Veronte Autopilot is a family of autopilot systems developed by Embention, a Spanish company specializing in safety-critical avionics for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.[1] Known for its advanced control capabilities, the Veronte Autopilot systems are designed to meet stringent reliability and certification requirements, allowing their integration into both manned and unmanned aircraft.[1]

Overview

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Veronte Autopilot is used in various autonomous flight systems for both civil and military applications. It is a fully user-programmable flight controller that can be adapted to different aircraft through model-based design, enabling it to meet specific operational needs. The autopilot supports features such as obstacle avoidance, geofencing, satellite communications, and real-time telemetry, with built-in remote identification (Remote ID) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) functionalities.[2]

The product family includes configurations for single core, redundant, and distributed redundancy setups, enhancing reliability for critical operations. It is equipped with advanced safety measures, making it suitable for use in applications requiring high safety standards, such as urban air mobility (UAM) and certified drone operations.[3]

Products

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  • Veronte Autopilot 1x: A miniaturized flight control system, optimized for UAVs and autonomous vehicles.
  • Veronte Autopilot 4x: A redundant system designed for critical operations, particularly for drones and eVTOL vehicles. It features a fail-operational architecture to prevent single points of failure.
  • Veronte Autopilot DRx: Developed to meet eVTOL certification requirements, this model supports fly-by-wire and autonomous control systems, making it suitable for UAM and other high-stakes applications.

Certification

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Veronte Autopilot is developed in compliance with key aviation standards, including DO-178C, DO-254, and DO-160.[4] The company behind the product, Embention, is certified under ISO9001 and EN9100, ensuring a robust quality management system. In 2024, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved the certification basis for Veronte Autopilot under the ETSO-C198 framework,[5] making it the first flight control system for UAS and eVTOL to undergo this process.[6] This certification paves the way for Veronte Autopilot to be used in both manned and unmanned aircraft that require formal certification.[7]

Applications

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Veronte Autopilot is utilized in a variety of sectors, including defense, emergency response, and UAM. Its systems have been integrated into both drones and eVTOL aircraft used for air taxis and cargo transport.[8] By achieving certifications that meet manned aviation standards, Veronte Autopilot enables seamless integration into broader aerospace operations, promoting the use of autonomous systems in regulated airspaces.[1]

See also

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  1. ^ a b c "Veronte Autopilot flight-ready, poised for eVTOL mass production". Vertical Mag (Press release). Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  2. ^ "SKYTRAC and Embention Announce Partnership to Integrate First Autopilot System Supported by Iridium Certus". sUAS News. 2021-08-17. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  3. ^ Butterworth-Hayes, Philip. "EASA approves Embention's Veronte Autopilot for advanced eVTOL flight control systems". Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  4. ^ Systems, Inside Unmanned (2024-07-12). "EASA Approves Certification of Embention Veronte Autopilot". Inside Unmanned Systems. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  5. ^ "EASA Approves ETSO Certification Basis for Veronte Autopilot". www.commercialuavnews.com. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  6. ^ Quadcopter 440 (2020-08-31). "Lolas & Veronte Autopilot Integration To Secure Precise Autonomous Landings". UASweekly.com. Retrieved 2024-10-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Embention – Backup Autopilot for UAV certification". sUAS News. 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  8. ^ "Software applications". manuals.embention.com. Retrieved 2024-10-15.