Honeywell and Close to Earth Autonomy have efficiently accomplished the primary autonomous check flight of a Leonardo AW139 helicopter, marking a significant milestone in help of the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program. This flight demonstrates the feasibility of uncrewed, autonomous plane able to working in contested environments with out an onboard pilot or distant operator.
The check flight on Honeywell’s AW139 happened in Phoenix, Arizona in Might and marks a important step in efforts to ship scalable, autonomous logistics help to the USA Marine Corps (USMC). For the primary time, key autopilot modes of the AW139 had been managed instantly by Close to Earth’s onboard autonomy software program, with out pilot enter, showcasing exact flight management and autonomous decision-making.
“Not solely is that this profitable demonstration a significant step in creating model new prospects for the USMC, however it additionally creates a possible pathway to be used by different helicopter operators as effectively,” stated Bob Buddecke, president, Digital Options, Honeywell Aerospace Applied sciences. “Along with Close to Earth Autonomy and Leonardo, we’re displaying how current plane will be tailored with trusted avionics to help the subsequent technology of protection logistics. Uncrewed plane will likely be important in preserving service women and men as secure as attainable in contested environments, and we’re one step nearer to realizing that imaginative and prescient.”
The ALC program, managed beneath a Naval Aviation Programs Consortium Different Transaction Settlement (OTA) with Close to Earth Autonomy as a chief performer, goals to develop and deploy autonomous aerial logistics programs that cut back danger to personnel and enhance the pace and scale of provide operations. Future testing will broaden autonomy capabilities, together with automated impediment avoidance, and integration into navy logistics workflows, leading to a safer, uncrewed supply system to assist enhance operational readiness and enhance responsiveness in theatre.
“This flight showcases Close to Earth Autonomy’s management in creating trusted autonomy for real-world operations,” stated Dr. Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Close to Earth Autonomy. “By instantly controlling the AW139’s flight modes with our autonomy system, we’ve proven that scalable autonomous logistics utilizing current platforms is not only attainable — it’s taking place now. This functionality is crucial for lowering danger to navy personnel and making certain resilient provide chains within the area.”
Honeywell’s partnership with Close to Earth Autonomy seeks to develop an autonomy resolution that’s reasonably priced, scalable, and certifiable for future missions. Honeywell gives mission-critical programs engineered for each retrofit and next-generation plane. These options are constructed to fulfill at the moment’s operational calls for whereas supporting the long-term shift to uncrewed and extremely autonomous flight.
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