At Wisk, simulation plays a critical role in the development of safe, secure, and dependable autonomous flight. It is a crucial step in facilitating the extensive testing necessary for our autonomous systems to function safely in a dynamic and intricate environment....
Self-Flying Aircraft: Autonomous Avoidance and Separation
At Wisk, our electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis fly themselves. Even though there's no pilot on board, we must still avoid other aircraft and adhere to separation requirements. This includes maintaining a safe distance between the aircraft and...
Testing Toward Success: The Integrated Boom Cross-Flow Test
The development of Wisk’s Generation 6 aircraft propulsion systems requires rigorous testing to ensure reliability and performance in real-world conditions. One of the critical stages in this process is the Integrated Boom Cross Flow Test.
Interns Highlight Their Experience At Wisk: Summer 2024
This summer, our internship program was broader and more robust than ever before. Wisk welcomed 47 interns across a variety of different areas, from software engineering to global partnerships to rotor design. Our interns spent 10-12 weeks learning about the rapidly...
Getting Ready to Propel: Check out Wisk’s Wind Tunnel Test
In the rapidly evolving world of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, every detail counts. From motor efficiency to propeller performance, optimizing these elements is crucial for creating a safe, efficient, and high-performing aircraft. One of...
Unraveling the Mystery of Aviation Development: Iron Bird, a Key Player in Aircraft Flight Testing
In the dynamic world of aviation, where every component must work flawlessly together, there's a silent grounded hero known as the Iron Bird. What is an Iron Bird? It’s the pinnacle of system integration test rigs. Unlike other testing equipment, the Iron Bird isn't...
2023: Making Things Happen Through Collaboration
2023 was a momentous year for Wisk. We pushed forward in our mission to make everyday flight a reality for everyone and we did so through collaboration. Collaboration between employees, Boeing, partners, industry stakeholders, municipalities, and many more. Here’s a...
Storyboarding at Wisk: A Philosophy for Clarity and Collaboration
In the rapidly developing Urban Air Mobility (UAM) sector, Wisk believes that success encompasses more than just sophisticated hardware and software — it’s deeply rooted in the passenger experience. Saurabh Nimsarkar, Staff UI/UX Designer at Wisk, notes, ‘Wisk isn’t merely staying ahead of the curve; we are actively shaping it. By employing design-centric methodologies like storyboarding, we anticipate and effectively address potential challenges.’
Creating a New Role in Aviation: The Multi-Vehicle Supervisor
At Wisk, we are focused on certifying the first four-passenger, autonomous, electric air taxi for commercial operations in the U.S. We believe that only through autonomy can the Advanced Air Mobility industry achieve the increased levels of safety, scalability, and...
Wisk Introduces Greater Los Angeles to Autonomous, eVTOL Air Taxis
Wisk’s history of flight spans over a decade, with flights on two continents. Over the past two years, we’ve expanded our flight program beyond our home base in Hollister, CA. These flights have included an away flight at San Luis Obispo, our record-setting flight at Oshkosh, and our most recent public demonstration at Long Beach, making us the first eVTOL air taxi company to fly in the Los Angeles area.
The Positive Economic Impact of a New Industry: A Long Beach Case Study
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) will do more than provide a new form of mobility. Communities hosting vertiports will benefit directly from the creation of thousands of high-paying and skilled jobs, as well as jobs created by the induced economic growth (e.g., new commerce around vertiports). A recently released report by the California State University, Long Beach, stated that Urban Air Mobility (UAM) “can increase urban transportation choices while contributing to sustainability and economic development.“ Both users and non-users would enjoy these economic benefits. The report looked at the economic impact of an Urban Air Mobility network covering the city of Long Beach, California, and the greater Los Angeles-Orange County region.
Developing Certifiable, Autonomous, Passenger Flight
At Wisk, we are making everyday flight a reality for everyone with our self-flying air taxi and ground system. This means that our aircraft flies itself by leveraging a technology suite that allows it to make reliable, deterministic responses to high-frequency,...
Celebrating Amelia Earhart Day: Honoring Women Shaping Aviation
Despite living in different eras, contemporary female aviators have a lot in common with Amelia Earhart: a habit of perseverance, challenging the status quo, and pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable for women in aviation. It is no surprise that Wisk...
Putting the Human into Autonomous Flight with Human Oversight
While our air taxi flies itself, we haven’t removed humans from the equation entirely. Learn more about our concept of fleet operations and the people behind the scenes that make autonomous, everyday flight a reality.
The Science of Silence: Understanding the Impact of Noise on Passenger Comfort in UAM
Urban Air Mobility eVTOLs offer a quieter alternative to conventional aircraft, and understanding their noise profiles is crucial. By combining cutting-edge technology, teamwork, and advanced mathematics, we’ve developed an accurate prediction of what our Gen 6 aircraft will sound like.Today, we’re excited to share insights into our in-cabin noise testing, an essential aspect of designing eVTOLs that prioritize passenger well-being.
Certifying Autonomous Air Taxis
Wisk’s Director of Certification and Safety Management System, Cindy Comer, shares details about the certification process, certification types, and the path for certification of autonomous, electric, vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis.
Wisk Leading the Way on Consensus Standards Development
Wisk recognizes the importance of involving stakeholders in developing consensus standards for new technology in aviation. We’re proud to work with various SDOs to develop these standards and support compliance in areas such as distributed electric propulsion, autonomous systems, and ground infrastructure. Together, we can ensure the safety and efficiency of eVTOL aircraft for the benefit of the flying public.
Removing Barriers for Safe Multi-Vehicle Operations: Wisk and NASA Collaboration
Wisk and NASA are teaming up to remove the barriers for safe multi-vehicle operations. Our Human Factors Lab is researching the interactions between humans and devices to equip operators to supervise multiple vehicles safely and efficiently. With multi-vehicle operations capability, Wisk can scale quickly and affordably once we enter the market. Collaborating with NASA will bring additional resources, experiences, and perspectives to the table and broaden the scope of questions we can answer. Our goal is to ensure the future safety of our autonomous aircraft and provide safe, everyday flight to everyone.
Launching the Roadmap of Advanced Air Mobility Operations
In early March David Oord, Wisk’s Policy Manager, participated in a showcase on Advanced Air Mobility – Aircraft and Technology, at the HAI HELI-EXPO 2023 in Atlanta, GA. As part of that showcase, Oord discussed Wisk’s vision to provide safe, everyday flight for everyone, along with the policy changes that will be needed to realize it — centered around the certification of autonomy and the safe integration of autonomous operations into today’s national airspace.
The Non-Advocate Review: Accelerating Development, Reducing Risk, and Streamlining Certification
At Wisk, one of our strengths is our relationship with Boeing – which is both an investor and a strategic partner. Through this relationship, we are uniquely positioned to leverage the power of Boeing by tapping into their wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise – including certification expertise – to accelerate our development and reduce program risk.