Photo: Airbus
Picture this: while a helicopter performs all regular flight operations fully automatically, the pilot in the cockpit uses only a touchscreen tablet to monitor the flight and intervene if necessary. It sounds futuristic, but that's precisely what happened recently at the Airbus Helicopters facility.
Airbus Helicopters has successfully carried out some of the most important and impressive test flights of its flying laboratory, FlightLab. They took place between the end of October until November 22 in Marignane, France, where the Airbus Helicopters facility is located.
This was the demonstration of a fully autonomous helicopter flight that included all the standard phases, from lift-off to landing. The fully automated flight took approximately an hour and was carried out over a predefined route. Unlike similar autonomous flight tests, where the flying machine is monitored from a ground-based control station, the Airbus helicopter was controlled via a tablet while the pilot was in the cockpit.
The end game was to confirm the performance of a simplified HMI (human-machine interface) system developed by Airbus UpNext. Through the tablet, the pilot is able to keep an eye on the system during the entire flight and intervene if necessary, overriding the autonomous controls. At the same time, the smart autonomous system was also designed to recalculate a flight path on its way if it detects sudden obstacles.
The most obvious benefit? This new HMI is said to reduce pilot workload while also significantly optimizing safety overall. It could have multiple applications, but it's primarily intended for the CityBus NextGen, which is the first eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) developed by Airbus.
The FlightLab platform was introduced at the beginning of 2021 specifically for testing innovative technologies connected to eVTOL operations, including hybrid and electric propulsion and autonomous flight.
The new HMI is just one of the components of Vertex, a code name for the Airbus project related to autonomous operations. It also includes advanced vision-based sensors and fly-by-wire controls that support the auto-pilot function. All of these features are currently being tested with the help of the FlightLab helicopter.
Airbus also operates the DisruptiveLab and the PioneerLab. The DisruptiveLab flying laboratory was introduced at the end of 2022 and is specifically dedicated to testing solutions for lower noise levels and a reduced environmental footprint. This technology demonstrator will help accelerate the development of a new-generation helicopter that can burn less fuel and reduce noise.
PioneerLab is the newest Airbus Helicopters technology demonstrator based on the H145 platform. It focuses on twin-engine helicopter performance, with the goal of making these types of rotorcraft more sustainable in the future.
FlightLab is helping Airbus advance the development of its CityBus NextGen electric air taxi and also supports autonomous helicopter operations.
Airbus Helicopters has successfully carried out some of the most important and impressive test flights of its flying laboratory, FlightLab. They took place between the end of October until November 22 in Marignane, France, where the Airbus Helicopters facility is located.
This was the demonstration of a fully autonomous helicopter flight that included all the standard phases, from lift-off to landing. The fully automated flight took approximately an hour and was carried out over a predefined route. Unlike similar autonomous flight tests, where the flying machine is monitored from a ground-based control station, the Airbus helicopter was controlled via a tablet while the pilot was in the cockpit.
The end game was to confirm the performance of a simplified HMI (human-machine interface) system developed by Airbus UpNext. Through the tablet, the pilot is able to keep an eye on the system during the entire flight and intervene if necessary, overriding the autonomous controls. At the same time, the smart autonomous system was also designed to recalculate a flight path on its way if it detects sudden obstacles.
The most obvious benefit? This new HMI is said to reduce pilot workload while also significantly optimizing safety overall. It could have multiple applications, but it's primarily intended for the CityBus NextGen, which is the first eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) developed by Airbus.
The FlightLab platform was introduced at the beginning of 2021 specifically for testing innovative technologies connected to eVTOL operations, including hybrid and electric propulsion and autonomous flight.
The new HMI is just one of the components of Vertex, a code name for the Airbus project related to autonomous operations. It also includes advanced vision-based sensors and fly-by-wire controls that support the auto-pilot function. All of these features are currently being tested with the help of the FlightLab helicopter.
Airbus also operates the DisruptiveLab and the PioneerLab. The DisruptiveLab flying laboratory was introduced at the end of 2022 and is specifically dedicated to testing solutions for lower noise levels and a reduced environmental footprint. This technology demonstrator will help accelerate the development of a new-generation helicopter that can burn less fuel and reduce noise.
PioneerLab is the newest Airbus Helicopters technology demonstrator based on the H145 platform. It focuses on twin-engine helicopter performance, with the goal of making these types of rotorcraft more sustainable in the future.
FlightLab is helping Airbus advance the development of its CityBus NextGen electric air taxi and also supports autonomous helicopter operations.
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