Helicopter autopilot MATRIX™

Overview
Sikorsky MATRIX™ Technology is an autonomous flight system designed to enable optionally piloted or uninhabited operations for rotary- and fixed-wing platforms. Developed by Sikorsky (a Lockheed Martin company) in partnership with DARPA, MATRIX supports complex logistics, rescue and mission profiles in challenging environments.

Key Advantages

• Enables optionally piloted flight modes for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft
• Performs complex missions in low-altitude, obstacle-rich or degraded environments
• Enhances reliability via multi-level contingency management
• Reduces operational and lifecycle costs through automation and mission optimization
• Platform-agnostic architecture enabling integration across multiple aircraft types

Safe, Reliable, and Uninhabited
MATRIX emphasizes flight safety and operational reliability. Sikorsky demonstrated fully autonomous Black Hawk flights capable of pre-flight checks, engine start, rotor spin-up, autonomous takeoff, mission execution and landing without onboard crew, illustrating readiness for logistics and rescue missions.

MATRIX and SARA
The Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft (SARA), a modified S-76B, serves as a flying testbed to mature MATRIX capabilities. SARA provides full-authority flight control for autonomous takeoff, route planning, obstacle avoidance, site selection and landing, using onboard sensors for real-time 3D environment awareness.

Multimedia
Available multimedia assets document autonomous Black Hawk logistics and rescue demonstrations, including embedded video of fully autonomous flights and tests such as the optionally piloted resupply to the U.S. Army (Oct 2022).

Technical specifications

• Product name: MATRIX™ Technology
• Primary developer: Sikorsky (a Lockheed Martin company)
• Associated program: DARPA ALIAS (Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System)
• Operational modes: Optionally piloted or uninhabited/autonomous flight
• Autonomy functions: Full-authority flight control, takeoff, route planning, obstacle avoidance, site selection, landing
• Vehicle support: Platform-agnostic design for rotary and fixed-wing platforms
• Flight safety features: Multi-level contingency management, sensor-based 3D environmental awareness
• Testbed aircraft: Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft (SARA), modified S-76B
• Demonstrations: Optionally piloted Black Hawk logistics/resupply to U.S. Army (Oct 2022); autonomous Black Hawk flights and integration on experimental UH-60MX