Named the Optionally Piloted Black Hawk (OPBH) Demonstrator, the RC helicopter is part of a larger Sikorsky effort to develop unmanned resupply and lift capabilities that can free up pilots for more critical missions where human intuition is absolutely necessary.
According to Mark Miller, Sikorsky Vice President of Research & Engineering,
“The autonomous Black Hawk helicopter provides the commander with the flexibility to determine crewed or un-crewed operations, increasing sorties while maintaining crew rest requirements.” Miller continued, “This allows the crew to focus on the more ‘sensitive’ operations, and leaves the critical resupply missions for autonomous operations without increasing fleet size or mix.”
In development since 2007, Sikorsky has finally started to master RC technology. Key to this mastery was the development of their MATRIX system. While details about the system are understandably hush-hush, Sikorsky says the project is designed to meet the “high level of system intelligence needed to complete complex missions with minimal human oversight and at low altitudes where obstacles abound.”
With this initial demonstration Sikorsky has taken a major step towards bringing semi-autonomous rotary power craft closer to full operation. If the US Army continues to pursue the technology the Department of Defense could reap cost saving benefits, improve pilot readiness and facilitate better logistical support. Lets just hope this technology trickles down to civilians one day, cause who wouldn’t love to fly a full-sized RC copter?
Image Courtesy of Sikorsky