Sikorsky's Optionally Piloted Black Hawk helicopter with the Matrix autonomy system demonstrates contested logistics
resupply without humans on board at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground, October 2022.[Courtesy: Rain]
Key Takeaways:
Autonomous aviation startup Rain is partnering with Sikorsky to deploy optionally piloted Black Hawk helicopters equipped with autonomy suites for rapid wildfire suppression.
The system integrates Sikorsky's Matrix autonomy suite with Rain's Wildfire Mission Autonomy System to detect fires early, strategize suppression, and deploy water within minutes, even in hard-to-reach areas.
This collaboration aims to address the increasing prevalence and cost of wildfires by providing a rapid, automated response that could save hundreds of billions annually in suppression expenses.
Correction: The Matrix autonomy suite is a product of Sikorsky, not Rain, as an earlier version of this story stated.
In Maui, firefighting pilots came to the rescue when wildfires decimated the Hawaiian island last month. But they could soon face stiff competition from autonomous helicopters.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
