Merlin tests autonomy in Alaska

The test flights were carried out by Merlin’s Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, outfitted with the company’s autonomous software system, Merlin Pilot. Funded by a $1 million FAA contract to deploy the nation’s first autonomous air cargo network, and in partnership with the FAA-designated University of Alaska Fairbanks UAS Test Site and Everts Air Cargo, the flights demonstrated the capabilities of Merlin’s automated flight control system with a safety pilot on board. These successful test flights make Merlin Pilot the first autonomous pilot to be integrated into the national airspace system.

All flights originated from Fairbanks, Alaska, and reached rural locations like Fort Yukon, Galena, Huslia, Prudhoe Bay, and Tanana. The 25 test flights resulted in over 60 hours of system-on autonomous flight time in real-world environments with complex terrain and inclement weather. The data collected from these flights will help Merlin continue to develop Merlin Pilot’s capabilities and advance autonomy in the aviation industry.

Dr. Cathy Cahill, director of the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, said, “Operating in Alaska is a real challenge. I like to say we’re the final exam. If you can fly here you can fly anywhere as we deal with long distances, extreme climate variations, and limited communications coverage. As we’ve learned in collaboration with Merlin’s team, it’s very apparent that they are doing this right. Their integrated approach to our unique ecosystem is one of the main reasons they were the first company with which we approached the FAA. They use real data to train the onboard automations system to ensure safety.”

Merlin Pilot has also been integrated and tested on two canards, a Rutan Long-EZ and Cozy, a Beechcraft King Air A90, and a de Havilland DHC–6 Twin Otter. “We eventually envision a world where the Merlin Pilot (or features of the Merlin Pilot) can be added to general aviation cockpits as [a] virtual co-pilot, providing the benefits of a multi-crew flight deck to every general aviation pilot,” Merlin CEO and co-founder Matt George said.

“Given how critical human factors are to aviation safety,” George continued, “the Merlin Pilot is being built to augment crew capabilities and reduce pilot workload. We currently test our products in Mojave, California and Kerikeri, New Zealand. With demand for onboard autonomy increasing, both in the commercial and Department of Defense, we see Merlin’s system being utilized globally where our customers need it most.”