Kawasaki demonstrates uncrewed helicopter

The remotely piloted aircraft demonstrated its ability to lift a useful load of 200kg during a test at the Fukushima Robot Test Field on 12 January. The load was lifted using an external cargo sling.

Kawasaki stated that the ultimate aim of the project is to offer the ability to “haul heavy cargo loads that cannot be transported with standard drones”.

In particular, it is hoped that the remotely piloted helicopter could offer a more efficient option when transporting items to Japan’s “mountainous regions” in the face of a “shrinking workforce and other factors”. This includes when providing support in the event of a natural disaster, or on other occasions when transport to a region might otherwise be “dangerous and harsh”.

Kawasaki also reported that in addition to continuing real-world demonstration tests of the helicopter itself, the company will conduct verification tests of an “automated loading and unloading system” for the aircraft. Kawasaki will also “devote increased efforts towards the development of a mass-production version of the aircraft”.

Rotor Technologies, a US-based firm, unveiled its own uncrewed civilian helicopter in December.