New System Allows Pilots to Sit Back While Military Helicopters Fly Themselves
Robot is my co-pilot.
By Kyle Mizokami
Nov 1, 2018
The next time a military helicopter pilot tells the co-pilot “take the controls," there may not need to be anyone in the next seat over. Military researchers are developing a new system that lets a pilot completely hand off flying the aircraft to an autonomous system.
The ALIAS system, or Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System, was developed by DARPA to provide an invisible backup pilot, allowing the pilot to do other things such as coordinate friendly forces, adjust a plan of action, or anything else that requires full attention. Pilots can then dip back into ALIAS to re-suggest, re-route, or re-plan the ongoing flight as needed.
Here’s a DARPA video of ALIAS in action.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a24486172/alias-darpa-robot-copilot-helicopter/
