Military Helicopters Can Now Fly Themselves

Popular Mechanics: New System Allows Pilots to Sit Back While Military Helicopters Fly Themselves

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.

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WNU Editor: It is about time.