SIKORSKY/DARPA

Sikorsky and DARPA have successfully demonstrated the UH-60 Black Hawk autonomous helicopter performing military missions

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have successfully demonstrated to the US Army, for the first time, how a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter can fly autonomously and safely and reliably carry out missions. transporting internal and external cargo and carrying out rescue operations.

Conducted on October 12, 14 and 18 as part of the US Army's Project Convergence 2022 (PC22) experiment, the flights show how existing and future piloted utility helicopters could one day carry out complex missions in reduced crew or autonomous mode.

As Lockheed Martin explains, this would provide Army commanders and airmen with greater flexibility in how and when aircraft and pilots are used, especially in limited visibility or contested environments.

Sikorsky partners with DARPA to develop autonomy technology that will exponentially improve the safety and flight 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 the MATRIX technology is now ready for transition in the Army,” said Igor Cherepinsky, Director of Sikorsky Innovations. “In addition to enhancing flight safety and reliability, the technology enables survivability in the lower-security, high-threat environments where Black Hawks operate today. Unmanned or understaffed, helicopters can safely carry out critical and lifesaving missions day or night over complex terrain and contested battlespaces.”

Details from Yuma...During the PC22 Technology Gateway, teams from Sikorsky and DARPA showed how the Black Hawk helicopter, optionally piloted with no humans on board, can deliver a large amount of products flying low and fast above ground level using the terrain to mask your radar signature; resupply troops with external cargo; and redirect mid-flight to evacuate a casualty.

To begin the flight demonstrations, the pilots flew and landed the Black Hawk aircraft, then activated the MATRIX system to give the flight computer full control. When the pilots left, the helicopter autonomously completed the following mission demonstrations:

Long-term medical refueling: The Black Hawk aircraft flew 83 miles (133.58 km) loaded. Upon reaching 40 miles (64.37 km) from its starting point, the helicopter descended into a valley as low as 200 feet (60.96 m) above ground level at 100 knots (185.2 km/h).

Cargo Delivery and Casualty Evacuation (combined mission): The helicopter took off with a 2,600 lb (1.18 t) external load attached to a 12 meter rope and flew at 100 knots (185.2 km/h) for 30 minutes towards a designated landing zone.

During the flight, the helicopter was redirected, simulating a scenario where a threat needed to be neutralized near the primary landing site. Sikorsky has demonstrated how a ground operator with a secure radio and tablet can take control of the unmanned helicopter, command it to release its cargo and then land to evacuate a casualty from a nearby location.

Once the dummy on a stretcher was secured inside the cabin, the ground operator launched the aircraft. During the return flight, a BATDOK health monitoring device, integrated into the helicopter's communication system, transmitted the patient's vital signs in real time to a medical team on the ground.

What's the next step?...Sikorsky and DARPA will continue to work on transitioning this technology into military operations such as aircrew operations and support, medical logistics and resupply, casualty evacuation, and commercial applications such as firefighting, cargo and urban air mobility.

Lockheed Martin information