Newly designed robotic helicopter landing gear could be the future of rotorcraft aviation.
Traditionally, helicopters have depended upon skids or wheeled landing gear for safe returns to earth. While these systems have proven reliable on smooth surfaces, landings on uneven and unstable surfaces have historically been a far more treacherous affair.
In an attempt to address this deficiency, the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has teamed up with robotics engineers from The Georgia Institute of Technology to develop automated landing gear that could revolutionize helipads as we know them.
DARPA’s Vision
DARPA has proposed to equip helicopters with spider-like legs that automatically articulate to the landing surface. The legs of the helicopter fold together during flight, and extend when the helicopter is ready to land. Using force sensors tied to a central computer, the system determines the proper angle for each leg so that the helicopter stays level with the terrain. DARPA’S dynamic landing gear isn’t quite ready for real-life application, and has only been tested thus far on a remote-controlled helicopter; but this cutting-edge technology has the potential to transform the future of rotorcraft aviation.
DARPA’s innovative design will allow helicopters to take off and land on slopes of up to 20 degrees — more than twice the current limits. Additionally, this landing gear will reduce the risk of damage from “hard landings” by up to 80%, and would allow helicopters to land on seafaring ships in the midst of turbulent storms.
Addressing Helipad Limitations
While this proposed vision for the future is certainly impressive, DARPA’s landing gear is still in the experimental stage and likely won’t be made commercially available for several years. In the meantime, attention must be paid to another challenge facing helicopter landing and takeoff: reduced visibility due to dust kicked up by the vehicle’s rotary blades. Dust visibility issues — referred to as “brownouts” — have caused up to 80% of helicopter crashes over the last 10 years, according to a study by The Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense. Left untreated, excess dust from helipads can also damage essential internal hardware.
Thus, helicopter landing areas require effective dust control solutions to ensure the safety of pilots, crew, and cargo. Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. offers industry-leading products that reduce dust emissions and stabilize landing areas, vastly minimizing the dangers inherent to takeoff and landing. For example, Midwest’s EK35® binds together dust and other aggregate, preventing fugitive dust particulate from escaping into the air. Additionally, EK35 is certified by Boeing to be non-corrosive, reducing the risk of damage to helicopter engines.
Midwest’s tried-and-true dust control solutions enhance pilots’ visual and situational awareness and safety, and stabilize helipad landing areas for uninterrupted landing and takeoff. While DARPA’s robotic helicopter landing gear may be years away, Midwest’s products offer a proven solution to the challenges facing helicopter pilots today.
