Boeing's Wisk Aero Acquires Verocel to Enhance Software Safety for Self-Flying eVTOL

Wisk Aero, a subsidiary of Boeing, has acquired Verocel, a software verification and validation company that has served the aerospace industry for 25 years. This acquisition aims to boost the software safety of Wisk Aero's self-flying electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Wisk Aero has an autonomous-first approach to eVTOL aircraft, with its Generation 6 aircraft designed to be supervised by humans but not physically flown by them. This approach requires high-integrity software to ensure safe operation. The company's CEO, Brian Yutko, emphasized the importance of verifying and validating software to prevent failures that could have serious consequences.

The acquisition of Verocel brings in a team of about 60 experts with deep knowledge of DO-178C, a standard for developing safety-critical software for airborne systems. Verocel's expertise will help Wisk Aero certify its Gen 6 aircraft and support future software development at Boeing. The company's toolset, VeroTrace, will also aid in tracking and managing the life-cycle of software development and verification efforts.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. This acquisition is reminiscent of Joby Aviation's 2022 acquisition of Avionyx, an aerospace software engineering firm. Both acquisitions demonstrate the importance of vertical integration and expertise in software verification and validation for the development of safe and certified eVTOL aircraft.

Wisk Aero is working towards commercializing its self-flying eVTOLs by 2030. The company is already setting up infrastructure to operate air taxis, having partnered with Sugar Land to identify a location for vertiport infrastructure development. Additionally, Wisk Aero has established a memorandum of understanding with Houston Airports to explore locations for vertiport infrastructure serving the greater Houston area.

Image Credits: Wisk Aero

AndroGuider Team

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