The world's first automatic helicopter landing system

An American startup has achieved an impressive achievement in aviation safety by completing the world's first automatic landing system using an "autorotation" mechanism.

US startup Skyryse said it will unveil its first helicopter model equipped with the company's new control system in early 2024. The system includes a number of safety features, including the world's first fully automatic rotation system for emergency landings, Interesting Engineering reported on November 15.

Autorotation is an emergency procedure that allows the pilot to land the helicopter gently and in a controlled manner when the engine fails. It involves a series of maneuvers and techniques that utilize the stored energy from altitude, airspeed, and rotor speed to slow the descent and landing.

In the event of an engine failure, the pilot must first release the control stick immediately to reduce drag on the top rotor, ensuring it continues to spin. This can only be done in a few seconds after the engine has failed. The automatic clutch will decouple the main rotor from the engine. Next, the pilot must depress the right pedal, as the loss of engine torque will cause the helicopter to start rotating to the left.

The pilot then has to find the speed that will keep the plane airborne for the longest possible time (usually around 70 mph, but it varies from plane to plane), and then choose a location for an emergency landing. Next, the pilot must perform delicate and complex maneuvers to bring the plane gently to that location.

Skyryse’s new system streamlines this process, helping it navigate even the most challenging situations. It uses sensors and proprietary redundant flight controllers to detect engine failure in real time. Once activated, the system automatically performs a series of actions – from adjusting the pitch and pitch of the aircraft, to adjusting stability and landing smoothly.

Skyryse successfully demonstrated its fully autonomous spinning system at its Flight Test and Demonstration Facility in Los Angeles on July 22. Guinness World Records officially recognized this as the first autonomous spinning landing of a propeller-powered aircraft.

The new technology reduces the risk of engine failure, which requires quick and precise action by the pilot. With manual autorotation, the pilot has only a few seconds to perform complex maneuvers to land. Skyryse's system not only detects engine failure immediately, but also performs autorotation with good efficiency, maintaining higher main rotor speeds, thereby providing the pilot with more reserve power.

Thu Thao (According to Interesting Engineering )

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