Dassault Systèmes has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Vertical Aerospace to further collaborate on the VX4’s flight testing and development programme.

Vertical aims to commence commercial flights of its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft by 2025.

Vertical Aerospace will explore leveraging the full power of virtual twin technologies enabled by Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform to prepare for flight testing in 2022 and flight certification in 2025.

Dassault Systèmes support

Dassault Systèmes will be supporting this journey to the first flight in several ways, including:

Enabling model-based certification – Key to Vertical being successful in the urban air mobility market is to achieve type certification of its new aircraft. To enable continued optimisation of its aircraft design and to accelerate its route to certification, Vertical Aerospace will look to adapt a new way of working called Model Based Certification. This approach will maximise the use of the virtual twin technologies on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to synergise virtual and physical testing, while maintaining the high level of governance required by certification authorities.

Virtual first manufacturing process – Both companies will now look to support future manufacturing operations by creating virtual twins of industrial systems, enabling a more effective and sustainable way to prepare for production ramp up at scale, ensuring right-first-time and on-time delivery to current and future customers.

‘New ways to innovate’

“We’re pleased to build on our partnership with Dassault Systèmes by exploring new ways to innovate across our certification and manufacturing processes,” said Michael Cervenka, president at Vertical Aerospace.

“The 3DEXPERIENCE platform will greatly support all phases of the product lifecycle, which is fundamental to our goal of revolutionising the way we travel in a more sustainable world.”

“Vertical Aerospace has grown significantly since we first started working together in 2018,” said John Kitchingman, managing director, EuroNorth, Dassault Systèmes.

“It is now a global player and this milestone will set the standard for the development of eVTOLs and their deployment, as part of a greener, urban air mobility strategy. This exciting partnership is a clear match for our 3DEXPERIENCE platform’s capabilities, which will be leveraged as quickly and effectively as possible across Vertical Aerospace’s business.”

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