Wisk Aero, developer of the first autonomous electric air cab and autonomous air taxi in the United States, has signed a new collaboration agreement with NASA that will mark a before and after in automated aviation. The agreement, framed under the Space Act (NRSAA), will extend for five years and will focus on research into key technologies for integrating autonomous aircraft into the National Airspace System (NAS) under Instrumented Flight Rules (IFR).
Strategic cooperation to integrate autonomous aircraft
This project is part of the ATM-X program (Air Traffic Management Exploration) program, aimed at designing safe operations for autonomous vehicles. autonomous vehicles. Wisk will contribute its expertise in sixth-generation eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, developed with the support of Boeing.
The collaboration will allow validation of flight procedures and air traffic control (ATC) communication systems, which are essential for smooth integration in dense urban environments.
Simulated environments for future testing
The agreement will enable advanced testing through live virtual construction environments (LVC), combining real flights with simulated airspace. These tests will be key to defining operational standards, evaluating optimal routes and establishing technical requirements for both aircraft and ground infrastructure.
With NASA’s simulation and LVC capabilities, we can accelerate the development of our autonomous systems to safely integrate them into the NAS before the end of the decade.
Said Erick Corona, Director of Airspace Operational Integration at Wisk, highlighting the relevance of the project.
Regulatory impact and long-term projection
The agreement will also support regulatory authorities in designing certification policies and procedures for autonomous flight. Since 2020, NASA and Wisk were already collaborating on UAM initiatives, but this new engagement expands the technical and institutional scope. The agreement was recently formalized following a workshop at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, where integrations between instrument flight technology and automation were discussed.
With more than 1,750 test flights accumulated, Wisk continues to position itself as a reference in the development of sustainable and autonomous urban air mobility, reaffirming and autonomous urban air mobility, reaffirming U.S. leadership in the aviation of the future.
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Source and photo: Wisk
