Airbus Aims To Expand Scope for Autonomous Flight
Through the new Vertex project, initial flight testing starts this year on the Flightlab helicopter as the company prepares for a full demonstration in 2023.
Airbus has started to integrate several enabling technologies for autonomous flight into its Flightlab helicopter. Through the new Vertex project, the company aims to develop and demonstrate ways to simplify mission preparation and management to reduce pilot workload with a view to introducing these innovations on next-generation rotorcraft and eVTOL aircraft.
The Airbus UpNext technology incubator subsidiary is overseeing the Vertex project, which will incorporate full fly-by-wire controls and a high-capacity central processing unit to support an enhanced autopilot. During this year and 2022, it will conduct initial flight tests to prepare for a full demonstration program on the Airbus H130 Flightlab aircraft to start in 2023.
