Story ID: 
Skyryse Puts The Auto in Rotation 
By: Mark Huber
Caption: Skyryse will announce first production helicopter with automatic autorotation technology early next year
Word Count: 204
California-based autonomous aircraft system developer Skyryse has completed the world's first-ever fully automated helicopter autorotation emergency landing procedure.  It said it would reveal the first production helicopter featuring this technology—including the world's first simplified helicopter control system—in Q1 2024.
"Fully automated autorotation is just one example of how our technology will bring a commercial grade of safety and beyond to general aviation,” said Skyryse CEO Mark Groden.
Skyryse used a Robinson R66 fitted with its technology to complete the first fully automated autorotation from altitude to the ground in July. The company’s autorotation system uses redundant flight controls and a sensor suite that the company says “quickly recognizes a power failure and sets in motion multiple procedures, and with a push of a button, makes the landing uneventful.” The system automatically places the helicopter into a steady descent, lowers the pitch, aligns the nose, manages aircraft stability, completes the flare, and lands at the desired location.
Skyryse has raised more than $260 million from investors, including Fidelity Management and Research Company, Monashee Investment Management, ArrowMark Partners, Venrock, Eclipse Ventures, Cantos, Stanford University, and Bill Ford, Ford Motor Company executive chairman.