Autonomous Black Hawk

[chopper2004]

DARPA Taps Sikorsky to Add Autonomy to U.S. Army-Owned Black Hawk Helicopter.

https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2024...00000298446624


cheers

[ShyTorque]

If there's no-one on board, who is the crew chap on the long lead talking to?

[golfbananajam]

Originally Posted by ShyTorque

If there's no-one on board, who is the crew chap on the long lead talking to?

That's the remote control ;-)

[retoocs]

Originally Posted by ShyTorque

If there's no-one on board, who is the crew chap on the long lead talking to?

Left: DEVCOM’s MX Black Hawk aircraft to be equipped with the MATRIX autonomy system. Right: Sikorsky’s Optionally Piloted Black Hawk aircraft demonstrating uninhabited resupply in 2022. Photos courtesy Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.

Why would someone even bother putting in that picture, there's no value added.

[diginagain]

Originally Posted by ShyTorque

If there's no-one on board, who is the crew chap on the long lead talking to?

Having stood outside a Lynx on the end of a wander-lead I've asked that question too.

[206Fan]

Originally Posted by ShyTorque

If there's no-one on board, who is the crew chap on the long lead talking to?

That looks like a picture of a crewed 60, not the autonomous ship. There's no experimental writing on the side, though I stand to be corrected.

[ShyTorque]

Originally Posted by 206Fan

That looks like a picture of a crewed 60, not the autonomous ship. There's no experimental writing on the side, though I stand to be corrected.

Yes, mate. I was joking.

[sycamore]

Can just imagine the `scenario`(as usual on exercise on SPTA/OTHER TAs),as you land as briefed,`stick leader`,via c/man"they don`t want to land here captain,they wanna be a mile N/E/S/W....",OR ,ON A PICK-UP,`troops are a mile N/S/E/W of where they should be..."WHO YA GONNA CALL?"

[Lonewolf_50]

About a decade ago, I recall seeing some video of a Blackhawk on a range somewhere testing out the autonomous controls feature.
At the time, there were (monitoring) pilots in the cockpit (likely for the case of 'oops, didn't quite work as expected' and such like) so this "Look Ma, no pilots!" is new as of 2022, it seems.

News Flash: the USMC had operational KMAX doing up to 6,000 pound external load ops over a decade ago.

Originally Posted by Kaman blurb

The two helicopters, designated as CQ-24A, served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom from 2011 to 2013, and exclusively flew unmanned missions. In the 33 months the unmanned K-MAX® was deployed to Afghanistan on combat resupply and logistical support missions, it moved over 4.5 million pounds of cargo throughout Afghanistan between forward operating bases and remote outposts. Operating exclusively during nighttime hours, these unmanned missions replaced the equivalent of 900 convoys and eliminated 46,000 hours of exposure to IEDs, direct fire, and other threats to troops on dangerous roads. The current unmanned system on the Marine CQ-24A aircraft will be replaced with new technology advancements.

This project is probably a bit more complex given the Blackhawk's more complicated flight control system.

[212man]

This project is probably a bit more complex given the Blackhawk's more complicated flight control system.

Is that a valid comment? I’m sure it’s a lot easier to connect computers to a digital 4-axis AFCS than an unstabilised machine with purely mechanical controls. Could be wrong of course.

[IFMU]

Originally Posted by 212man

Is that a valid comment? I’m sure it’s a lot easier to connect computers to a digital 4-axis AFCS than an unstabilised machine with purely mechanical controls. Could be wrong of course.

I'd argue that once you have the FBW in place, it's relatively easy. Especially given how robust the UH60 airframe is. I wish they had given me an S76 or a UH60 after we wrung out the Cypher UAV as much as we could have. Also would have been happy to take the X2 FBW and put the Cypher autonomy back in.

[206Fan]

Originally Posted by ShyTorque

Yes, mate. I was joking.

I figured. Didn't have my coffee

[212man]

Originally Posted by IFMU

I'd argue that once you have the FBW in place, it's relatively easy. Especially given how robust the UH60 airframe is. I wish they had given me an S76 or a UH60 after we wrung out the Cypher UAV as much as we could have. Also would have been happy to take the X2 FBW and put the Cypher autonomy back in.

I think you reversed my argument

[Lonewolf_50]

Originally Posted by 212man

Is that a valid comment? I’m sure it’s a lot easier to connect computers to a digital 4-axis AFCS than an unstabilised machine with purely mechanical controls. Could be wrong of course.

There are four push buttons on the center console (lower) that engage and disengage the degraded to full modes of the AFCS. KMAX, albeit not computerized, only needed electro-hydraulic servos to handle the flight controls, which requirement strikes me as a lot less complex in terms of creating a control system.

Also, to be clear, UH-60 Blackhawk is not FBW (even though that horizontal stab is) although I imagine that they could figure out a way to make it one what with the lessons learned from Comanche.

IFMU: given your work on Cypher, I'll forego further comment.

[IFMU]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50

Also, to be clear, UH-60 Blackhawk is not FBW (even though that horizontal stab is) although I imagine that they could figure out a way to make it one what with the lessons learned from Comanche.

I think you will find the autonomous UH60 is FBW. FBW has not made it to the production machine yet.

[Lonewolf_50]

Oh, cool! Thanks for catching me up.
I had heard rumors about that roughly 10 years ago from a friend in Huntsville, Alabama, but as I amn no longer in the job that afforded me those contacts I had lost touch.

Here's a thought: you can fly a Blackhawk with a complete electrical failure {1} (granted, it's a real pain in the butt).
I wonder if you can do so with a complete electrical failure if it's FBW.
Any ideas?
{1} (One should be able to get power back on using the APU generator, in most cases, but if both main busses are fried one can still fly it).

[212man]

I wonder if you can do so with a complete electrical failure if it's FBW.
Any ideas?
{1} (One should be able to get power back on using the APU generator, in most cases, but if both main busses are fried one can still fly it).

How can it be possible if the controls aren’t connected to anything except force sensors and transducers

[IFMU]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50

I wonder if you can do so with a complete electrical failure if it's FBW.
Any ideas?

I can't speak to the 60MU architecture, but typical Sikorsky philosophy is independent batteries and PMGs for all 3 channels, plus whatever main generators are available. So if you lose all that, you are screwed. Very low probability to lose so many sources.

[Sir Korsky]

I remember this program started off in an old worn out 76B with the A/C inverter pilot foot warmer heaters ! Was new tech back then and I was fascinated watching the fabrication spring to life. Not really sure how this machine fits in. Maybe a very few special missions, but I'm not sure if SIK will ever see their money back.