Testing autonomous flight technologies poses significant challenges. Many aviation companies, whether startups or established entities, opt to develop entirely new aircraft solely for this purpose, incurring substantial costs. While some utilize existing platforms, this often raises safety concerns. So, what’s the solution for aviation companies moving around this terrain?
American aerospace firm Bell believes it has found the answer. With origins dating back to 1935 and a revival following its acquisition by Textron in 1960, Bell has a rich history of pioneering innovations, and it’s continuing this tradition today.
Like its counterparts in the aviation industry, Bell is banking on autonomous technology shaping the future of aircraft, to a much greater extent than is currently available. Rather than building a new platform from scratch, the company has ingeniously repurposed a commercial 429 helicopter.
What distinguishes the ALFA design is the separation of safety functions from flight control. This innovative approach allows Bell to advance and evaluate new autonomous technologies without compromising safety standards.
Although relatively new, ALFA has already completed its maiden test flight at the Bell Commercial Assembly and Delivery Center in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada. While details regarding specific technologies being tested remain undisclosed, ALFA has since relocated to the Flight Research Center in Fort Worth, Texas for further experimentation and refinement.