Daqri founder and CEO Brian Mullins steps down, Aerojet Rocketdyne to demo combined-cycle hypersonic engine and Snapchat is building a secluded R&D lab in Lehi, Utah.

Daqri Founder and CEO Brian Mullins Steps Down

Downtown augmented reality developer and headset manufacturer Daqri announced Tuesday that founder and chief executive Brian Mullins resigned, the Business Journal reports. Mullins was replaced as chief executive by Roy Ashok, previously the firm’s chief product officer and former director of product development for San Diego-based Qualcomm’s augmented reality business unit.

Aerojet Rocketdyne to Demo Combined-Cycle Hypersonic Engine

As the U.S. steps up research and development for hypersonic weapons, DARPA awarded Aerojet Rocketdyne a contract to demonstrate a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine that could power a reusable high-speed aircraft from takeoff to beyond Mach 5, Aviation Week reports. The award comes amid reports that Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works in Palmdale is making progress toward flying an F-22-sized, TBCC-powered flight research vehicle by 2020 as a precursor to the larger SR-72 high-speed aircraft proposed for the late 2020s.

Snapchat Is Building a Secluded R&D Lab in Lehi, Utah

Snap Inc. is building a new research and development office in the remote location of Lehi, Utah, which is about 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, TechCrunch reports. The distance from Facebook and other tech companies could allow Snapchat to develop new app features or hardware devices beyond the prying eyes and ears of competitors.

Technology reporter Garrett Reim can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @garrettreim for the latest in L.A. tech news.