Drones

LiDAR Added to Full Size Autonomous Helicopter

As reported in Aviation International News Sikorsky has added a LiDAR sensor to their “Sara demonstrator” S-76 autonomous helicopter.

Late last year the aircraft completed a fully autonomous mission that demonstrated Sara can take off from an airport, fly a pattern and return to the airport without any special sensors in the loop. “With the launch of phase two, Sara’s ‘got eyes’,” said Igor Cherepinsky, chief engineer for Sikorsky’s autonomy program. “The sensors allow Sara to fly at full speed, avoid obstacles, select landing zones and do other tasks that are perceptually intensive.”

They say the challenge will be to get it a certificate to fly.

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2014-05-04/sikorsky-proceeds-sensor-loop-autonomous-flights

 

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