Monolith and Vertical Transform Air Mobility

Monolith, an AI software leader trusted by top engineering teams worldwide, has joined forces with Vertical Aerospace, a global pioneer in zero-emission aviation, to optimise testing and simulation for the VX4 eVTOL aircraft. The collaboration promises to accelerate development timelines and enhance performance, setting a new benchmark for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology.

Empowering Vertical Aerospace's VX4 journey

Vertical Aerospace, with headquarters in Bristol, is leading the charge in electric aviation with its VX4 eVTOL aircraft, a piloted, four-passenger vehicle boasting zero operating emissions.

With more than 1,500 pre-orders from major airlines, including American Airlines and Japan Airlines, Vertical is working toward safer, cleaner and quieter travel.

Flight and ground testing for eVTOLs is notoriously complex and resource-intensive, often requiring engineers to validate tens of thousands of parameters across extensive operating conditions.

Monolith's AI-powered solutions aim to streamline this process, providing Vertical Aerospace with critical insights and enabling more efficient test plans.

Monolith's AI-driven advantage

Monolith, recognised by Gartner as a "Cool Vendor" for AI in Automotive and featured in Forbes, specialises in empowering engineering teams with no-code machine learning tools. Its software leverages test data to model complex systems and predict outcomes, reducing the time and cost of prototype testing.

For Vertical Aerospace, Monolith's advanced Next Test Recommender (NTR) algorithm will prioritise the most impactful tests, enhancing design space coverage and delivering more efficient, trustworthy testing outcomes.

The initial focus will be on the VX4's supporting pylon structures, which are crucial for ground tests of the aircraft's propeller and electric motor systems.

Dr. Richard Ahlfeld, CEO and Founder of Monolith, commented:

"Urban air mobility has the potential to revolutionise how we travel and one of the most promising contributors to this transformation is Vertical's VX4. With Monolith, Vertical will model complex systems faster and accelerate test campaigns, enabling the company to learn more about design performance while reducing development and testing time."

Accelerating innovation in the eVTOL industry

David King, Chief Engineer at Vertical Aerospace, highlighted the importance of the collaboration:

"Transforming how the world moves requires constant innovation. Collaborating with Monolith allows us to harness cutting-edge AI technology to streamline our testing processes, focusing on the most impactful areas and accelerating the VX4's journey to market.

By integrating Monolith's tools, we can enhance our engineering precision, reduce timelines and continue setting the benchmark for the eVTOL industry."

AI's role in advancing aerospace

Monolith's proven track record in aerospace engineering includes successful projects with industry giants such as Airbus and BAE Systems. Its bespoke software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform democratises AI for engineering, enabling domain experts to analyse existing testing datasets and gain actionable insights.

By integrating these tools, Monolith empowers engineers to develop better-quality products in half the time, making it a trusted partner for innovation-driven industries like aerospace.

Pioneering the future of urban air mobility

Vertical Aerospace's partnership with Monolith exemplifies how cutting-edge AI technology can transform the eVTOL industry. With Monolith's tools enhancing the VX4 development process, Vertical aims to achieve its vision of zero-emission aviation faster and more efficiently.

Dr Ahlfeld noted, "This collaboration underscores how AI can be a game-changer in accelerating breakthroughs in aviation, ensuring the future of travel is both sustainable and innovative."

With Monolith's expertise and Vertical Aerospace's pioneering vision, the partnership intends to redefine the possibilities of urban air mobility, moving the world closer to a cleaner, greener future.

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