Revel Software Corp., a startup that develops software for complex physical systems such as jet engines, has raised $150 million in funding.

The company announced the investment today. It said Index Ventures led the Series B round with contributions from Redpoint Ventures, Thrive Capital, Felicis and Abstract Ventures. The funds were joined by several angel investors, including Figma Inc. Chief Executive Officer Dylan Field.

Space launch vehicles, robots and other systems that operate in demanding environments undergo a significant amount of testing during development. Some of the tests focus on ensuring that a given system’s structure can withstand adverse conditions. Others check whether the electronics inside the structure work as intended.

Los Angeles-based Revel has developed a suite of software tools to ease the testing workflow. The first task that the toolkit promises to speed up is collecting test data. Usually, connecting a physical system to the software platform that is used to evaluate its performance takes hours of manual work. Revel says that its toolkit automates the task.

Revel customers write tests in a syntax called RevelCode. It’s based on Python, a high-level programming language that is widely used in artificial intelligence models.

Physical systems usually run code written in low-level languages, which require developers to manually define every major aspect of a program. High-level languages such as Python automate some of that work. The result is that developers have to write less code, which saves time and creates fewer opportunities for bugs to emerge.

According to Revel, RevelCode extends the Python syntax with optimizations that ease debugging. The technology also provides deterministic execution. That means programs written in the language are not prone to unexpected behavior with the potential to cause errors. 

RevelCode enables engineers to define how a device should perform during tests. From there, a software tool called RevelTest compares the device against that definition to detect anomalies. The company says its software shortens the usually months-long test development process to a few hours.

RevelTest overlays the errors it detects on a simplified schematic of the system being tested. For example, the software might display a diagram of a space launch vehicle and highlight components that are generating excessive heat. Revel says its software highlights errors as they emerge rather than after a test run is complete.

The company sells RevelTest alongside a second application called RevelC2. It can be used to manage large, important physical systems such as power grid components.

“Testing and control sit at the center of how complex hardware is developed and deployed, but the tools supporting that work haven’t kept pace with system complexity,” said Revel founder and CEO Scott Morton. “We built Revel to give engineers infrastructure they can trust from prototype through production.”

RevelTest’s customers include Radiant Nuclear Inc., a venture-backed startup that develops miniature nuclear reactors. Another early adopter, Impulse Space Inc., builds orbital transport systems. Its spacecraft are used to change the altitude of satellites. 

RevelTest will use the proceeds from its Series B round to expand its customer base. The company also plans to hire more employees and speed up product development. 

Image: Revel