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 completed the first three autonomous control flights on a KC-135 tanker.
These flights, conducted at the Pittsburgh Air National Guard Base under an Air Force waiver, are part of Merlin's contract to develop autonomous flight systems for Air Force platforms.
The KC-135 is the first aircraft in line for these autonomous system developments.
The initial flights focused on gathering data to design and fine-tune robotic controls, with the goal of increasing operational capacity, enhancing safety, and improving efficiency for the USAF.
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.
