Electronic Flight Control System

Opportunity

Advanced small-sized airplanes, helicopters, air taxis, and future certified UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are opening new market opportunities. All of these require powerful and highly safety-critical electronic flight control systems that are both cost-effective and rapidly deployable.

Today’s Challenges

Developing and certifying safety-critical electronic flight control systems is s a costly and time-intensive process, resulting in  long time-to-market cycles.

Artificial Engineering – Aviotech’s Unique Approach

Aviotech is a pioneer in Artificial Engineering (AE), a revolutionary approach characterized by:

  • Capturing and modeling avionics engineering knowledge.
  • Enabling highly automated development and certification of electronic control systems.
  • Significantly reducing development and certification costs while accelerating time to market.

Traction and Maturity

Aviotech has successfully applied its Artificial Engineering approach to develop several safety-critical electronic flight control systems, including:

  • Manned aircraft demonstrators for Diamond Aircraft Industries and Stemme AG.
  • The unmanned CityAirbus full-scale demonstrator (Airbus Helicopters).
  • The “unmanned” Cirrus SR22 demonstrator (University of Stuttgart).
  • Safety-critical X-by-wire control systems for car and truck demonstrators (Mercedes-Benz).

All these systems have been successfully tested—either in flight or on the road.

The flight control system for the “unmanned” Cirrus SR22 demonstrator is designed for UAVs in the certified category, enabling safe operation in non-segregated airspace. It supports all normal, contingency, and emergency procedures, even in the event of a lost C2 link. Flight testing began in July 2024.

Our Track Record

X-by-wire platform for automotive vehicles (2 cars, 2 trucks plus trailer) 

  • Integrated functions: Steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, power-by-wire, stability program, autopilot, and more
  • Safety criticality: Fail-operational
  • Validation: On test circuits

Auto-flight system for a Stemme S6

  • Integrated functions: Fully automatic flight incl. automatic takeoff and landing
  • Safety criticality: Fail-operational
  • Validation: Inflight testing

Fly-by-wire platform for a Diamond DA42 incl. auto flight 

  • Integrated functions: Manual control and auto flight, including. automatic takeoff and landing
  • Safety criticality: Fail-operational / fail-operational
  • Validation: Inflight testing

Fly-by-wire platform for the City Airbus (A-demonstrator)

  • Integrated functions: Remotely piloted flight
  • Safety criticality: Fail-operational
  • Validation: Inflight testing without a safety pilot on board

Aviotech has developed a cutting-edge UAV control platform, including a ground control station, for the Cirrus SR22, featuring

  • UAV category: Certified
  • Integrated functions: Automatic/autonomous flight in non-segregated airspace, with full implementation of normal, contingency, and emergency procedures.
  • Safety criticality: Fail-operational with no any functional degradation 
  • Validation: Inflight testing in non-segregated airspace with a safety pilot on board