Merlin Labs says first flights gathered data on how to design and fine-tune the robotic controls. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]
Key Takeaways:
Robotics company Merlin has successfully completed the first three autonomous control program flights on a KC-135 tanker aircraft at the Pittsburgh Air National Guard Base, operating under an Air Force waiver.
These flights represent the initial phase of Merlin's contracts to develop autonomous flight systems for various U.S. Air Force platforms, with the KC-135s being the first to undergo testing.
The primary purpose of these initial flights was to gather data to inform the design and fine-tune the robotic controls, crucial for enhancing USAF operational capacity, national security, safety, and efficiency.
Robotics company Merlin says it has flown the first three flights in its autonomous control program on the KC-135.
The flights were conducted at the Pittsburgh Air National Guard Base under a waiver from the Air Force. Merlin has contracts to develop autonomous flight systems for several Air Force platforms and the 1960s-era tankers are the first in line.
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Russ Niles is Editor-in-Chief of AVweb. He has been a pilot for 30 years and joined AVweb 22 years ago. He and his wife Marni live in southern British Columbia where they also operate a small winery.
