Uninhabited Black Hawk® helicopter
lifts external cargo and
completes casualty evacuation and medical resupply missions
YUMA PROVING GROUND, Ariz.,
Nov. 2,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin
company (NYSE: LMT) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA) have successfully demonstrated to the U.S. Army for
the first time how an uninhabited Black Hawk helicopter flying
autonomously can safely and reliably perform internal and external
cargo resupply missions, and a rescue operation.
Sikorsky is partnered with DARPA to develop
autonomy technology that will improve aircraft safety and
efficiency.
Performed Oct. 12, 14 and 18 as
part of the U.S. Army's Project Convergence 2022 (PC22) experiment,
the flights show how existing and future piloted utility
helicopters could one day fly complex missions in reduced crew or
autonomous mode. This would give Army commanders and aviators
greater flexibility in how and when aircraft and pilots are used,
especially in limited visibility or contested environments.
See demonstration photos and video.
Why It Matters
Sikorsky is partnered with DARPA to develop autonomy technology
that will exponentially improve the flight safety and efficiency of
rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. Sikorsky's autonomy system, known
as MATRIX™ technology, forms the core of DARPA's ALIAS (Aircrew
Labor In-cockpit Automation System) project.
"We believe MATRIX technology is ready now for transition to the
Army as they look to modernize the enduring helicopter fleet, and
acquire Future Vertical Lift aircraft," said Igor Cherepinsky, director of Sikorsky
Innovations. "In addition to increasing flight safety and
reliability, MATRIX technology enables survivability in high tempo,
high threat 21st Century Security environments
where Black Hawk helicopters operate today, and DEFIANT
X® and RAIDER X® helicopters could operate in
the future. Uncrewed or reduced crewed helicopters
could safely perform critical and lifesaving missions day or
night in complex terrain and in contested battlespace."
The Yuma Details
During PC22 Technology Gateway, the Sikorsky and DARPA team
showed how the optionally piloted Black Hawk helicopter with no
humans on board can deliver a large quantity of blood product
unharmed by flying low and fast above ground level using the
terrain to mask its signature; resupply troops with an external
load; and re-route mid-flight to evacuate a casualty.
To begin the flight demonstrations, pilots flew and landed the
Black Hawk aircraft, then activated the MATRIX system to give full
control to the flight computer. When the pilots exited, the
helicopter autonomously completed the following mission
demonstrations:
- Long-endurance Medical Resupply: The Black Hawk aircraft
flew 83 miles while loaded with 400 units of real and simulated
blood – totaling 500 pounds. On reaching 40 miles from its initial
take-off point, the helicopter descended into a valley as low as
200 feet above ground level at 100 knots.
- Cargo Delivery and Casualty Evacuation (combined
mission): The helicopter lifted off with a 2,600-pound external
load attached to a 40-foot sling, and flew at 100 knots for 30
minutes toward a designated landing zone. While in flight, the
helicopter was redirected, simulating a scenario in which a threat
needed to be neutralized near the primary landing site. Sikorsky
demonstrated how a ground operator with a secure radio and tablet
can take control of the uncrewed helicopter, command it to release
its sling load, and then land to evacuate a casualty from a nearby
location. Once the manikin on a litter was secured inside the
cabin, the ground operator launched the aircraft. During the return
flight, a BATDOK health monitoring device integrated with the
helicopter's communications system relayed the patient's vitals in
real-time to a ground-based medical team.
-
What's Next
The PC22 demonstrations were the second set of uninhabited Black
Hawk flights this year. Sikorsky and DARPA will continue to
work toward the transition of this technology for military
operations, such as aircrew support and operations, logistics and
medical resupply, casualty evacuation, and commercial applications
such as firefighting, cargo and urban air mobility.
For more information visit, www.lockheedmartin.com/matrix.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin
Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs
approximately 114,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged
in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and
services.
Please follow @LMNews on Twitter for the latest announcements
and news across the corporation.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin