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Merlin Developing Autonomous Flight Tech With Air Force Pilot Input

Company engineers observed pilots as they performed a variety of tasks, collecting data to identify where automation can be most helpful.

Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 03:05 PM ET

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Merlin engineers Josie Cater, Nick Lepore, and Carl Pankok stand in front of a modified U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker. [Courtesy: Merlin Labs]

Key Takeaways:

Merlin Labs engineers joined U.S. Air Force pilots in KC-135 Stratotanker flights to collect data for their Merlin Pilot autonomous flight system, aiming to reduce pilot workload and enhance operational efficiency.
The collected data will inform the design, integration, and in-flight demonstration of Merlin Pilot on the KC-135 as part of an Air Force contract to develop advanced automation for military aircraft amidst pilot shortages.
Merlin Labs is actively pursuing FAA certification for its platform-agnostic autonomy system, building on successful autonomous cargo flight trials for the FAA and its existing certifications in other regions.

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This month, engineers from Boston-based Merlin Labs, the developer of a platform-agnostic, takeoff-to-touchdown autonomy system for fixed-wing aircraft, joined U.S. Air Force pilots in the cockpit of a KC-135 Stratotanker.

Over the course of two flights on May 15 and 16 at MacDill Air Force Base (KMCF) in Florida, engineers gathered data that will inform the development of the company’s autonomous flight system, Merlin Pilot. Intended to reduce the workload of pilots amid the ongoing pilot shortage—but not replace them, at least in the short term—the technology has also drawn the attention of government agencies, including the Air Force.

Jack Daleo

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.