little less than nine months after flying without pilots for the first time, an autonomous UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter demonstrated rescue and logistic transport operations. The flights were carried out on the 12th, 14th and 18th as part of the Project Convergence 2022 (PC22) experiment at the US Army.
The activities demonstrated how currently manned utility helicopters could, in the future, perform complex missions with reduced crew or completely autonomously. This would give Army commanders and airmen greater flexibility in how and when aircraft and pilots are used, especially in limited visibility or contested environments.
The development of black hawk helicopter without a crew is conducted by Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin, the aircraft manufacturer, and the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). The entities are partners in the development of autonomy technology, which promises to exponentially improve the safety and flight efficiency of airplanes and helicopters.
Sikorsky's autonomy system, known as MATRIX technology, forms the core of DARPA's ALIAS (Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System) project.
To begin the flight demonstrations, pilots flew and landed the Black Hawk, then activated the MATRIX system to give full control to the flight computer. When the pilots left, the helicopter autonomously completed the following demonstrations:
- Long autonomy medical replenishment: The Black Hawk aircraft flew 83 miles loaded with 400 units of real and simulated blood – totaling 500 pounds. Upon reaching 40 miles from its initial takeoff 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 took off with a 2.600-pound external load attached to a 40-foot cable and flew at 100 knots for 30 minutes toward a designated landing zone.
During the flight, the helicopter was redirected, simulating a scenario where a threat needed to be neutralized close to the primary landing site. Sikorsky demonstrated how a ground operator with a secure radio and tablet can take control of the pilotless helicopter, command it to release its payload, then land to evacuate a casualty from a nearby location.
“We believe MATRIX technology is now ready to transition to the Army as they look to modernize their enduring helicopter fleet and acquire Future Vertical Lift aircraft,” said Igor Cherepinsky , director of Sikorsky Innovations.
“In addition to enhancing flight safety and reliability, MATRIX technology enables survivability in XNUMXst-century security environments. 21 high-pace, high-threat operations where Black Hawk helicopters operate today and DEFIANT X and RAIDER X helicopters may operate in the future. Unmanned or reduced manned helicopters can safely perform critical and lifesaving missions day or night over complex terrain and in contested battlespaces.”
During the PC22 Technology Gateway, the Sikorsky-DARPA team showed how the optionally manned Black Hawk helicopter can transport blood products unharmed by flying low and fast above ground level using terrain to mask its signature; resupply troops with external cargo; and redirect mid-flight to evacuate a casualty.
The PC22 demonstrations marked the second set of unmanned Blacj Hawk flights this year. Sikorsky and DARPA will continue to work on transitioning this technology into military operations such as aircrew operations and , medical logistics and resupply, casualty evacuation, and commercial applications such as firefighting, cargo, and urban air mobility.
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