Fly-by-Wire Technology driving advancements in rotary wing flight

UTC Aerospace Systems is working with Sikorsky Aircraft to drive advancements in rotorcraft technology as part of Sikorsky’s self-funded Matrix Technology autonomy research and development program. With Matrix Technology, Sikorsky aims to significantly improve the capability, safety and reliability of vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Sikorsky announced this week the first flight of an S-76 helicopter — called the Sikorsky Autonomous Research Aircraft (SARA) — to test in autonomous mode the systems and software that comprise Matrix Technology. SARA uses a triplex redundant fly-by-wire Flight Control System (FCS) with computers supplied by UTC Aerospace Systems to implement the flight-critical portions of the autonomous operation.