Merlin Plans the Way Forward | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Thu, Jun 06, 2024

Merlin Plans the Way Forward

Autonomy Developer Picks Most Wanted

Merlin's completed test flights with the KC-135 have borne just some fruit, with the firm's recent publication of updated tasking for their autonomy development team.

They point to a trio of tasks that they put at the top of their to-do list, including automated checklist procedures, dynamic navigation, and emergency landing. Merlin stressed that they aren't just doing it all in a vacuum either, since they're working with "human pilot expertise to build a comprehensive autonomy framework that underpins the full suite of pilot skills and supports a safer, more scalable and resilient air network."

First off, they want to integrate automated checklist procedures to the entire flight operation, from before startup to post-shutdown. Their system as it stands "seamlessly integrates with cockpit operations" by operating as a digital copilot to provide verbal prompts and "multiple levels of validation on the aircraft's state". It responds to verbal checks by the pilots using language processing tech. Combined with computer vision and access from their ATC comms processing, Merlin expects that the final product will allow humans to keep their attention where it needs to be, and not on clicking boxes as they work their way down the list.

Dynamic replanning is their second focus, as Merlin looks to train their autonomous system on airspace environments and coordination. As it is with human pilots, it's tough to teach how to adapt on the fly, particularly when operating in complex, high-activity environments. The system is meant to handle all phases of flight by monitoring conditions, deconflicting strict no-fly zones from less-strict 'preferred avoidance regions', and routing the aircraft throughout them accordingly. 

Finally autonomous landing remains a popular goal, but Merlin can't just rest on any old garden-variety landing system. They need something fit for hard use, for military ops in a whole range of awkward environments. 

Their system needs to account for varied aircraft states, weights, fuel loads, and conditions, running continuously in the background during normal flight operations. 

"To advance autonomous flight systems, our focus remains on automating pilot skills that enhance efficiency but most importantly, prioritize safety at every stage. Progressing these skills underscores our commitment to gradually integrate automation with human pilots so that eventually these systems can autonomously perform tasks and alleviate the current constraints aviation faces such as pilot availability, training requirements, and crew rest,” said Alex Naiman, Chief Technology Officer.

FMI: www.merlinlabs.com

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.12.25): Secondary Radar/Radar Beacon (ATCRBS)

Secondary Radar/Radar Beacon (ATCRBS) A radar system in which the object to be detected is fitted with cooperative equipment in the form of a radio receiver/transmitter (transponde>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.12.25)

Aero Linx: Australian Society of Air Safety Investigators (ASASI) The Australian Society of Air Safety Investigators (ASASI) was formed in 1978 after an inaugural meeting held in M>[...]

ANN FAQ: Turn On Post Notifications

Make Sure You NEVER Miss A New Story From Aero-News Network Do you ever feel like you never see posts from a certain person or page on Facebook or Instagram? Here’s how you c>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Of the Aeropup and its Pedigree

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): Barking up the Right Tree Australian-born, the Aeropup is a remarkably robust, fully-customizable, go-anywhere, two-seat, STOL/LSA aircraft. The machin>[...]

Airborne 07.07.25: Sully v Bedford, RAF Vandalism, Discovery Moving?

Also: New Amelia Search, B737 Flap Falls Off, SUN ‘n FUN Unveiling, F-16 Record Captain Sully Sullenberger, the pilot who saved 155 people by safely landing an A320 in the Hu>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC