Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Demonstrates revolutionary adaptive flight control technology
October 16, 2024
Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works has partnered with the US Air Force Test Pilot School to conduct full-scale, live flight tests of the Smart Adaptive Flight Control Environment (SAFE) system on a large-scale aircraft – the X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA), which is a modified F-16 with a variable stability control system and other advanced technologies. The VISTA experimental flight test platform allows the development and testing of cutting-edge control algorithms for both crewed and uncrewed vehicle designs to be correlated efficiently and cost effectively.
SAFE is an adaptive technology that makes real-time adjustments and corrections to the behaviour of the baseline flight control system, instead of having to make adjustments on the ground, in between flight test sorties. This will allow a test team to continue iterating and testing at a rapid pace, leveraging substantial savings in time and cost.
The SAFE system links with parameter identification schemes and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning methodologies to enable a ‘learn-on-the-fly’ capability. The next iteration of the system will include advanced software to quickly address flight control errors through online learning.
This system is a true ‘bolt-on’ capability, meaning it can be applied to any aircraft’s control laws, including current and future crewed and autonomous platforms.
Lockheed Martin has been refining its approach to the Smart Adaptive Flight Control Environment (SAFE) system for years and has now demonstrated that SAFE can deliver on its promise on a full-scale aircraft. Lockheed aims to continue to advance this transformative technology through simulated and live flight tests, ensuring that it will deliver the efficiency, savings and safety that customers demand.
Jeff Hakes, the director for Revolutionary Air Vehicles, Emerging Concepts and Technologies, at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works said: “The SAFE system has the potential to revolutionize flight tests, operational aircraft performance and safety. Our work advancing state of the art adaptive technologies continues to evolve and deliver more flexible, capable and collaborative capabilities across current and future platforms.”
Lockheed is aiming to drive the leading edge of innovation forward across the software spectrum, advancing what it calls a “21st Century Security® vision” to deliver “speed, precision and capability in an age of evolving threats.”
