DARPA ready to transition ALIAS autonomous flight technology to the services

The technology for transitioning things that previously required and in cockpit human controller has matured from the demonstration of viability research project to potentially becoming ubiquitous. It also opens the door for the re-purposing of platforms that don't meet safety requirements for carrying humans inside. This adds a new layer of complexity to what we mean when we conceptualize what drones are. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Sikorsky ALIAS helicopter autonomy project is a case in point.

"Unlike some unmanned platforms which are remotely piloted, a ”man in the loop” isn’t required to operate an aircraft that is equipped with the Matrix technology, according to Sikorsky. “It’s a true autonomous system. That’s to say, once you’ve explained to the aircraft what its mission is, you don’t really need a data link if you don’t want to monitor it,” Igor Cherepinsky, director of Sikorsky Innovations, told reporters. The technology uses sensors to detect landing zones on its own. It can also deal with contingencies or emergencies that might arise and adapt its flight operations accordingly."

Read More: https://defensescoop.com/2022/11/03/darpa-ready-to-transition-alias-autonomous-flight-technology-to-the-services/