Skyryse has achieved what it claims are the first-ever fully automated autorotation landings with its modified Robinson R66 helicopter. The R66 testbed is equipped with Skyryse’s highly automated flight control system, called FlightOS, which the company said will reduce pilot workload in a variety of helicopters, airplanes, and eVTOLs.
According to the California-based company, it has completed dozens of automated autorotation landings at its flight-test facility near Los Angeles. The breakthrough flight happened back on July 22 but was not reported until this week. The company intends to unveil the first production example of the modified R66 during the first quarter of 2024.
Skyryse’s FlightOS system can detect an engine failure and automatically set the autorotation procedure into motion—the pilot needs to press only one button. This is much faster and easier than manual autorotation, which is a four-step process involving a series of multiple control movements that have been too complex to automate with existing autopilot systems.
FlightOS automatically “lowers the pitch, aligns the nose, manages aircraft stability, completes the flare, and lands gracefully at the desired landing location,” according to Skyryse.