Lilium Teams with Collins Aerospace to Build New Innovative Inceptor System

Reading time ( words)

Lilium N.V., developer of the first all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet, has teamed with Collins Aerospace, to design, develop, and build the Lilium Jet’s inceptors – the innovative sidestick system used by the pilot to control the aircraft. Collins is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry and a Raytheon Technologies business.

The Lilium Jet inceptors will provide safe and intuitive handling qualities, easy access to functionalities, and an aesthetic, ergonomic design. While integrating all conventional mechanical and electrical flight controls into two sidesticks, the Collins system brings a new piloting philosophy for single pilot operations in the eVTOL realm. The system will also be designed to bring significant space and weight savings compared to conventional sidesticks.

Lilium’s collaboration with Collins continues the company’s strategy of teaming up with established tier one aerospace suppliers to support certification and prepare the industrial ramp-up. As part of the supplier agreement, Collins, with its extensive experience in developing and certifying inceptors for commercial jets, will certify the Lilium Jet’s inceptors to commercial aviation standards.

Yves Yemsi, Chief Operating Officer at Lilium, said: “Our partnership with Collins Aerospace allows us to reap the benefit of five decades of experience in flight deck controls. Our two companies’ collaborative development approach allows us to re-imagine the cockpit and pilot experience, and further strengthens our path towards certification and commercialization.”

“Our extensive experience innovating sidestick design is key when tackling the challenges of redefining the entire flight control philosophy for single-pilot aircraft in this new market of advanced regional air mobility,” said Jean-François Chanut, vice president and general manager of Collins Aerospace Propeller Systems. “This innovating and exciting partnership with Lilium is a first step in defining the right solutions toward more automated, sustainable and safe operations for the future of flight”

03/13/2023 | Boeing

Boeing and Shield AI have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore strategic collaboration in the areas of autonomous capabilities and artificial intelligence on current and future defense programs. Shield AI created Hivemind, an artificial intelligence pilot that has flown a variety of aircraft. According to Shield AI, the AI pilot can also enable swarms of drones and aircraft to operate autonomously without GPS, communications or a human pilot in the cockpit.

02/23/2023 | I-Connect007 Editorial Team

With multiple advanced degrees in aerospace science, Emily Calandrelli could have had her pick of any project in earth and space science. Instead, she has chosen to use her skills in science policy and communication to break down complex science topics, advocate for women in STEM fields, and bolster enthusiasm for the next generation of scientists through her own Netflix show and an active slate of social media accounts. Emily’s platform is huge, but it's one that she wholeheartedly embraces. In this interview with the I-Connect007 Editorial Team, Emily talks about her unconventional entry into science, what’s ahead for space commerce, advice for industry leaders, and what she really thinks about going into space.

01/24/2023 | Lee Ritchey, Speeding Edge

As the aerospace industry has been tasked with fitting increasingly complex electronics in existing airframes the demands on PCB substrates have begun to overtask the existing state of the art in PCB fabrication. Recently, I was called in to troubleshoot some reliability problems with a very dense PCB that had components on both sides and required the use of stacked blind vias and buried vias. The usual name for this kind of design is “build-up fabrication,” requiring many trips through the lamination, drilling, and plating operations at a fabricator.