Northrop Grumman has announced a strategic partnership with Luminary Cloud to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) tools into the design process for spacecraft propulsion components. This collaboration seeks to harness Northrop Grumman’s extensive experience in propulsion engineering, combined with Luminary Cloud’s advanced AI platform and the support of NVIDIA’s Computer-Aided Engineering team.
The initiative is designed to streamline the development process, reduce costs, and foster innovation in spacecraft design. A key feature of this project is the application of a “physics AI” model, which stands in contrast to traditional generative AI. While generative AI can create complex outputs, such as text or visuals, it often does not possess a deep understanding of the physical forces and spatial dynamics at play in real-world systems. In contrast, physics AI leverages those principles to effectively simulate real-world interactions and optimize the design of components, such as spacecraft thruster nozzles.
Han Park, Vice President of AI integration at Northrop Grumman Space Systems, emphasized the significance of this technology, stating, “Physics AI is the next level of complexity in AI, and Northrop Grumman is bringing this technology to our design engineers to dramatically speed up hardware development.” He further highlighted that advancements in designing smaller components, like thrusters, could pave the way for the development of larger spacecraft systems through AI-driven strategies.
The implementation of physics AI requires the usage of substantial datasets that accurately reflect how objects interact under various physical conditions. To generate the necessary training data, the project will use simulations to create synthetic datasets, which can then be enhanced with sensor measurements acquired through 3D reconstruction techniques.
These simulations provide a virtual framework within which robots and sensors can replicate real-world behaviors, effectively capturing the dynamics of physical interactions. They aid in monitoring various factors such as rigid-body dynamics, contact events, and electromagnetic wave propagation in operational scenarios.
Through this innovative partnership, Northrop Grumman and Luminary Cloud aim to set new industry standards in spacecraft design, potentially leading to breakthroughs that will not only transform propulsion systems but could also ultimately revolutionize the development of entire spacecraft.
