Hypersonic Inlet Sensor

Competitive advantage

• Specifically designed for sensing applications in hypersonic flight
• The device is capable of measuring temperature, Mach number, speed and angle of attack for hypersonic vehicles
• Spin-off technology has been patented as an air-speed sensor for subsonic vehicles
• More stealthy and faster response rate than pitot tubes, and able to be used from subsonic to hypersonic flight domains
• Not as susceptible to icing as standard pitot tubes

Impact

• Enhanced control of hypersonic vehicles
• Replacement for pitot tubes in subsonic aircraft and large UAVs

Successful applications

• Flight test associated with the Australian Space Research Program “Scramspace”
• Measured under 20 g acceleration conditions in flight
• Subject to obtaining an export licence, a proposed flight test with the Korean Aerospace Research Organisation KAIST
• Funding from the US Air Force

Capabilities and facilities

• In-house development of all optics, electronics and communications technologies