Sikorsky delivers first autonomous "Black Hawk" helicopter to U.S. Army

The US aviation company Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, delivered the first experimental autonomous multi-purpose helicopter H-60MX Black Hawk to the U.S. Army on March 20. The company announced this on Monday. Sikorsky has completely converted the helicopter to fly-by-wire operation and fully integrated the company's own Matrix system for autonomous flight. Depending on the need in military operations, the H-60MX can be operated manually by a human pilot, semi-autonomously, or fully autonomously.

The H-60MX is based on the UH-60M Black Hawk, which serves as a multi-purpose helicopter in the US Army. It can transport up to eleven fully equipped soldiers into military operations or carry loads of up to four tons.

Sikorsky initially converted the H-60MX to a fly-by-wire flight system. In this system, the pilot's control signals are no longer transmitted via mechanical components such as steel cables, pushrods, or hydraulic systems but are electronically transmitted via cables to actuators that control components such as the engine, rotor, and other components to be controlled. This allows for not only more precise manual control of the helicopter by a pilot but also simpler integration of an autonomous control system.

Autonomous control via Matrix

Sikorsky uses its in-house Matrix system for autonomous flight control. The autonomous flight control software enables precise, semi-automatic, and fully automatic control of the helicopter in military missions through the use of sensors. From takeoff to autonomous mission execution to landing, the H-60MX can operate largely independently. This allows dangerous missions to be carried out without a crew, thus not endangering the lives of soldiers.

Specifically, the Matrix system offers automatic landing zone detection and obstacle avoidance and can thus carry out missions even in limited visibility conditions. In addition, terrain and obstacle detection helps to avoid potential threats more effectively and quickly. Pilots also benefit from this in semi-autonomous operation. The system takes over tasks that relieve the pilot of routine flight control tasks. Sikorsky promises that the pilot can then concentrate better on mission-critical decisions. The system also helps pilots to avoid threats more effectively to avoid enemy fire.

In addition, the open architecture of the Matrix system is intended to help reduce maintenance effort. Operating expenses are expected to be lower, it is stated.

The Black Hawk helicopter is now being tested and evaluated by the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) for its autonomous functions. In the long term, a scalable autonomy kit is to be developed that can be transferred to the entire Black Hawk fleet of the U.S. Army, including Black Hawk helicopters of types UH-60A, -60L, and -60M.

In the long term, Sikorsky intends to introduce the S-70UAS U-Hawk, which has already been tested. The helicopter was designed for autonomous operation from the outset and has no cockpit at all. It is intended to perform military missions exclusively autonomously.

(olb)