Royal Navy autonomous helicopter makes first flight

The UK’s first full-size autonomous helicopter completed its maiden flight in January. Proteus, based on the single-engine AW09 helicopter, was designed and built by Leonardo as a demonstrator for the Royal Navy to show the potential of uncrewed aerial systems by operating them with crewed aircraft and potentially at the heart of future anti-submarine operations.

In place of the crew in the cockpit/cabin, sensors, computers, and software enable Proteus to understand and process its environment, make decisions, and act accordingly.

During its first flight, Proteus was tasked with a short test routine which had the aircraft operate its own flying controls independently of any human operator, monitored by test pilots on the ground to ensure flight safety.

Proteus has been designed to conduct missions including anti-submarine warfare, patrolling the seas, and drawing on information provided by a network of allied ships, helicopters, submarines, and detection systems to hunt vessels beneath the waves. https://www.leonardo.com; https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk

Vantis enables ISight Drone Services to expand BVLOS operations

North Dakota’s beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) system Vantis has approved ISight Drone Services to fly BVLOS across all four Vantis operational service areas. The drone operator received a Part 107 BVLOS waiver expanding its approved operations into eastern North Dakota and enabling statewide service volumes across Vantis’ more than 5,000 square miles.

The additional approval supports ISight’s ongoing research efforts with Altru Health System, enabling further exploration of BVLOS medical delivery between clinic locations.

The Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS) administers Vantis. https://isightdrones.com; https://www.npuasts.com; https://www.vantisuas.com