Today’s aircraft are becoming increasingly autonomous, with the ability to handle most of the flight from takeoff to landing. However, the majority of these aircraft still rely on human pilots to navigate and avoid obstacles. But there are two helicopters that are changing the game.
The first one is the Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft (SARA), a modified S-76B medium-size rotorcraft. It has been equipped with an autonomous system called Matrix, which allows it to operate on its own or with a pilot. Matrix is a combination of hardware and software that simplifies aircraft operation.
The second helicopter is the Optionally Piloted Vehicle, developed by DARPA. It is a military Black Hawk helicopter that also utilizes the Matrix system. In 2022, it made its first flight without a pilot on board, showcasing its autonomous capabilities.
Recently, these two helicopters came together in Long Island Sound for a groundbreaking experiment. They attempted to fly towards each other using collision avoidance software developed by NASA. This software, along with four other suites, was integrated into the helicopters’ systems to test their ability to detect and avoid threats.
The experiment involved introducing 150 virtual aircraft and their flight plans into the helicopters’ brains through coding. The software performed flawlessly, making real-time adjustments to altitude, speed, and direction to avoid collisions with each other and the virtual aircraft.
During the experiment, the teams from Sikorsky, NASA, and DARPA conducted 12 flights with the two helicopters, performing 70 maneuvers and accumulating a total of 60 flight hours. It is worth noting that human pilots were present on board to supervise the flights and evaluate the interaction between humans and autonomous systems.
These tests were not only beneficial for the military but also for the civilian world. The collision avoidance software developed by NASA is a crucial step towards enabling the success of air taxis. The findings from these tests, along with future ones, will be shared with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to facilitate the integration of Advanced Air Mobility systems into the national airspace.
