Britain’s Royal Navy wants robots to help it hunt down nefarious submarines. On Jan. 16, the Proteus autonomous helicopter prototype made its first flight, signaling a significant step in the future of maritime aviation.
Proteus is a full-scale helicopter that uses an internal software stack to make decisions on its own, rather than relying solely on a remote pilot. It can fly for five hours at a time and has a maximum speed of 140 knots, or about 161 mph. It was designed to support crewed Merlin and Wildcat helicopters and F-35B Lightning II fighter planes, allowing teams to reduce risk to human pilots in dangerous situations by sending in Proteus instead.
“The successful first flight of Proteus is a significant step in delivering the Royal Navy’s maritime aviation transformation vision, and to demonstrating our steadfast commitment to investing in autonomy as part of a hybrid air wing,” said Commodore Steve Bolton, Royal Navy Deputy Director Aviation Future Programmes. “This milestone signals our intent to lead technological innovation, to enhance the fighting effectiveness of the Royal Navy in an increasingly complex operating environment, and to maintain operational advantage against evolving maritime threats.”
