Archer Aviation has revealed this week that Honeywell will supply flight control actuation and thermal management technologies for its Maker electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Honeywell’s actuation technology is a key enabler of Archer’s 12 tilt 6 configurations, and its thermal management technology will help Archer provide a best-in-class in-cabin experience for its passengers.
According to Honeywell, its cutting-edge actuators can handle hundreds of micro adjustments and commands per second from aircraft‘s fly-by-wire computers. This results in more precise navigation, an important asset for an eVTOL that’s meant to operate in dense urban environments.
Honeywell’s thermal management system provides several advantages compared to conventional systems, including lower weight, higher efficiency, and higher reliability in its size and power class. It will enhance the passengers’ comfort even more.
Equipped with 12 rotors, Archer’s Maker aircraft will be able to hit 150 mph (241 km/h) and have a medium range of approximately 60 miles (96 km). Archer claims that the Maker is 100 times quieter than conventional helicopters, humming along at around 45 dB when cruising at around 2,000 feet. This ultra-silent air taxi is set to become certified by 2024 and eventually operate without a pilot on board.
“Honeywell has a wide variety of ready-now solutions that will create a more sustainable future for the aviation sector, and the technology we’re providing Archer is a great example of that,” said Stéphane Fymat, vice president and general manager, Urban Air Mobility and Unmanned Aerial Systems, Honeywell Aerospace. “We’re committed to making Urban Air Mobility an everyday form of travel, and Archer’s aircraft will help bring that vision to life.”
