Nominal, a leading defense technology startup specializing in advanced software analytics solutions for hardware development, today announced it has been selected by AFWERX for a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase 2 in collaboration with the United States Air Force (USAF) Test Pilot School (TPS) and partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), following the successful completion of a STTR Phase 1. USAF TPS is where the Air Force's top pilots, navigators and engineers learn how to conduct safe, secure, effective, and efficient flight test of the Nation’s most advanced air and space systems. The partnership will improve and automate post-flight test data analysis and integrate more rapid analytic techniques into students’ training. It will also allow USAF TPS to continuously validate its test instrumentation.

The collaboration among Nominal, MIT, and USAF TPS exemplifies the promise of applying innovative technologies to test and evaluation. As a leader in test innovation, USAF TPS is integrating Nominal's state-of-the-art analytics software to allow students to benefit from improved data exploitation capabilities and to advance data-driven test objectives. MIT researchers are investigating optimal Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) approaches that fully automate anomaly detection and leverage the breadth of data available from flight tests.

“Through our Phase I with Nominal, we were able to prove out Nominal’s ability to speed up post-test data review and give cutting-edge technologies to our students,” said a spokesperson for TPS. “Further integrating Nominal into the USAF TPS curriculum significantly advances the vision for the future of flight test.”

"We are excited to work with TPS students and instructors, and to partner with an organization that has such a long history of constant evolution and innovation," said Cameron McCord, CEO and co-founder of Nominal. "Nominal software gives students powerful data transformation and reporting capabilities, expanding their ability to address emerging test challenges with agility.”

TPS is the center of expertise for Air Force developmental test and evaluation techniques and theory, where the Air Force's top pilots, navigators and engineers learn how to conduct flight tests and generate the data needed to carry out test missions. Integrating Nominal’s software will enhance the School’s ability to implement modernized, comprehensive software for data management and analysis, ultimately contributing to the success of the next generation of USAF flight test leaders.

For more information about Nominal and its commitment to powering mission-critical engineering work, please visit http://nominal.io.

About Nominal

Nominal is a cutting-edge technology company specializing in the rapid and accurate review of test data and the validation of critical systems. By developing comprehensive data analysis platforms for engineering teams, Nominal enables faster, more reliable testing and validation processes. Nominal is committed to supporting the defense and aerospace sectors with innovative solutions that drive efficiency and performance.

About TPS

The U.S. Air Force’s (USAF)Test Pilot School (TPS) is the Service’s flight training school that educates and trains experimental test pilots, flight test engineers, and flight test navigators. It is located at Edwards Air Force Base and hosted by the 412th Test Wing (TW). The 412th TW plans, conducts, analyzes, and reports on all flight and ground testing of aircraft, weapons systems, software and components, as well as modeling and simulation for the USAF. For more information, visit: https://www.edwards.af.mil/Units/USAFTPS/

About MIT

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was founded to accelerate the nation’s industrial revolution. The mission of MIT is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century. The Institute is committed to generating, disseminating, and preserving knowledge, and to working with others to bring this knowledge to bear on the world’s great challenges. MIT is dedicated to providing its students with an education that combines rigorous academic study and the excitement of discovery with the support and intellectual stimulation of a diverse campus community.

​​About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit: afresearchlab.com.

About AFWERX

As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,200 new contracts worth more than $4.7 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com.

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