Transforming Supersonic Travel: Safety-Critical Avionics and AR Systems for NASA’s X-59

NASA's X-59 QueSST redefines what’s possible in supersonic aviation, reducing the sonic boom to a gentle thump while leveraging cutting-edge augmented reality cockpit systems and safety-critical avionics. Discover how Lynx solutions enabled this revolutionary aircraft to “Seize the Edge” in aviation innovation.

Breaking the Sound Barrier Safely

The X-59 QueSST, NASA’s experimental supersonic aircraft, showcases revolutionary advancements in aviation. Faced with the challenge of overcoming sonic boom limitations, NASA partnered with Lynx to deliver innovative avionics solutions. By integrating safety-critical Vulkan-based drivers and augmented reality systems, Lynx enabled groundbreaking noise reduction, paving the way for future supersonic travel regulations.

About the Client: NASA’s Mission to Modernize Supersonic Travel

NASA, the world leader in space exploration and aeronautical research, spearheaded the development of the X-59 QueSST. This experimental aircraft serves as a prototype for reducing noise impacts of supersonic flight, enabling safer and faster air travel.

Industry: Aerospace and Aviation
Project Scope: Reducing the sonic boom to approximately 75 decibels perceived on the ground
Collaboration Partners: Lockheed Martin, Lynx

Challenge

Reducing Sonic Booms: A Barrier to Supersonic Progress

Since the 1970s, regulations have banned supersonic flight over land due to disruptive sonic booms. NASA’s challenge was twofold:

Develop an aircraft that minimizes sonic boom impact while maintaining supersonic speeds.
Prove to regulatory bodies and the public that these innovations are safe, effective, and ready for real-world deployment.

For this mission, NASA required avionics capable of supporting advanced aerodynamic designs, synthetic vision systems, and safety-critical reliability under the most demanding conditions.

Solution

Augmented Reality and Avionics: Empowering Supersonic Innovation

Lynx partnered with NASA to deliver tailored solutions for the X-59’s ambitious design goals. Key technologies included:

Safety-Critical Avionics:
Utilizing Vulkan-based drivers, Lynx powered the aircraft’s eXternal Visibility System (XVS). This system integrates external camera feeds with synthetic terrain data, providing pilots with a seamless augmented reality view in lieu of front-facing windows.
Enhanced Cockpit Design:
The windowless cockpit’s AR system enabled innovative aerodynamic configurations, reducing sonic boom pressure waves and boosting fuel efficiency.
Reliability for Certification:
Designed to meet rigorous DO-178C standards, Lynx’s solutions ensure mission-critical safety and reliability, building trust with regulators and advancing certification paths for supersonic aircraft.

These innovations allowed NASA to focus on its mission while meeting the highest standards of safety and compliance.

Results

Pioneering Supersonic Travel for a Quieter Tomorrow

The X-59’s successful integration of Lynx technology achieved:

75% Noise Reduction: Minimizing sonic boom impact to enable flight over populated areas.
Breakthrough Aerodynamics: Demonstrating a noise profile of ~75 decibels perceived loudness, acceptable for regulatory approval.
Future Commercial Applications: Establishing a foundation for scalable supersonic passenger planes with safer and more efficient designs.

Beyond immediate results, the X-59 project laid the groundwork for future regulatory changes, setting the stage for a new era of aviation.