The world's first automatic helicopter landing system

A US startup has achieved an impressive milestone in aviation safety by completing the world's first automated landing system based on the "autorotation" mechanism.

The world's first automated helicopter landing system. — Skyryse demonstrates helicopter landing using its automatic rotating system. Video : *Skyryse*

American startup Skyryse announced that it will unveil its first helicopter model equipped with the company's new control system in early 2024. The system includes several safety features, including the world's first fully automated autopilot system for emergency landings, Interesting Engineering reported on November 15th.

Autorotation is an emergency procedure that allows the pilot to land the helicopter gently and controllably when the engines stop. This mechanism involves a series of maneuvers and techniques designed to utilize the energy stored from altitude, flight speed, and rotor speed to slow the descent and landing process.

When an engine fails, the pilot must first immediately release the master cylinder to reduce drag on the rotor blades, ensuring they continue to spin. There are only a few seconds to perform this action after an engine failure. The automatic clutch will disengage the main rotor from the engine. Next, the pilot needs to press the right pedal, as the loss of engine torque will cause the helicopter to begin rotating to the left.

Next, the pilot must determine the optimal speed to keep the aircraft airborne for as long as possible (usually around 111 km/h, but this varies depending on the aircraft), and then select a location for an emergency landing. Following this, the pilot needs to perform delicate and complex maneuvers to gently land the aircraft at that location.

Skyryse's new system streamlines this process, enabling it to navigate even the most challenging situations. The system utilizes proprietary sensors and backup flight controllers to detect engine failure in real time. Once activated, the system automatically performs a series of actions – from adjusting pitch and nose alignment to controlling stability and ensuring a smooth landing.

Skyryse successfully demonstrated its fully automated autopilot system at its Flight Demonstration and Test Facility in Los Angeles on July 22nd. Guinness World Records officially recognized this as the first landing using an autopilot mechanism by a propeller-driven aircraft.

New technology helps reduce the risks associated with engine failure – an incident that requires pilots to act quickly and precisely. With manual rotation, pilots only have seconds to perform complex control maneuvers for landing. Skyryse's system not only detects engine failure immediately but also performs rotation efficiently, maintaining a higher main rotor speed, thereby providing pilots with more reserve power.

Thu Thao (According to Interesting Engineering )

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