US Army demos ALIAS technology
US Army pilots have carried out a series of demonstrations of technology developed by Sikorsky and DARPA, Lockheed Martin announced on 29 October.
The flights saw the Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft (SARA) operated as an optionally piloted vehicle (OPV). SARA, a modified S-76B commercial helicopter, successfully demonstrated the advanced capabilities developed as part of the third phase of DARPA's Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) programme. The aircraft was operated at different times by pilots on board and pilots on the ground.
Sikorsky's Matrix autonomous software and hardware installed on SARA executed various scenarios including automated take-off and landing; obstacle avoidance; automatic landing zone selection; and contour flight.
The army and DARPA are working with Sikorsky to improve and expand ALIAS capabilities as a customisable autonomy kit for installation in both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
Over the next few months, Sikorsky will fly a Black Hawk equipped with ALIAS. The company is working closely with the FAA to certify ALIAS/Matrix technology so that it will be available on current and future commercial and military aircraft.
Through the DARPA ALIAS programme, Sikorsky is developing an OPV approach it describes as pilot directed autonomy that will enable operators to fly aircraft in optimally piloted modes with two, one or zero crew. The programme will improve operator decision support for manned operations while also enabling both unmanned and reduced crew operations.
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