Recently the autonomous aerial cargo utility system (AACUS) completed successful demonstrations at Marine Corps Base Quantico. The AACUS was inspired by Marine Corps’ experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq, where helicopters on resupply missions frequently would encounter improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and enemy fire. As the result of a $98 million dollar and a five-year program, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and Aurora Flight Systems developed an autonomous flight system that could be retrofitted to existing helicopters.
The demonstrations showed a UH-1H helicopter’s ability to resupply troops autonomously under conditions that would not put human pilots in harm's way. Currently there are several unmanned rotary-wing aircraft cargo drop-and-delivery systems either in development or operation, but the AACUS is unique. First, operating autonomously, this pilot-optional helicopter can be flown by minimally trained personnel using a handheld tablet and does not require an experienced pilot on the ground controlling it, within the line of sight of the aircraft. Second, its hardware and software allow converting an existing manned aircraft into an unmanned one. Third, the AACUS can be operated from an unprepared landing site. Finally, AACUS is aircraft-agnostic, meaning it could be used with different helicopter models, either existing or new.
An AACUS-equipped, unmanned helicopter has the ability to transport supplies from a base, choose the optimal route and best landing site closest to the warfighters, land, and return to base once the mission is complete. The required equipment is merely a handheld tablet. The aircraft-agnostic AACUS has software that enables any rotary-wing aircraft to detect and react to hazards in the flight path and make appropriate adjustments to keep the aircraft safe. The AACUS is fitted with on-board lidar and camera sensors that enable it to detect and avoid obstacles and evaluate the landing zone before touching down. It even can select an alternative landing site independent of GPS. Aurora developed the digital-flight control system that allows the UH-1H to fly autonomously and the Tactical Autonomous aerial Logistics System (TALOS) that allows it to deliver payloads.
As a sign of the future, systems such as AACUS take advantage of the skills of most young Marines who have grown up with computers and are adept at computer gaming. Thus, minimum training is needed to operate the systems. During test flights, the helicopter was operated successfully by an on-the-ground Marine with only 15 minutes of training. While previous demonstrations showed the system’s autonomous capabilities and interactions with trained operators, the Quantico demonstration was the first in which the aircraft performed cargo and utility missions in an operationally relevant training environment with a Marine controlling the interaction. After successful demonstrations of the AEH-1's autonomous flight and operational capabilities under various conditions, Aurora plans to turn over the AACUS to the Marine Corps for further evaluation and possible acquisition.
Colonel Siuru has a BS, MS, and PhD in mechanical engineering. He has been writing about technology for more than 40 years. He also has taught helicopter engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.