Robopocalypse Comes to United States Army Helicopters

Flying a helicopter low and fast over rugged terrain, using the hills for masking, to a safe landing in a forest clearing is among the most demanding tasks a pilot can undertake, but one U.S. Army researchers believe can be performed autonomously - with the right sensors and algorithms.

Under the Autonomous Rotorcraft project, the Army’s Aeroflightdynamics Directorate (AFDD) has developed and flown software that would enable “terrain-aware autonomy” in the next generation of unmanned rotorcraft.

In Phase 2 flights in May, using a laser-radar sensor, the software guided a fly-by-wire testbed helicopter through the Diablo Range west of San Jose, Calif., autonomously navigating out of a box canyon, avoiding an aircraft and power lines, and selecting a safe landing area.