Scott Nicholas
Lockheed Martin‘s Sikorsky subsidiary has completed Phase 1 of a previously awarded $8 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency contract under the agency’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System program.
Lockheed said Tuesday Sikorsky has demonstrated its ALIAS system through a 30-mile autonomous flight with the use of a tablet device to operate a Sikorsky S-76 commercial helicopter.
The designated Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft flew from Sikorsky’s facility in Stratford to Robertson Airport in Plainville — both in Connecticut.
The company said Sikorsky has also secured a $9.8 million modification from DARPA and has commenced Phase 2 of the program, which will work on the maturation of the initial ALIAS system through additional flight tests, human interface updates and demonstration of ALIAS portability on other aircraft.
“ALIAS is expanding the role of optionally piloted helicopters for early entry into established aircraft programs” said Mark Miller, Sikorsky vice president of engineering and technology.
Miller added the program could cut back aircrew size and alter the type and length of training necessary for operations.
Sikorsky has also integrated its Matrix Technology on vertical take-off and landing aircraft to develop, test and field its hardware and software systems.
DARPA selected Sikorsky, Lockheed and Aurora Flight Sciences in March 2015 to demonstrate aircraft automation technology under the ALIAS program.
