The Northrop Grumman X-47B landed twice aboard the USS George
H.W. Bushaircraft carrier, but a malfunction with one of its three
navigation computersprevented a third landing. The aircraft subsequently
diverted to Wallops Field,Virginia, as programmed, for a safe recovery.
H.W. Bushaircraft carrier, but a malfunction with one of its three
navigation computersprevented a third landing. The aircraft subsequently
diverted to Wallops Field,Virginia, as programmed, for a safe recovery.
"There are three redundant navigation computers on the X-47," says
Capt JaimeEngdahl, the US Navy's programme manager for unmanned
systems. "We sawan issue on one of those computers and decided we
had done enough for the day,flew the aircraft back and landed it."
Capt JaimeEngdahl, the US Navy's programme manager for unmanned
systems. "We sawan issue on one of those computers and decided we
had done enough for the day,flew the aircraft back and landed it."
The aircraft makes its approaches autonomously, without human
interference.
The computers onboard the aircraft noted the anomaly affecting one of
thethree precision GPS computers, and though capable of landing using
only one,the aircraft is coded to abort landing under those circumstances.
After theautomatic abort, the human controller elected to divert the
aircraft instead of continuing.
interference.
The computers onboard the aircraft noted the anomaly affecting one of
thethree precision GPS computers, and though capable of landing using
only one,the aircraft is coded to abort landing under those circumstances.
After theautomatic abort, the human controller elected to divert the
aircraft instead of continuing.
Two X-47Bs are flying. The aircraft used for the test has the tail number
502."They're working through the data right now," says Carl Johnson,
NorthropGrumman's programme manager. "In terms of a malfunction
it's probably aminor issue, that when we reset the computers everything
will be up andrunning and we'll have a fully functional aircraft."
502."They're working through the data right now," says Carl Johnson,
NorthropGrumman's programme manager. "In terms of a malfunction
it's probably aminor issue, that when we reset the computers everything
will be up andrunning and we'll have a fully functional aircraft."
An identical aircraft, tail number 501, will likely be used for the next
aircraftcarrier test series on 15 July. If all goes well in the second series,
the X-47B'stests will be completed and the aircraft retired. A manned
Learjet using X-47B's software will conduct autonomous air-to-air
refueling trials in 2014.
aircraftcarrier test series on 15 July. If all goes well in the second series,
the X-47B'stests will be completed and the aircraft retired. A manned
Learjet using X-47B's software will conduct autonomous air-to-air
refueling trials in 2014.
The lessons learned from the X-47B demonstrations will be used to
address theUnmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and
Strike (UCLASS) programme, meant to essentially create an
operational production UAV foraircraft carriers. Four companies -
Northrop, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and General Atomics
Aeronautical Systems - have been selected to perform design work.
address theUnmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and
Strike (UCLASS) programme, meant to essentially create an
operational production UAV foraircraft carriers. Four companies -
Northrop, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and General Atomics
Aeronautical Systems - have been selected to perform design work.
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