Sikorsky demonstrates autonomous systems with 30-mile helicopter flight

Sikorsky has undertaken a 30-mile autonomous flight using a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that was controlled by a tablet device.

The flight is said to complete Phase 1 of an $8m award from the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program.

Sikorsky’s ALIAS system directed the helicopter flight demonstration from the company's Stratford, Connecticut, facility to Robertson Airport in Plainville, Connecticut with the operator planning and executing each phase of an autonomous mission with a tablet device.

During the demonstration, a ground station crew monitored the progress of the ALIAS-enabled Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft (SARA), which is an S-76 commercial helicopter.

DARPA’s ALIAS program is developing and implementing new levels of automation into existing military and commercial aircraft, enabling them to operate with reduced on-board crew. Sikorsky said it utilised its Matrix Technology to develop, test and field hardware and software systems that improve piloted and 'optionally piloted' vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. To date, Sikorsky has installed MATRIX on SARA and a BLACK HAWK helicopter.