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Airbus Achieves Milestone: Tablets Take Control in Autonomous Helicopter Test

Tuesday 28 November 2023 - 07:55 Journalists: Dakir Madiha

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In a groundbreaking leap into the future of aviation, Airbus Helicopters has successfully conducted a flight test employing autonomous technology controlled by tablets, eliminating the need for direct pilot input. The cutting-edge technologies, cloaked in the codename Vertex, have been meticulously crafted by the innovation arm of Airbus, known as Airbus UpNext, and are seamlessly managed through a state-of-the-art touch-screen tablet.

The recent test flight at Marignane, France, showcased Airbus Helicopters' FlightLab executing a fully automated operation—from taxi and take-off to cruise, approach, and a flawless landing—all within the span of a one-hour flight. Throughout this remarkable demonstration, the pilot played a vigilant role, overseeing a system endowed with the ability to detect unforeseen obstacles and autonomously recalculate a safe flight path. The tablet interface provides a simple and effective means for the pilot to intervene and override controls when necessary.

Michael Augello, CEO of Airbus UpNext, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "This successful demonstration of a fully autonomous flight from take-off to landing is a great step towards the reduced pilot workload and simplified HMI [Human-machine interface] that the Airbus Urban Air Mobility team intends to implement on CityAirbus NextGen." Augello also highlighted the technology's potential applications in low-level flights near obstacles, thanks to the valuable information supplied by onboard lidars [light detection and ranging].

Airbus Helicopters is committed to further advancing the Vertex technology by incorporating vision-based sensors and algorithms for heightened situational awareness and obstacle detection. Additionally, enhancements include fly-by-wire technology for an upgraded auto-pilot experience and an advanced Human-Machine Interface (HMI) featuring a touch-screen and headset display for seamless in-flight monitoring and control.

The Vertex technology, as outlined by Airbus, is purposefully designed to streamline mission preparation and management, ultimately reducing the workload on helicopter pilots. This remarkable feat signals a promising trajectory for Airbus as they pioneer innovations that herald a new era in aviation technology.