Wisk confident in autonomous eVTOL approach
Californian eVTOL developer Wisk Aero– the only Western company pursuing an exclusively autonomous approach – is confident in the success of its four-passenger, uncrewed strategy, with CEO Brian Yutko explaining: “This market is not a rush”.
Speaking at Farnborough International Airshow alongside the sixth-generation aircraft mockup, “we’re pretty heads-down on the building and testing phase” he elaborated, with the company having two prototypes currently under construction. The first of these already has the wing in final assembly, scheduled to be mated with the fuselage in the next month or so at Wisk’s Mountain View facility. Underlying subsystems are also currently undergoing ground testing – including vibration testing on the wing – ahead of an anticipated first flight (from the facility at Hollister) at the end of the year.
Although certification (something Wisk is initially pursuing with the FAA) is undoubtedly more complex for an uncrewed platform – with Yutko confirming that Wisk is “trying to pioneer the first [Western] certification process for autonomous, passenger-carrying aircraft” – the company has “expectations” of when it will receive Stage 2 of G1, the basis of the subsequent certification. However, he remains steadfast that Wisk’s unique approach is, in his opinion, the correct one to pursue.
Autonomy is key to scaling this network, stated Yutko, likening the passenger-carrying autonomous craft to “like a [cable car] gondola,” with Wisk attempting to take the metaphorical wire away. As pioneers of the first passenger-carrying autonomous aircraft – something he described as a “pioneering system limited in scope”- “we will succeed or fail on that requirement,” he continued.
Building on research conducted in the last two years, Wisk is also set to recommence another round of public perception studies, highlighted Becky Tanner, chief marketing officer at Wisk; employing a second cabin mockup to educate potential passengers. “This form of transportation is a really nice entry point to autonomous flight,” she explained, highlighting the comparatively short duration an early eVTOL flight will take. For those with some uncertainty about having no pilot onboard, such studies will also inform “what information [Wisk] needs to make achievable”.
Notably, screens in the cabin will be a vital link for “actively communicating with people,” she added, as will elements such as camera-enabled feedback and call buttons. “We need to show we’re demonstrably safe to drive the adoption curve,” said Yutko, adding that although an “attractive” potential cargo use case could also be considered at a later date, the passenger-certified variant will remain Wisk’s initial priority.
However, despite Wisk’s alternative approach to autonomy, Yutko concluded that he is still “aggressively rooting” for the success of the eVTOL industry in general; pointing out that the establishment of a pioneering form of flight is of optimum importance before industry peers can then commence “aggressively competing”.
