This month at CES in Las Vegas, Honeywell and NXP announced an expanded partnership to accelerate aviation product development and chart the path for autonomous flight.

The collaboration will combine Honeywell’s aerospace expertise, the capabilities of Honeywell Anthem avionics and Dutch firm NXP’s computing architecture, enabling AI-driven aerospace technology that helps improve operational efficiency for planning and managing flights.

This builds on the companies’ existing relationship, which is focused on optimising how building management systems sense and securely control energy consumption, announced at CES last year.

The companies will team to advance large-area displays for cockpits with thinner, high-resolution screens designed to improve visual clarity and system efficiency. Additionally, they will explore how to simplify and streamline migrations to newer avionic technologies, as well as extend critical aviation technologies’ lifecycles, helping deliver long-term value for aircraft manufacturers and operators.

“Our industrial domain expertise combined with NXP’s best-in-class technology is a powerful accelerator for industrial leaders on the path to autonomy,” said Vimal Kapur, CEO of Honeywell (www.honeywell.com). “Working together, we are developing differentiated services that shape the future of automation, driving significant customer outcomes and fuelling Honeywell’s growth.”

NXP’s domain-based architecture paves the path to autonomy, featuring high-compute capabilities, integrated cyber security and functional safety, including technology developed for the automotive industry. It will be adapted for aviation applications on Honeywell Anthem, a cloud-connected cockpit system. This is a continuation of co-creation between the two companies, which includes NXP applications processers embedded in Honeywell’s building management, fire safety and security products. Looking ahead, the companies are expanding this work to include AI and machine learning in building controllers.

For the aerospace industry, Honeywell will leverage various NXP processors, including the i.MX 8 applications processors used in Honeywell’s Advanced Control for Buildings platform and S32N super-integration processors, providing a range of high-performance intelligence that can be adapted for the needs of various aircraft. With NXP’s processors, Honeywell Anthem hopes to deliver faster data processing for real-time AI-driven insights, enhancing safety and optimising performance both in the air and on the ground.

“Bringing avionics closer to autonomous flight requires a unique combination of high-performance processing and AI, advanced connectivity and security, and functional safety,” said Kurt Sievers, CEO of NXP Semiconductors (www.nxp.com). “NXP’s broad portfolio and systems approach makes us a natural partner for Honeywell on the journey towards creating innovative, intelligent and autonomous avionics that can sense, think and act.”

One of the early adopters that will benefit from this collaboration is Vertical Aerospace, a UK specialist in eVTOL aircraft that is testing its piloted VX4 prototype aircraft featuring Honeywell Anthem.

“By fulfilling the promise of advanced air mobility, electric aircraft like the VX4 represent a bold vision for the future,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace (vertical-aerospace.com). “Honeywell Anthem has already proven to be a highly capable platform, and we’re excited to explore how its capabilities can be further enhanced by NXP’s advanced computing to lessen pilot workloads while increasing situational awareness. Together, we see opportunities to make travel quicker, cleaner and safer, supporting our shared vision to transform how the world moves.”

Jim Currier, CEO of Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, added: “The future of aviation demands safer, smarter and more efficient systems. This partnership will explore how NXP’s advanced computing technologies can complement Honeywell Anthem to drive innovation across the aviation industry and accelerate the path to autonomy.”