EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, has approved the certification basis for the Veronte Autopilot, making it the first guidance and flight control system for UAS and eVTOL to undergo an ETSO-C198 certification process
Pioneers in Autonomous System Certification
Since its inception, Embention has demonstrated a strong commitment to reliability and certification. After complying with aviation standards DO-178C, DO-254, DO-160, and achieving ISO9001 and EN9100 certifications, the Spanish company has reached the first milestone with EASA in obtaining an ETSO authorization for the Veronte Autopilot. This miniaturized flight control system is designed for advanced control of both manned (eVTOL / VCA) and unmanned (UAS) autonomous vehicles.
EASA has verified and approved the Certification Programme and the Article Technical Specification, documents that establish the certification basis for the Veronte Autopilot under the framework of ETSO-C198 “Automatic Flight Guidance and Control Systems (AFGCS).” This milestone marks the first step in obtaining an ETSO certification level for the autopilot.
Autopilot for UAS and eVTOL with ETSO certification
This certification of the autopilot as a component will confirm compliance with manned aviation standards, facilitating the certification of both manned and unmanned aircraft. These levels of compliance are necessary for the operation of unmanned aircraft in the Certified Category (according to Regulation (EU) 2019/947) and for VTOL (VCA) aircraft that carry passengers. It will also enable the installation of the Veronte Autopilot in already certified manned aircraft in accordance with Regulation (EU) 748/2012 and its annex, known as Part 21.
According to Javier Espuch, Chief Business Development Officer at Embention: “This achievement with EASA represents an unprecedented advancement in our path to certify the Veronte Autopilot under the ETSO-C198 framework. This step reinforces our commitment to innovation and safety to enabling drones to populate our skies.”
At the same time, this milestone positions Embention as a pioneer and leader in the certification of critical systems for unmanned and VCA / eVTOL aircraft. It represents another step towards enabling and normalizing critical operations with these types of aircraft, such as urban air mobility, including air taxis and urban freight transport.
About Embention:
Leading provider of advanced control systems for autonomous vehicles with 16 years of experience. Embention offers reliable autopilot systems, motor controllers, and avionics for drones and eVTOL. With over 100 employees, it has a strong dedication to safe, efficient, and innovative autonomous flight. Listed on Euronext stock exchange, the company showcases its commitment to transparency and to address company growth to create value for stakeholders.
Discover more from sUAS News – The Business of Drones
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The customization of the control systems is a key element for the success of a
UAV project. Each aircraft has unique characteristics and needs, depending on its
structure and the mission entrusted to it. That is why the performance of the control system must be adapted to the requirements of each system. The Veronte Autopilot incorporates this flexibility thanks to model-based design.
Model-based design enables engineers to customize the system using pre-verified and predefined code blocks. This programming model focuses on the existing relationships between the different blocks (PID, energy control, mathematical operations…), thus allowing UAV integration engineers to “not worry” about the content of the block itself.
Advantages of Block-Based Design for UAV control
The use of block-based design for UAV programming is one of the most
prominent innovations of the Veronte Autopilot. This programming model
endows the UAV integrator with an unimaginable customization capacity for a
professional autopilot.
Flexibility: The use of Block-Based Design in the programming of the Veronte
Autopilot allows to fully customize the behavior of the UAV. Engineers in charge of
integration can create their own flight phases, control laws, and automatic
routines without the need for programming knowledge.
Safety: The Veronte Autopilot is developed according to the DO178C / ED-12
certification standards. Each of the programming blocks has been developed and
verified according to these standards, having the necessary documentation to
guarantee the safety and reliability of the system.
Independence: UAV systems are in continuous evolution, being necessary to
adapt their benefits to new applications and payloads. The Block-Based Design allows the UAV integrator to make the necessary changes in the programming in a simple and intuitive way, without having to depend on the autopilot manufacturer to make these changes.
Cost reduction: Block-based scheduling allows quick and easy changes to the autopilot, even on the airfield. These changes can be made from the autopilot’s
user interface, without the need for software programmers dedicated to customizing the autopilot or complex development environments.
Certification of UAVs using Model Based Design
Veronte Autopilot is developed in accordance with the aeronautical certification
standards DO178C / ED-12, DO254 and DO160. In compliance with standards up to
the DAL-B level which means an essential element when approaching a UAV
certification project.
The use of Model Based Design for the customization of the autopilot allows all
types of aircraft (multirotor, VTOL, fixed wing, gyroplane …) to share the same
source code, significantly reducing the effort required for certification.
The programming blocks in Veronte Autopilot are developed and verified according to the DO331 standard, which includes all the aspects that address “Model-Based Design” in aviation. All this in order that any program built from these blocks also complies with the DO178B standard.
Model Based Design has been the result of Embention‘s years of experience working with autopilots and certification programs. This technology incorporated into the Veronte Autopilot has set a precedent in the industry thanks to its adaptability, while maintaining compliance with the strictest UAV certification standards.
]]>