Digital Engineering Supports eVTOL Development at Sarla Aviation

Sarla Aviation is implementing an integrated digital engineering environment for the development of its electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft in Bengaluru, India. The company is using software from Siemens Xcelerator to connect product design, simulation, electrical engineering, requirements management and product lifecycle data.

The approach is intended to support development of an electric air taxi platform that Sarla Aviation plans to introduce into commercial operations in Bengaluru from 2028.

Integrated Digital Thread Connects Engineering Data
eVTOL aircraft development requires mechanical, electrical, battery, avionics and software engineering activities to progress within the same aircraft configuration while maintaining traceability for verification and certification.

Sarla Aviation is addressing this requirement through a digital thread that connects engineering information across development disciplines. Instead of maintaining separate datasets for design, simulation and lifecycle management, engineering teams can use linked product information as the aircraft configuration evolves.

The company expects early-stage simulation to help identify design issues before physical testing, reducing unnecessary design iterations. Centralized engineering data also supports traceability between requirements, design decisions, simulations and verification activities.

Software Covers Mechanical and Electrical Development
Sarla Aviation is using Designcenter for product engineering from initial concepts through detailed aircraft design. Simcenter provides simulation and performance validation capabilities, allowing engineering teams to assess aircraft behavior before progressing to physical testing.

For the electrical architecture, Capital supports development of systems associated with battery management, electrical power distribution and avionics. These functions are particularly relevant to eVTOL aircraft because propulsion and flight-critical systems depend on the integration of high-voltage electrical power, control electronics and onboard systems.

Certification and Configuration Management
Polarion is being used for application development and requirements management, including activities associated with DO-178C compliance. DO-178C provides guidance for developing software used in airborne systems and equipment and requires structured evidence supporting software verification and traceability.

Teamcenter provides the product lifecycle management backbone, connecting product information across design, simulation and manufacturing activities. This enables changes to aircraft configurations and associated engineering information to remain traceable throughout development.

For Sarla Aviation, combining these systems creates a digital engineering architecture in which mechanical design, simulation, electrical systems and certification-related requirements can be managed within a connected workflow.

The company plans to use this environment as it progresses toward its targeted 2028 launch of electric air taxi operations in Bengaluru.

Edited by Sucithra Mani, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

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