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Breaking New Ground: The Challenge of Certifying Autonomous Aircraft

Wisk Aero believes its self-flying Generation-6 air taxi could be safer than piloted flight.

Jack Daleo
Verified
Edited By: Travis Tingle
Wisk Aero Generation 6 aircraft [CreditL Wisk Aero]
Wisk Aero Generation 6 aircraft [CreditL Wisk Aero]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Wisk Aero is developing an all-electric, four-passenger eVTOL, the Generation 6, designed for full autonomy from its initial launch, distinguishing it from competitors who plan to introduce autonomy gradually.
  • The company champions this "autonomy-first" clean-sheet design, believing it's a safer and more efficient long-term strategy than retrofitting, despite potential delays in market entry.
  • Wisk aims to prove to the FAA that autonomous operations are as safe or safer than piloted flight through extensive testing and a unified certification approach for the entire autonomous aircraft, with simulations acting as an additive tool.
  • The primary challenge identified is successfully integrating autonomous aircraft into existing airspace and developing seamless engagement protocols with air traffic control, which Wisk hopes to address via programs like the FAA's eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.
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Owing to the novelty of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology, the FAA is requiring air taxi developers such as Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation, and Beta Technologies to complete a gauntlet of testing. One of them, Boeing’s Wisk Aero, is building an aircraft that incorporates not just VTOL but another emerging technology—autonomy.

Unlike Archer’s Midnight, Joby’s S4, or Beta’s Alia, Wisk’s Generation 6 is designed to fly autonomously from the jump. The all-electric, four-passenger design will use a combination of computers, predictive hardware and software, radar, sensors, and ground links to fly predefined routes, which will be overseen by remote Multi-Vehicle Supervisors. According to Wisk, though, it will be able to detect and avoid other aircraft on its own.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.

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