ROME, N.Y., Nov. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin
(NYSE: LMT) demonstrated for the first time how its suite of
optionally-piloted helicopters and small unmanned aerial systems
can work together to successfully locate and extinguish fires,
pinpoint the location of a missing person, and bring that person to
safety.
"When lives are at risk, advanced human-machine teams can
complete dangerous missions without putting others in harm's way,"
said Dan Spoor, vice president,
unmanned systems. "The advances that Lockheed Martin is pioneering
in autonomous and unmanned technologies will lead to improved
safety and efficiency for humanitarian aid, first response and
other civil, commercial and military operations in the air, on land
and undersea."
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During this demonstration, the optionally piloted Kaman K-MAX™
and the Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft (SARA) engaged in
collaborative firefighting and search-and-rescue with the Indago
quadrotor and Desert Hawk 3.1 fixed wing unmanned aircraft system
(UAS) providing information, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Also during the demonstration, the Indago identified hot spots
and relayed that information to an operator who directed the K-MAX
to autonomously retrieve water from a nearby pond and drop it onto
the fire, thus extinguishing the flames.
The Desert Hawk identified the location of a missing person and
SARA, a modified S-76® commercial helicopter, conducted the search
and directed the rescue. The Sikorsky MATRIX™ technology on SARA
gives operators the confidence to fly large rotorcraft safely,
reliably and affordably as autonomous or optionally piloted
aircraft.
Lockheed Martin integrated the MATRIX technology with K-MAX so
that SARA and K-MAX could communicate with each other during the
demonstration. Using information provided by K-MAX, SARA
autonomously scanned the area and found a safe place to land.
"Our goal is to support the integration of autonomy into
aviation to improve the safety and capabilities for military and
commercial missions. Utilizing MATRIX to support the mission in
this demonstration highlights an example of the ability to reduce
pilot workload and augment mission performance," said Mark Miller, vice president, engineering and
technology, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company.
The New York UAS Test Site Operations Center at Griffiss
International Airport also demonstrated progress toward UAS Traffic
Management (UTM). The center uses radars and sensors to enable the
tracking of manned, unmanned and optionally-piloted aircraft
systems.
"UAS traffic management must keep pace with the technology
innovations that are bringing helicopters to the sky with a laptop
or tablet," said Lawrence Brinker,
executive director & general counsel of the NUAIR Alliance.
"The progress that has been made through the collaboration of
federal agencies and companies like Lockheed Martin, will pave the
way to help the Federal Aviation Administration safely manage air
traffic without on-board pilots."
Autonomous and unmanned systems are changing the way militaries
operate and protect forces, the way first responders fight fires
and how researchers explore the ocean terrains. Lockheed Martin is
extending the capabilities of human-machine team to expand across
air, land and sea domains.
For additional information, visit our
website: www.lockheedmartin.com/unmanned.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that employs approximately
98,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research,
design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of
advanced technology systems, products and services.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin