News Aircraft manufacturers eVTOL
Honeywell supplying advanced flight controls for AIBOT’s eVTOLs

Photo Credit: Honeywell Aerospace

Honeywell Aerospace will supply its Compact Fly-By-Wire (cFBW) system to aircraft manufacturer AIBOT to support AIBOT’s fully electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

In a Nov. 15 news release, Honeywell officials describe the Compact Fly-By-Wire system as being the size of a paperback book, and say it provides aircraft suppliers with greater flexibility in aircraft design by enabling the removal of conventional mechanical linkages controlling the effectors, streamlining maintenance procedures, and reducing costs.

It also enables remote operation of the aircraft, they said, translating instructions from the aircraft’s operator into flight control commands on the aircraft. “The system’s envelope-limiting feature guarantees safe operations, making it particularly well-suited for stabilizing uniquely designed unmanned vehicles and delivering a stable flying experience,” they added.

The AIBOT aircraft is powered by eight electric motors and will accommodate up to six passengers and a pilot. With maximum takeoff weight of 7,000 pounds, the aircraft has a target maximum range of 250 miles and a top cruise speed of 250 mph, making it suitable for short-haul use cases between cities and metropolitan areas across the globe.

In 2024, AIBOT will kick off the production of fully autonomous heavy unmanned aircraft for industries like cargo, agriculture, high-speed inspection, and medical deliveries. This endeavor shares its system architecture with AIBOT’s manned aircraft, for which the inaugural flight will be in 2025.

Full product delivery of each aircraft is expected by 2028.