Aiming to learn more, the US Marine Corps sent a team to Sikorsky HQ in Connecticut. The goal: To see Sikorsky’s MATRIX flight autonomy system in action, both in the simulator and in actual flight.

The results of the visit will inform the Marine Corps’ Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program of the maturity and reliability of the MATRIX system, and its ability to be easily customized to specific missions.

Of critical importance was the ability of autonomous helicopters and fixed wing aircraft to resupply and sustain Marines in contested battlespace.

Sikorsky began its demonstration of MATRIX autonomy software in the simulator. ALC team members watched as a virtual helicopter flew specific missions requested by the Marines.

Military pilots then manually flew the same missions in the simulator cockpit with MATRIX technology as the virtual co-pilot.

During these assisted flights, pilots manually adjusted flight paths in real time to assess the system’s mission replanning capability. They also evaluated the aircraft’s ability to land with pinpoint precision on confined spaces in reduced visibility and brownout conditions.

On the Sikorsky flight field, ALC team members remotely commanded two MATRIX-equipped helicopters. 

Dan Shidler, director, Sikorsky Advanced Programs said the demonstrations showed how the MATRIX flight autonomy system can enhance the efficiency and safety of autonomy-assisted crewed flight, complete airborne missions without pilots, and allow ground command of the same uncrewed aircraft.

“Running unscripted missions in both the simulator and outside gave ALC members insight into a proven optionally piloted system that can reliably take on all flight tasks or significantly reduce a human pilot’s workload when weather conditions worsen or mission complexity increases,” he said. “Tablet command of aircraft from the ground showed how easy it is for a Marine, who is not a pilot, to quickly re-task an uncrewed aircraft on the battlefield.”