https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/331517-darpa-successfully-tests-autonomous-helicopter

 

Not sure how different this is to the numerous unmanned drones that buzz around. Except that its a conventional chopper. 

"The test flight, which fell under the agency’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS), involved a UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter retrofitted with Sikorsky’s MATRIX technology, a core component of the program. DARPA defines MATRIX as a “tailorable, drop-in, removable kit” that can be added to many pre-existing aircraft without the steep expense of building a new, individualized autonomous system from scratch."

Not that impressed Mike. 🤔 

Perhaps you should spend time in helicopters. Martin. It's totally different than a tube liner. You fly it from startup to shut down. 

If this technology works as advertised then it could not only save lives it could also lessen the AC's load. 

19 hours ago, 188AHC said:

It's totally different than a tube liner. You fly it from startup to shut down.

 

Not really, autopilot implementation is available for many helicopters.

What we are talking about here is autonomy, and autonomous rotor craft drones are in the skies as we speak, VSR700 for example, or the MQ-8 Fire Scout.... thus, its not new, thus I'm struggling to be impressed.

The only advantage I can see here is that the automation is added to an existing airframe.

 

https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/defence/uas/vsr700

 

Quote

If this technology works as advertised then it could not only save lives

 

Its full autonomy, not a flight envelope protection system. Many helicopters already have a degree of flight envelope protection. 

The system we are talking about is a "drop in" technology to convert an existing airframe to full autonomy. Rather than having to build a fully autonomous helicopter from scratch. That's the advantage, not that its an autonomous helicopter which has been done before. 

 

Edited February 12, 20224 yr by martin-w

I do know what autonomous means. You clearly missed my meaning. I still say that this technology might well have numerous uses other than autonomy. 

8 hours ago, 188AHC said:

. I still say that this technology might well have numerous uses other than autonomy. 

 

Like what? We already have flight envelopes protection for helicopters to enhance safety and we already have autonomous helicopters.

As stated in the article, what's new here is the capability to drop in autonomous flight technology to existing air frames... nothing else is new.

Your speculated "numerous uses" are already facilitated by autonomous technology that's already in existance.

Just a matter of time and SkyNet will be activated, the machines will rise up against those who created them.  Life imitates art.