In October 2022, the third phase of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program saw a Black Hawk helicopter with no crew haul external and internal cargo around Arizona's Yuma Proving Ground. In one experiment in the US Army's Project Convergence 2022 (PC22), ALIAS drew on stored knowledge and on-board sensors to deliver a 3,200-1b (1,450-kg) sling load, land 500 lb (225 kg) of transfusion blood and evacuate a casualty manikin. DARPA program manager Dr. Stuart Young told a press call after PC22, "This is probably our last experiment under the ALIAS program label." However, a DARPA spokesperson followed up by noting more autonomy efforts are in the works and added, "Throughout the ALIAS program, DARPA has partnered with the Army, Navy and Air Force to identify opportunities to transition ALIAS to the services." Just how much autonomous flight controls do in operational rotorcraft is to be determined. In 2014, the DARPA Tactical Technology Office (TTO) envisioned ALIAS as a removable autopilot kit to mitigate crew workload, enhance performance and improve safety. Phase Ⅲ at Yuma saw a UH-60A with its Sikorsky Matrix autonomy kit capable of totally autonomous operations for non-aviators and was able to re-plan missions enroute. In one scenario, the helicopter was redirected in response to a simulated threat near its primary landing site. A ground operator told the crewless helicopter to release its sling load and land to evacuate a casualty litter. Once soldiers loaded the manikin into the cabin, the helicopter flew itself back to base.
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