Merlin Labs says first flights gathered data on how to design and fine-tune the robotic controls. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]
Key Takeaways:
Merlin successfully completed the first three autonomous control flights on a KC-135 tanker aircraft.
These initial flights, conducted at the Pittsburgh Air National Guard Base, focused on gathering data to design and fine-tune the robotic control systems.
The program aims to integrate autonomous capabilities into Air Force platforms, starting with KC-135s, to enhance operational capacity, safety, and national security.
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.
