Purple Rhombus:
Affordable Unmanned Aircraft
Purple Rhombus LLC is an aerospace and defense company specializing in the design, manufacturing, and testing of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The company develops scalable, innovative, and mission-critical solutions for both U.S. government and commercial customers. Leveraging high-rate manufacturing and robotic assembly, Purple Rhombus constrains UAS design to be optimized for manufacturability and automation. In partnership with aerostructure manufacturer Pervan Tooling Company, a Wilder Industries sister company, Purple Rhombus rapidly prototypes vehicles using production-rate manufacturing processes—significantly accelerating development timelines. All aircraft are designed and built in Austin, Texas, with flight testing conducted at various locations across Central Texas.
High-rate Manufacturing
Achieving affordable mass requires rethinking traditional, low-volume aerospace manufacturing methods to enable high-rate production. Fixed-wing UAS are often produced using composite or additive manufacturing methods due to material properties and equipment accessibility. While these methods are well-suited for small production volumes, they create significant barriers when scaling to high production rates beyond 1,000 units per year. Hand layup is labor-intensive, and composite curing requires time-consuming processes and custom molds. Similarly, 3D printing is limited by machine availability and slow print times for large parts.
To achieve production at scale, airframe materials and manufacturing methods must be selected based on the target production rate. Purple Rhombus vehicles are designed for mass manufacture using high-rate, low-cost processes such as sheet metal forming and plastic injection molding. This approach enables rapid, cost-effective production of airframes while partnership with Pervan preserves design flexibility and agility.
Rapid Prototyping
Purple Rhombus rapidly prototypes unmanned aircraft using the same high-rate manufacturing methods planned for full-scale production, enabling seamless transition from concept to deployment. This approach significantly compresses development timelines while preserving design flexibility. Our in-house fabrication, close collaboration with manufacturing partners, and close cooperation with test ranges allow for quick iteration, reducing cost and accelerating flight validation.
