AVL Copper Bird

Modern electric aircraft demand testing environments that go far beyond traditional laboratory setups. This webinar introduces AVL Copper Bird as a system level Power / PHIL testing approach that brings electric and hybrid electric aircraft ground testing to near flight conditions. Participants will learn how Copper Bird enables realistic testing with real electrical power up to the megawatt level, without the complexity, cost, or risk of mechanical components such as motors or batteries.

The session focuses on validating the pure electric system domain, including control units, software, power distribution, cable harnesses, and grounding. By combining simulation, emulation, and real hardware into one closed loop environment, Copper Bird reveals system behaviors that traditional laboratory setups cannot capture. This includes EMC interactions, impedance and resonance effects, and complex fault scenarios that only emerge under real power conditions. At the same time, the platform enables safe, repeatable fault insertion and a clear separation between real and emulated subsystems.

Attendees will learn:

• Why system level testing is fundamentally different from component validation.
• Why testing without real electrical power is not sufficient.
• How to separate real vs. emulated components in a Copper Bird setup.
• How Power HIL / PHIL exposes EMC, impedance, resonance, and fault interaction effects.
• How fault insertion can be performed safely and repeatably.
• How Copper Bird integrates efficiently into a SIL → CIL → PHIL validation chain.
• How modular, reconfigurable testbeds improve test efficiency and front-loading.

Overall, the session shows how AVL Copper Bird elevates reliability, reduces risk, and accelerates development for next generation electric aircraft.