What is MATRIX? New autonomous Black Hawk helicopter system draws scrutiny in wake of D.C. crash

A new technology for autonomously operating aircraft dubbed “MATRIX” is drawing scrutiny across social media after a commercial airliner collided with a military helicopter in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

Shortly before 9:00pm ET, a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk with three soldiers on board crashed into an American Airlines flight carrying 64 passengers during its final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. -- More...

Safe, Reliable, and Uninhabited: First Autonomous BLACK HAWK® Helicopter Flight

Sitting on the runway in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, one of Sikorsky’s pilots in an S-70™ BLACK HAWK® helicopter flips the optionally piloted cockpit switch from two to zero, exits the aircraft and walks across the runway.

Moments later, the Model A BLACK HAWK aircraft, identifiable by DARPA’s logo and tail number N60-OPV, completes a pre-flight check list, starts its engines, spins up its rotors and takes off with no crew onboard. All of it happens fully autonomously. --More...