The War Zone Cargo Copter That Lifts 6,000 Pounds Without a Pilot

gizmodo ^ | 6.26.2012 | Andrew Tarantola

[q_an_a]

But for work in a war zone, Lockheed modified the K-1200 to operate via remote control—because, with a couple of tons worth of cargo swaying beneath it, the K-1200 isn't particularly quick or nimble. By removing the pilot, and necessary interfaces and life support systems, the autonomous K-1200 can fly higher and with more and heavier loads than any other helicopter in service.

[q_an_a]

wow - first drones now heavy lift copters with no pilots. This is a 3 minute video of it in action in Colorado - maybe 20 or 30 could work on some fires too.

[Secret Agent Man]

Weakest link are the signals. If they can be hijacked or jammed.

[Bobalu]

[q_an_a]

i’m sure you are correct - so far it has moved 1 million + tons with no losses.

[bill1952]

how would this work in combat?
Someone has to be close by to control the thing and what range could it have if it has to be remote controlled?

[q_an_a]

We are moving cargo without putting any Marines, Soldiers or Airmen at risk. If we had a fleet of these things flying 24-7, we could move cargo around and not put people in jeopardy.” This is from the linked story - go to the story for more.

[DuncanWaring]

...the autonomous K-1200 can fly higher and with more and heavier loads than any other helicopter in service.

Can it do this?

[Colorado Cowgirl]

Nice. I’ve seen some of these FIREMAX helitankers this week dropping water on our Waldo Canyon fires. But it looks like ours have a pilot. These are flying at 9 to 11 thousand feet locally. The good thing is they are built in Bloomfield CT. USA.

[DuncanWaring]

Or this?

[MtBaldy]

They might be jammed but I bet they won’t be hijacked. I fly model rc helis and my $160 transmitter has 2.4 ghz digital spread spectrum technology. More expensive radios add frequency hopping to that.

[Joe 6-pack]

Piker...

[editor-surveyor]

Those 47s fly over our place all the time. They shake they floor enough to knock things off of tables and shelves.

[Colorado Cowgirl]

We fly drones in Iraq & Afghanistan & the Stans thru secure Satellites from a work station in Colorado.

[shorty_harris]

The plucky little K-MAX! Gotta love it. I worked on another Kaman helicopter when I was in the Navy...the SH-2 Seasprite.

The Army/Boeing isn't having such good luck with their drone...

[RaceBannon]

yep!

That’s the K-MAX, I worked on them to qualify them for flight in the early 90’s

back then, 4000 was it’s max

[grobdriver]

By removing the pilot, and necessary interfaces and life support systems, the autonomous K-1200 can fly higher and with more and heavier loads than any other helicopter in service.

Pilot: (2)@ 230 pounds with helmet and survival vest and gear.
Instrument panel with instruments: < 100 pounds.
Seats: (2)@ ~ 70 pounds
"Life support systems"? On a helo?

[RaceBannon]

[RaceBannon]

helicopters have been droned since the 1950’s

Kaman used to go to Alamagordo and yuma and White Sands to the missile ranges to drone helos to be shot down

the K-MAX drone program started about 10 years ago

[diogenes ghost]

This program is not new, the K-MAX conversion is just one of many converted/dedicated drone helicopter programs.

And the K-MAX has nowhere the lift and altitude capabilities of other helicopters.

Geez, I wonder who at Kaman wrote this drivel.

[DuncanWaring]

Is there something hanging from the -47 in that picture?