augment, rather than replace, a pilot's abilities via interactive teamwork between humans and AI agents. PRIORITIZE SAFETY, AND NEVER COMPROMISE SAFETY FOR EXPEDIENCY. MAKE SAFETY A NON-NEGOTIABLE ASPECT OF EVERY DECISION AND OPERATION
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