Wisk Aero, a subsidiary of Boeing, has recently acquired Verocel, a software verification and validation company with extensive experience in the aerospace industry. This acquisition is a strategic move for Wisk, as the company takes an autonomous-first approach to electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. By acquiring Verocel, Wisk aims to ensure that its software meets the highest standards of quality and safety.
The Generation 6 aircraft, developed by Wisk, is set to undergo airborne tests later this year. While humans will supervise the aircraft’s operations, it will not be physically flown by them. This emphasizes the critical role of software in the functioning of the eVTOL vehicles. According to Brian Yutko, CEO of Wisk Aero, the company has a significant amount of high-integrity software throughout the aircraft and on the ground that needs to be verified. The consequences of software failure in this context can be severe, potentially resulting in life-threatening situations. Therefore, it is crucial to validate and verify the software to ensure it meets the expected standards.
With the acquisition of Verocel, Wisk will incorporate their team of approximately 60 experts into their operations. These experts bring deep expertise in DO-178C, a standard that provides guidelines for developing safety-critical software for airborne systems. The DO-178C certification is an essential element of the Federal Aviation Administration’s type certification process, which ensures that an aircraft meets all design and safety standards. By leveraging Verocel’s expertise, Wisk aims to not only certify its Generation 6 aircraft but also enhance future software development at Boeing.
Verocel offers a toolset called VeroTrace that aids in tracking and managing the life cycle of software development and verification efforts until regulatory approval is obtained. This toolset will make the certification process more streamlined for Wisk, further enhancing their ability to meet industry standards.
Although the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by either Wisk or Verocel, this acquisition follows a similar trend in the industry. Joby Aviation, a competitor of Wisk, also acquired Avionyx, an aerospace software engineering firm, in 2022. Both Wisk and Joby recognize the value of vertical integration and the importance of having the necessary expertise to test and validate their software, expediting the path to federal certification.
Ensuring the safety of autonomous airplanes involves verifying and validating all of Wisk’s software. Brian Yutko emphasizes that this is a critical aspect of building and operating autonomous aircraft safely. Wisk’s goal is to commercialize their self-flying eVTOLs by 2030, and acquiring Verocel brings them one step closer to achieving this vision.
In addition to focusing on software development, Wisk is actively working on establishing the infrastructure for operating air taxis. The company has partnered with Sugar Land, a city near Houston, to identify and assess a location for the development of vertiport infrastructure. Furthermore, Wisk has signed a memorandum of understanding with Houston Airports to consider potential locations for vertiport infrastructure in the greater Houston area.
Overall, Wisk Aero’s acquisition of Verocel demonstrates their commitment to ensuring the highest standards of software quality and safety in their autonomous eVTOLs. By incorporating Verocel’s expertise and leveraging their toolset, Wisk is well-positioned to meet certification requirements and accelerate the path towards commercializing their self-flying aircraft.