Defense Advanced Projects Agency (DARPA) of the US Department of Defense has created robotic landing gear to enable future helicopters to take-off and land almost anywhere.
The system has been developed in collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology, using funding from DARPA’s Mission Adaptive Rotor (MAR) programme.
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Helicopters require stable and flat surfaces during landing and take-off due to their skid and wheel-based landing gear; however, such surfaces are often hard to find in regions requiring their services suc has forward operating areas, ships at violent sea areas and natural-disaster zones.
The new robotic landing gear will help helicopters to land and take-off from sloping, uneven and moving surfaces, mainly in military and national security missions.
DARPA programme manager Ashish Bagai said: "The equipment, mounted on an otherwise unmodified, unmanned helicopter, successfully demonstrated the ability to land and take-off from terrain that would be impossible to operate from with standard landing gear."
DARPA conducted an experimental demonstration of a novel robotic landing gear system near Atlanta.
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By GlobalDataThe demonstration showed reduced risk of damage during hard landings, steady landings and take-off on sloping terrain of up to 20°.
In the adaptive system, four articulated jointed legs have replaced standard equipments.
These legs have the capability to fold-up next to the helicopter’s fuselage during flight, and have force-sensitive contact sensors installed on their feet.
During landing, each leg extends and, with the help of the sensors, determines the appropriate landing angle in real-time.
The technology also helps helicopters to stay level and minimise any risk of its rotor touching the landing area.
Image: DARPA develops helicopter with robotic legs that can land anywhere. Photo: courtsey of DARPA.
