Technology & Innovation
NVIDIA AI physics framework speeds up aerospace CFD by 500 times
NVIDIA launches AI physics framework accelerating aerospace and automotive CFD simulations by 500x with GPU and AI technologies.
In high-stakes industries like aerospace and automotive design, progress is often measured by the ability to test, validate, and innovate complex physical systems. For decades, the primary tool for this has been computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a powerful simulation method used to model the flow of liquids and gases. While essential for optimizing everything from an aircraft’s lift to a car’s drag, CFD has a well-known limitation: it is incredibly slow. A single, high-fidelity simulation can tie up powerful computer clusters for weeks, creating a significant bottleneck in the design process and limiting the scope of innovation.
This long-standing challenge is now being addressed by a fundamental shift in technology. On October 28, 2025, NVIDIA announced a new AI physics framework designed to shatter these computational barriers. The initiative is built on two core technologies: NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo, an open-source framework for building AI models trained on physics data, and NVIDIA DoMINO NIM, a new microservice that deploys these models for near real-time performance. The central claim is a staggering one: this fusion of GPU computing and AI can accelerate engineering workflows by up to 500 times compared to traditional methods.
The implications of such an acceleration extend far beyond simply getting results faster. It represents a potential paradigm shift in the engineering design process itself. Instead of running a handful of simulations to validate a nearly-final design, engineers can now explore a vast landscape of possibilities interactively. This move from slow, iterative validation to rapid, real-time exploration could unlock new levels of efficiency and performance, enabling the creation of more advanced and optimized systems than were previously conceivable.
To understand the significance of NVIDIA’s announcement, we must first appreciate the problem it solves. Computational engineering, and CFD in particular, is the bedrock of modern design. It allows engineers to virtually test how a vehicle moves through the air or how fuel combusts in a rocket engine without building costly physical prototypes. These simulations are governed by complex mathematical equations that require immense computational power to solve accurately.
The traditional workflow for a complex simulation is a study in patience. An engineer sets up a model, submits it to a cluster of powerful computers, typically running on central processing units (CPUs), and waits. For a single, high-fidelity analysis of a complex component, this process can take days or even weeks. This lengthy feedback loop means that engineers can only explore a very limited number of design variations, often forcing them to rely on incremental improvements rather than pursuing bold, innovative concepts.
This computational bottleneck has been a persistent challenge across industries. It slows down the development cycle, increases costs, and fundamentally restricts the creative and exploratory phases of design. The industry has long sought a way to break free from this linear, time-consuming process and move toward a more dynamic and interactive approach to engineering problem-solving.
The claimed 500x speedup is not the result of a single breakthrough but a combination of two distinct technological advancements. The first is the established power of GPU acceleration. By running simulation software, such as Ansys Fluent, on NVIDIA’s powerful Blackwell architecture GPUs instead of traditional CPUs, workflows can already be accelerated by up to 50 times. This provides a massive foundational boost, turning weeks of computation into a matter of hours.
The second, and more revolutionary, element is the introduction of AI physics. This is where NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo comes into play. It is an open-source Python framework used to build and train AI models that can act as “surrogates” for traditional simulations. These models are trained on existing simulation data and learn the underlying physical principles. The AI doesn’t replace the simulation entirely; instead, it provides a highly accurate and refined starting point. This AI-driven initialization is so precise that it multiplies the initial GPU gains by an additional 10x. The combined effect is transformative. A complex simulation that once took approximately two weeks to complete on a CPU cluster can now be finished in around 40 minutes. This is all delivered through the NVIDIA DoMINO NIM (NVIDIA Inference Microservice), which packages the complex AI models into easy-to-use, containerized services. This approach makes the sophisticated technology accessible for deployment within existing engineering workflows, lowering the barrier to adoption.
A technological claim is only as strong as its real-world application. NVIDIA’s AI physics framework is already being adopted by key players in the aerospace, defense, and automotive sectors, demonstrating its practical impact on critical engineering challenges.
One of the most compelling use cases comes from a partnership between Northrop Grumman and Luminary Cloud. The two companies are leveraging the technology to design spacecraft thruster nozzles, a critical component for space missions. They have collaboratively built a Physics AI model powered by NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo that allows their engineers to generate high-fidelity simulations in seconds, a task that previously took hours with conventional CFD methods. This dramatic acceleration is speeding up hardware development for vital defense applications.
“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.” – Han Park, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence Integration at Northrop Grumman Space Systems.
Another aerospace pioneer, Blue Origin, is using NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo and AI modeling to design its next-generation space vehicles. The framework enables the company to train models on its vast datasets to rapidly explore and validate potential design candidates. This allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of different configurations, leading to more optimized and robust final designs.
For any new technology to have a broad impact, it must be integrated into the tools that engineers use every day. Synopsys, a leader in simulation software, is a primary partner in this initiative. By integrating PhysicsNeMo into its widely used Ansys Fluent software, Synopsys is making the 500x speedup accessible to its vast customer base across multiple industries.
“The pace of engineering is accelerating despite increasing, systemic complexity, a testament to the incredible capability and performance gains that AI and GPU-acceleration are bringing across our portfolio.” – Shankar Krishnamoorthy, Chief Product Development Officer at Synopsys.
Similarly, design software company Cadence is using NVIDIA’s CUDA-X libraries and Grace Blackwell platform to accelerate its Cadence Fidelity CFD platform. This allows manufacturers to build the large-scale AI training datasets needed for interactive design exploration, further enhancing system efficiency and reducing time-to-market. These partnerships are creating an ecosystem where AI-accelerated simulation is not just a niche capability but a new industry standard.
The convergence of AI and physics-based simulation marks a pivotal moment for the engineering world. By drastically reducing the time and computational cost of analysis, NVIDIA’s AI physics framework is shifting the role of simulation from a slow, final-stage validation tool to a dynamic, interactive partner in the creative process. Engineers are no longer limited to testing a few pre-determined ideas; they can now explore a vast design space in near real-time, asking “what if” questions and receiving immediate feedback.
This capability is a key enabler for the development of more accurate and responsive “digital twins,” virtual replicas of physical systems used for ongoing testing and optimization. As these AI-powered tools become more integrated into workflows, we can expect to see a surge in innovation. The ability to rapidly iterate and explore unconventional designs could lead to breakthroughs in vehicle efficiency, aircraft performance, and the development of entirely new technologies that were previously too complex or time-consuming to investigate. Question: What is NVIDIA AI Physics? Question: How is the 500x speedup achieved? Question: Which industries are using this technology? Sources: NVIDIA Blog
How AI is Redefining Physical Simulation
The Bottleneck of Traditional Engineering
NVIDIA’s Two-Pronged Approach: GPU Acceleration and AI Physics
Industry Adoption: From Spacecraft to Next-Gen Vehicles
Pioneering Partnerships in Aerospace and Defense
Transforming Commercial Software and Design
The Broader Implications: A New Era of Engineering
FAQ
Answer: NVIDIA AI Physics is a framework that combines GPU-accelerated computing with artificial intelligence models trained on physics data. It utilizes technologies like NVIDIA PhysicsNeMo to create AI “surrogates” that dramatically speed up complex engineering simulations, such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD), by providing highly accurate initial conditions.
Answer: The acceleration is a two-stage process. First, running simulations on NVIDIA GPUs provides up to a 50x speedup compared to traditional CPU-based methods. Second, an AI model provides a highly accurate starting point for the simulation, which multiplies the initial GPU gains by an additional 10x, resulting in a combined speedup of up to 500x.
Answer: The primary early adopters are in the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. Companies like Northrop Grumman and Blue Origin, along with major software providers like Synopsys (Ansys) and Cadence, are integrating the technology into their workflows to design complex systems like spacecraft, aircraft, and vehicles more efficiently.
Photo Credit: NVIDIA
Technology & Innovation
Joby Aviation and Metropolis Develop 25 US Vertiports for eVTOL Launch
Joby Aviation partners with Metropolis Technologies to retrofit parking garages into 25 vertiports across US cities, supporting a 2026 eVTOL commercial launch.
This article is based on an official press release from Joby Aviation.
Joby Aviation has announced a significant infrastructure partnership with Metropolis Technologies to develop a network of 25 vertiports across the United States. The collaboration aims to repurpose existing parking infrastructure into “mobility hubs” to support the commercial launch of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
According to the company’s announcement, the partnership will leverage Metropolis’s extensive portfolio of parking facilities to create takeoff and landing sites in key metropolitan areas. By retrofitting existing structures rather than building new terminals from the ground up, Joby intends to accelerate the deployment of its air taxi service, which is currently targeting a commercial launch in 2026.
The initiative addresses one of the most critical challenges in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) sector: the “last mile” connection. The integration of ground and air travel is designed to offer passengers a seamless transition from their vehicles to Joby’s aircraft, utilizing advanced artificial intelligence to streamline the process.
The core strategy of this partnership involves identifying and upgrading sites within Metropolis’s network, which expanded significantly following its recent acquisition of SP+. With access to over 4,200 parking facilities, the companies plan to select prime locations in high-density urban centers such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City.
Joby Aviation stated that this retrofit approach offers a distinct advantage over constructing standalone vertiports. By utilizing the top decks of existing parking garages, the partners can reduce upfront construction costs and navigate zoning requirements more efficiently. These sites will be designed to meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Engineering Brief 105A, which outlines the specific design standards for vertiport geometry, marking, and load-bearing capacity.
“For air taxis to deliver on their promise of seamless urban travel, they must connect directly with the existing ground transportation ecosystem. By leveraging existing parking infrastructure… we can maximize the value of those sites without needing to build infrastructure from scratch.”
, JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation
Beyond physical infrastructure, the partnership emphasizes the integration of Metropolis’s proprietary technology. The company utilizes AI-powered computer vision to manage facility access and payments. In the context of air travel, this technology aims to facilitate a “drive-in, fly-out” experience. According to the release, cameras will recognize a passenger’s vehicle upon entry, automatically processing parking fees and initiating the check-in process for their flight. This system is intended to eliminate the need for physical tickets, gates, or kiosks, aligning with the industry’s push for a frictionless passenger experience.
“The real world is the next frontier for AI… We are taking the data and recognition capabilities we’ve built in our network and extending it to air travel, creating the seamless, personalized, and magical experience that is the foundation of the Recognition Economy.”
, Alex Israel, CEO of Metropolis Technologies
While the construction of full vertiports is a longer-term project targeting 2026, the partnership includes immediate operational steps. Metropolis subsidiary Bags Inc. will begin providing VIP baggage handling services for Blade Urban Air Mobility, a partner of Joby Aviation, in New York City. This service will support flights between Manhattan and major airports such as JFK and Newark.
Los Angeles has been identified as a primary market for the initial vertiport rollout. The companies are currently evaluating downtown parking structures that can be adapted to support high-frequency air taxi operations. This focus on Los Angeles aligns with Joby’s broader strategy to establish a foothold in regions with high traffic congestion, where the time-saving value of eVTOL aircraft is most apparent.
We observe that this partnership represents a divergent strategy in the race for UAM infrastructure. While competitors like Archer Aviation have partnered with Atlantic Aviation to electrify existing private aviation terminals (FBOs), Joby is betting on bringing aircraft closer to the consumer’s daily commute via parking garages.
The “retrofit” model proposed by Joby and Metropolis may offer scalability advantages. Parking garages are ubiquitous in city centers, whereas private air terminals are typically located on the periphery at airports. If successful, this approach could allow Joby to penetrate dense urban cores more deeply than competitors relying solely on airport-based infrastructure.
However, we note that retrofitting parking decks presents its own engineering challenges, particularly regarding the structural reinforcement required to handle the weight and dynamic loads of landing aircraft, as well as the installation of high-voltage charging infrastructure in older buildings.
Transforming Parking Garages into Mobility Hubs
Integration of AI Technology
Immediate Rollout and Strategic Markets
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
Photo Credit: Joby Aviation
Technology & Innovation
Vertical Aerospace Targets Full VX4 Transition Flight in Early 2026
Vertical Aerospace advances VX4 flight tests with 10 piloted flights completed; full transition now targeted for early 2026 amid regulatory updates.
This article is based on an official press release from Vertical Aerospace and includes analysis based on publicly available financial filings.
On December 19, 2025, Vertical Aerospace released a significant operational update regarding the flight testing of its full-scale VX4 prototype. According to the company, the engineering team has successfully completed 10 piloted test flights since receiving a “Permit to Fly” from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in November. While the company reports expanding the majority of the flight envelope, the critical milestone of full piloted transition, switching completely from vertical hover to wing-borne cruise, has not yet been achieved.
The Bristol-based eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) manufacturer stated that weather constraints and limited testing windows have pushed the target for full transition into early 2026. This update comes shortly after the company unveiled “Valo,” its production-intent aircraft, earlier this month.
Since resuming flight activities on November 13, 2025, Vertical Aerospace reports that the VX4 prototype has undergone rigorous testing to validate its handling and safety systems. The press release highlights that the aircraft has successfully performed acceleration and deceleration maneuvers and tested various tilt positions for its rotors.
According to Vertical Aerospace, the Test-Flights campaign has achieved several specific technical milestones:
The testing program has successfully validated the in-flight deployment and stowing of rear propellers, propeller spin-up during wing-borne flight, and “prop-hold” functionality.
The company notes that the “majority of the transition envelope” has now been expanded, leaving only the final 10% of the tilt transition untested. The completion of this final phase is required to demonstrate the aircraft’s ability to fly purely on wing lift, a defining characteristic of viable eVTOL technology.
Alongside the flight test updates, Vertical Aerospace announced a regulatory achievement involving the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The Regulations has granted the company new privileges allowing it to approve its own “Flight Conditions” and issue Permits to Fly for specific scenarios.
In the press release, the company framed this development as a signal of regulatory confidence in their design and engineering processes. This authorization is expected to streamline future testing phases by reducing the administrative lead time required for certain flight approvals. It is important for industry observers to distinguish between the aircraft currently undergoing testing and the product Vertical Aerospace intends to bring to market. The operational update refers specifically to the VX4 prototype, which serves as a testbed for data gathering. However, the commercial future of the company rests on “Valo,” the production model unveiled around December 10, 2025.
While the VX4 validates the core physics and control laws, Valo features a redesigned airframe, updated wing architecture, and an under-floor battery system. The delay in the VX4’s full transition means that critical aerodynamic data needed to finalize Valo’s Certification profile, targeted for 2028, will not be fully available until the prototype completes its envelope expansion in 2026.
The delay of the full transition flight places Vertical Aerospace behind its primary United States competitors in terms of technical milestones. Competitors such as Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation successfully completed full piloted transition flights earlier in 2025. Furthermore, the European market saw a significant contraction earlier this year with the reported insolvency of Lilium in February 2025, highlighting the capital-intensive nature of the sector.
Financial-Results sustainability remains a key focus for Vertical Aerospace. According to the company’s Q3 2025 Business & Strategy Update, Vertical reported a cash position of approximately $117 million. Based on current burn rates, the company projects this capital will fund operations until mid-2026.
With certification slated for 2028, this creates a “funding gap” that the company will need to address. The shift of the transition milestone to 2026 may influence investor sentiment, as the market often looks to technical achievements as validation for further capital injection.
What is the difference between the VX4 and Valo? When will Vertical Aerospace achieve full transition? What is the company’s current financial runway?
Vertical Aerospace Updates VX4 Flight Test Progress; Full Transition Targeted for Early 2026
VX4 Flight Testing Achievements
Regulatory Developments
Strategic Context and Market Position
AirPro News Analysis: The VX4 vs. Valo Distinction
AirPro News Analysis: Financial and Competitive Landscape
Frequently Asked Questions
The VX4 is the current full-scale prototype used for flight testing and validation. Valo is the recently unveiled production-intent aircraft that Vertical Aerospace plans to manufacture commercially, featuring design improvements based on VX4 data.
The company has rescheduled the full piloted transition flight, where the aircraft switches from vertical lift to wing-borne flight, for early 2026, citing weather and scheduling constraints.
As of the Q3 2025 update, Vertical Aerospace holds approximately $117 million in cash, which is projected to sustain operations until mid-2026.
Sources
Photo Credit: Vertical Aerospace
Technology & Innovation
Eve Air Mobility Completes First Flight of Full-Scale eVTOL Prototype
Eve Air Mobility conducted a successful first flight of its full-scale eVTOL prototype in Brazil, validating key systems ahead of 2027 certification.
This article is based on an official press release from Eve Air Mobility.
On December 19, 2025, Eve Air Mobility achieved a critical milestone in the development of its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The company, a subsidiary of Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer, successfully conducted the first flight of its full-scale prototype at the Embraer test facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, Brazil.
This uncrewed hover flight validates the fundamental architecture of the aircraft, which utilizes a “Lift + Cruise” configuration distinct from the tilt-rotor designs favored by some competitors. According to the company’s official statement, the test confirmed the functionality of the electric propulsion system and the 5th-generation fly-by-wire controls, performing exactly as computer models had predicted.
While Eve Air Mobility is entering the flight-test phase later than some of its primary rivals, the successful deployment of a full-scale prototype signals the company’s transition from design to execution. With a target Entry into Service (EIS) set for 2027, Eve is leveraging Embraer’s industrial backing to accelerate its Certification program.
The test conducted in Gavião Peixoto was a dedicated hover flight. This specific profile is designed to test the vertical lift capabilities of the aircraft before attempting forward wing-borne flight. The prototype utilized eight dedicated vertical lift rotors to maintain a stable hover, allowing engineers to assess aerodynamic performance and control laws in real-world conditions.
Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility, emphasized the significance of the event in a statement released by the company:
“Today, Eve flew… This flight validates our plan, which has been executed with precision to deliver the best solution for the market.”
Following this successful hover test, the company plans to expand the flight envelope throughout 2026. This will involve transitioning from vertical lift to forward flight, powered by the rear pusher propeller, and testing the aircraft’s fixed wing for cruise efficiency.
The prototype flown represents the configuration intended for commercial certification. Unlike “tilt-rotor” designs that rotate propellers to switch between lift and cruise modes, Eve has opted for a separated “Lift + Cruise” architecture. This design choice prioritizes mechanical simplicity and potentially lower maintenance costs. According to technical specifications released by Eve Air Mobility, the aircraft features:
At AirPro News, we observe that Eve’s successful first flight places it in a unique position within the “race to market.” While competitors like Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation have already logged significant flight hours with full-scale prototypes, including transition flights, Eve’s strategy appears to be one of deliberate, industrial-scale preparation over speed.
The “Lift + Cruise” design philosophy suggests a focus on reliability and operating economics. By avoiding the complex tilting mechanisms found in competitor aircraft, Eve may offer operators a vehicle with fewer moving parts and lower direct maintenance costs. Furthermore, Eve’s relationship with Embraer provides immediate access to a global service and support network, a logistical hurdle that independent Startups must build from scratch.
Despite being arguably the “tortoise” in terms of flight testing timelines, Eve holds the industry’s largest backlog of Letters of Intent (LoI), totaling nearly 3,000 aircraft. This massive order book indicates strong market confidence in Embraer’s ability to deliver a certifiable product.
Looking ahead, Eve Air Mobility has outlined a rigorous schedule for the next two years. The company intends to build five additional conforming prototypes in 2026 to accelerate data collection. These aircraft will be used to accumulate the hundreds of flight hours required for certification authorities.
Luiz Valentini, CTO of Eve, noted the disciplined approach to the upcoming testing phase:
“The prototype behaved as predicted by our models… We will expand the envelope and progress toward transition to wingborne flight in a disciplined manner.”
The company is targeting Type Certification from Brazil’s ANAC in 2027, with concurrent validation sought from the FAA (USA) and EASA (Europe). Commercial deliveries are scheduled to begin immediately following certification.
Eve Air Mobility Successfully Completes First Flight of Full-Scale eVTOL Prototype
Flight Details and Technical Validation
Aircraft Specifications: The “Eve-100”
AirPro News Analysis: The Strategic Landscape
Future Roadmap: Certification and Service
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
Photo Credit: Embraer
-
Commercial Aviation6 days agoVietnam Grounds 28 Aircraft Amid Pratt & Whitney Engine Shortage
-
Business Aviation3 days agoGreg Biffle and Family Die in North Carolina Plane Crash
-
Defense & Military4 days agoFinland Unveils First F-35A Lightning II under HX Fighter Program
-
Business Aviation2 days agoBombardier Global 8000 Gains FAA Certification as Fastest Business Jet
-
Technology & Innovation15 hours agoJoby Aviation and Metropolis Develop 25 US Vertiports for eVTOL Launch