Vertical Aerospace teams up with Monolith to advance zero-emission eVTOL development

Monolith, an artificial intelligence (AI) software provider for engineering teams, has partnered with Vertical Aerospace (Vertical), a global pioneer in zero-emission aviation. The collaboration aims to optimise testing and simulation processes for Vertical’s eVTOL aircraft, improving performance and accelerating the VX4’s journey to market.

Developing eVTOL aircraft is notoriously complex, with flight and ground tests requiring hundreds of hours to validate simulations across countless parameters and conditions. By leveraging Monolith’s AI capabilities, Vertical Aerospace will streamline development, focusing initially on the testing and simulation of the VX4’s supporting pylon structures to meet propeller and electric motor performance requirements.

Monolith’s advanced AI tool, the ‘Next Test Recommender’ (NTR), will guide engineers in selecting the most impactful tests, enhancing design exploration while saving time and resources.

Dr Richard Ahlfeld, CEO and Founder of Monolith, emphasised the transformative potential of this partnership: “Urban air mobility could revolutionise travel, and Vertical’s VX4 is at the forefront of this movement. By using Monolith, Vertical can accelerate testing and gain critical insights into design performance while reducing development timelines.”

David King, Chief Engineer at Vertical Aerospace, remarked: “Innovation is essential to redefining global mobility. Collaborating with Monolith enables us to focus on high-impact testing areas, improving precision and accelerating the VX4’s market readiness. This partnership will help us set new benchmarks for the eVTOL industry.”

Monolith, known for its work with aerospace leaders such as Airbus and BAE Systems, empowers engineers with no-code machine-learning tools through its SaaS platform. The platform analyses historical testing data to provide accurate predictions, reducing the need for costly prototype tests.

With cutting-edge features like the ‘Next Test Recommender’ and the AI-powered ‘Anomaly Detector,’ Monolith is revolutionising engineering by enabling teams to develop superior products in significantly less time. This partnership further cements its role in advancing sustainable aviation technologies.