Wisk Aero selects Liebherr-Aerospace to develop eVTOL actuation system

Summary Points:

• The electro-mechanical system controls flight surfaces and propulsion tilt angles.
• Liebherr’s LiVCAS modular flight control system will be adapted for the all-electric aircraft.
• The system includes built-in redundancy to meet certification-level aviation safety standards.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - Wisk Aero, an autonomous aviation company in Mountain View, Calif., and Liebherr-Aerospace, a provider of on-board solutions in the aerospace and industry in Lindeberg, Germany, announced an agreement for the development and supply of the actuation system for Wisk’s generation 6 autonomous, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Wisk selected Liebherr to provide a comprehensive electro-mechanical actuation system that controls the aircraft’s flight surfaces, including flaperons, elevators, and rudders, as well as the tilt angle of the propulsion system. The agreement covers the full program lifecycle, from development and certification through scaled production.

"The actuation system is one of the most critical systems on our aircraft," said Eric Haugen, head of supply chain management at Wisk. "Selecting Liebherr, a well-established aerospace company, as our long-term supplier for this system is a major milestone for the program. Their institutional knowledge, combined with our innovative approach, has created a collaborative team dedicated to delivering a safe, certified, all-electric aircraft."

Related: Boeing's Wisk eVTOL unit partners with NASA to integrate autonomous aircraft

LiVCAS system

Liebherr is adapting its proprietary modular flight control system, LiVCAS, to fit the all-electric architecture of Wisk’s generation 6 aircraft. Wisk’s avionics and flight control teams are working closely with Liebherr to integrate the technology.

"We are very pleased to have been selected by Wisk to develop and deliver the actuation system," said Dr. Klaus Schneider, chief technology officer at Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS. "Our versatile, modular flight control actuation concept has convinced our customer, and we look forward to a long-term partnership with Wisk to help shape the future of air transportation."

The actuation system is designed with built-in redundancy to meet aviation safety standards required for certification. The partnership combines Liebherr’s experience certifying flight control systems for commercial aircraft with Wisk’s innovative approach and collaboration with the FAA on autonomous systems.

The electro-mechanical actuators and actuator electronic units will be produced primarily at Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH in Lindenberg, Germany, Liebherr’s center of competence for flight control systems, and Liebherr-Electronics and Drives GmbH in Lindau, Germany.