Wed, Sep 13, 2006
Air Guard Technology Demonstrator Completes Phase One
Testing
Piasecki Aircraft, an
R&D company focusing on vertical lift aircraft technologies,
has completed phase one flight testing of its Air Guard Technology
Demonstrator from 6-8 September.
The Air Guard Technology Demonstrator is touted as "the world's
first autonomous autogyro." The autogyro aircraft, developed and
built by Piasecki, incorporates a
six-degrees-of-freedom flight control model from Georgia
Tech and an autonomy system from Geneva Aerospace.
The craft is controlled via the Unmanned Aerial System, a
control system utilizing a natural-language voice command and
response interface. With a hand-held "tablet" controller, a single
operator might direct multiple autonomous vehicles.
The test protocol demonstrated the following features:
- Multiple Autonomous Flights with Automatic Mission Planning and
Mission Management, Negotiated Interaction, Management by
Exception, and High Level Mission Plan Inputs
- Multiple Waypoint Navigation with Dynamic In-Flight Mission
Re-planning, Consisting of both Altitude and Airspeed Changes
- Racetrack and "Figure-8" Loiter Patterns
- Flight Controls Slaved to Sensor
- Remote Sensor Control from Ground Station/Tablet
- Persistent Stare Loitering - Vehicle Slaved to Sensor, Sensor
Locked to Target
- Simulated Loss and In-flight Reconnect of Data Communications
Link
Building on this successful flight test program, Piasecki will
continue expanding the flight envelope of the system, incorporating
Level V autonomous take-off and landing.
More News
DETRESFA (Distress Phrase) The code word used to designate an emergency phase wherein there is reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and i>[...]
"General aviation is at the forefront of developing and introducing innovative technologies that will transform the entire aviation industry..." Source: Kyle Martin, Vice President>[...]
Direct Straight line flight between two navigational aids, fixes, points, or any combination thereof. When used by pilots in describing off-airway routes, points defining direct ro>[...]
Aero Linx: Women in Corporate Aviation Women in Corporate Aviation support individuals seeking career advancement and professional development in the business aviation industry. Me>[...]
“We would like to thank the many volunteers that help throughout the year to pull off the event, as well as the several reviewers, judges, and SURVICE staff that provide team>[...]