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 conducted the first three autonomous control flights on a KC-135 tanker at the Pittsburgh Air National Guard Base, operating under an Air Force waiver.
These initial flights served to gather crucial data for designing and fine-tuning the robotic control systems, as part of Merlin's broader contracts to develop autonomous flight capabilities for various Air Force platforms.
The program aims to significantly enhance the USAF's operational capacity and national security, while also improving the pilot-aircraft relationship, safety, and overall efficiency of vital military aircraft.
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.
