Digital Battlespace

Sikorsky signs for ALIAS Phase 3

13th January 2017 - 10:30 by The Shephard News Team

Sikorsky has received a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for Phase 3 of the Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) programme, the company announced on 11 January.

The ALIAS programme aims to develop and integrate new automation into currently operating aircraft to reduce the number of on-board crew. ALIAS seeks to leverage advances in autonomy that reduce pilot workload, augment mission performance, and improve aircraft safety and reliability.

In the first two phases of the programme, Sikorsky successfully integrated its autonomy kit - Matrix Technology - into Sikorsky's Autonomy Research Aircraft (SARA) and a Cessna Caravan.

Matrix is a capability tool kit that includes hardware and software as well as multi-spectral sensors that enable scalable automation. The technology aims to give fixed-wing and rotary aircraft the intelligence needed to complete complex missions with little human oversight.