UK-based Vertical Aerospace has partnered with artificial intelligence specialist Monolith to revolutionise aircraft testing and development, marking a significant milestone for the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry.
Vertical Aerospace, a Bristol-based pioneer in zero-emission aviation, is developing the VX4 eVTOL aircraft – a piloted, four-passenger vehicle with zero operating emissions that has secured over 1,500 pre-orders from major airlines including American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The partnership with Monolith will optimise testing and simulation processes for the VX4, potentially accelerating its journey to commercial operations.
The challenge facing eVTOL developers is immense. Flight and ground testing requires hundreds of hours to validate simulations across tens of thousands of parameters and operating conditions, making development extraordinarily expensive and time-intensive. Traditional testing methods often become bottlenecks that delay aircraft certification by years.
Monolith’s AI-powered platform uses machine learning to analyse historical testing data and predict system performance under untested conditions. The company’s proprietary “Next Test Recommender” (NTR) algorithm provides engineers with a ranked selection of the most impactful tests to run, dramatically improving efficiency and reducing development timelines.
“Transforming how the world moves requires constant innovation,” said David King, Chief Engineer at Vertical Aerospace. “Collaborating with Monolith allows us to harness cutting-edge AI technology to streamline our testing processes, enabling us to focus on the most impactful areas and accelerate the VX4’s journey to market.”
The initial focus centres on testing and simulation of the VX4’s supporting pylon structures, crucial for ground tests of the aircraft’s propeller and electric motor systems. This is particularly significant given that pylon structures experienced issues during earlier VX4 testing.
Monolith brings proven aerospace credentials, having successfully worked with industry giants including Airbus and BAE Systems on aircraft and drone projects. The London-based company’s Software-as-a-Service platform democratises AI for engineering teams, enabling domain experts to leverage existing testing datasets without requiring coding expertise.
Source: EV Magazine
