Sikorsky lands Phase 3 contract in aircraft autonomy project

After being involved with Phase 1 and 2 of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automatic Program (ALIAS), Sikorsky was recently chosen to continue its involvement with the program for Phase 3.

"Our work with DARPA has continued to grow and our team is excited to begin Phase 3 on the ALIAS program," Sikorsky Engineering and Technology Vice President Mark Miller said in a Lockheed Martin news release. "Our autonomy capabilities will help pilots in high workload and degraded visual environments ultimately increasing safety and efficiency.”

Both DARPA and ALIAS programs are working to “leverage advances in autonomy to reduce pilot workload, augment mission performance, and improve aircraft safety and reliability,” the release said. “DARPA is working with Sikorsky to improve and expand the capabilities developed through a tailorable autonomy kit for installation in both fixed wing airplanes and helicopters.”

Sikorsky is a Lockheed company and was involved with both phases for the programs as they integrated its Matrix Technology into Sikorsky's Autonomy Research Aircraft (SARA) and also on a Cessna Caravan, Lockheed said.

By creating these products, Sikorsky is giving pilots “the confidence to fly aircraft safely, reliably and affordably in optimally piloted modes enabling flight with two, one or zero crew,” Lockheed said.