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Boeing Hummingbird Drone Crashes In Belize

Posted by samzenpus on from the drone-go-boom dept.

garymortimer writes "Still not reported elsewhere, Flight International reports another crash of the Boeing Hummingbird helicopter UAV. The Hummingbird A160 is in development, but test flights already demonstrate successively greater endurance, higher altitudes, more extensive autonomy, and greater payload. The program has ambitious goals of a 2,500-mile (4,000 km) range, 24-hour endurance, and 30,000 ft (9,100 m) altitude. Flights are largely autonomous, with the aircraft making its own decisions about how to fly itself so as to meet certain objectives, rather than relying on real-time human control. Maximum speeds are over 140 knots. The aircraft is 35 ft (11 m) from nose to tail and has a rotor diameter of 36 ft (11 m).[2] Until recently it was powered by modified Subaru automotive engines, but newer versions fly with the Pratt & Whitney PW207D turboshaft."

68 comments

  1. Terrain by derGoldstein · · Score: 3, Informative

    According to Wikipedia: "In August 2010 the A160 Hummingbird is undergoing jungle test flights in Belize". So it wasn't just having a joy ride in open skies, it was in a tricky terrain to navigate, for *any* kind of autonomous vehicle.

    --
    Entomologically speaking, the spider is not a bug, it's a feature.
    1. Re:Terrain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm betting the same group that is using stealth submersibles to take out oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico is behind this crash, as well. Probably got a little to close to a cache or something.

    2. Re:Terrain by LingNoi · · Score: 1

      because a stealth submersible conspiracy makes much more sense then incompetent companies that only care about their bottom line and doing the least amount of work as possible..

    3. Re:Terrain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just got caught in a Boeing wikipedia clickfest and felt like I was getting an Otacon briefing.

    4. Re:Terrain by brinic · · Score: 2, Informative

      According to Wikipedia: "In August 2010 the A160 Hummingbird is undergoing jungle test flights in Belize". So it wasn't just having a joy ride in open skies, it was in a tricky terrain to navigate, for *any* kind of autonomous vehicle.

      Aviation Week reported on its blog that that the A160T crashed on approach, close to the landing site.

    5. Re:Terrain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The story was originally reported from Belize on September 7. The terrain covers gorgeous open skies over tropical rain forest with wide open green spaces - mostly rolling pastures and farmland adjacent to a protected national park.

      "The US military has suspended tests of the Boeing YMQ-18A attack helicopter drone in Belize after one of the drones crashed at a testing site in western Belize according to local media reports monitored in Belize. The Belize government invited the US military to test the military drones in Belize and test flights began in late August. Local residents have complained about the testing of military aircraft in the pristine Mountain Pine Ridge of Belize which is a protected area and home to several tourism resorts.".

      http://belizean.com/news/us-military-suspends-tests-of-boeing-ymq18-attack-drones-in-belize/

    6. Re:Terrain by Belizean · · Score: 1

      The terrain is actual beautiful, rolling green pastures and farmland adjacent to a national park in western Belize. The Boeing YMQ-18A crash was first reported from Belize in a local news blog:

  2. The problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Until recently it was powered by modified Subaru automotive engines, but newer versions fly with the Pratt & Whitney PW207D turboshaft.

    There's your problem. Everyone knows that automotive engines aren't involved in aerial crashes. That's why the previous design was so safe.

    1. Re:The problem by derGoldstein · · Score: 1

      Good one, but you pointed out a significant change: The Subaru engines were internal combustion, while the Turboshaft is a type of gas turbine. It's not a trivial modification.

      --
      Entomologically speaking, the spider is not a bug, it's a feature.
    2. Re:The problem by darthdavid · · Score: 1

      Hint: A Gas turbine is internal combustion too.

    3. Re:The problem by c6gunner · · Score: 1

      I was going to say the same thing, before I refreshed the page to see if anyone else was being a pedantic jackass :)

    4. Re:The problem by derGoldstein · · Score: 1

      Damn it, why can't the lag on Slashdot kick in when I make a mistake in a post... If Slashdot lets me post less than a second after I click "Preview", I should take it as a sign that I messed something up. It's like any mechanism working on the first attempt -- it's never good news.

      --
      Entomologically speaking, the spider is not a bug, it's a feature.
    5. Re:The problem by MachDelta · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I'm actually kind of curious what Subaru motor they were using. Wikipedia says the PW207D puts out a max of 572shp, so I imagine the Subaru motor must have been fairly extensively modified because their consumer offerings top out around 320hp in the EJ25. An extra 100 ponies out of an EJ isn't hard, but much more than that gets expensive real fast.

    6. Re:The problem by Devout_IPUite · · Score: 1

      Is it possible they were using a few engines or that the engine change also was a horsepower increase? If not, plenty of STI tunes hit 570 range.

    7. Re:The problem by wiredlogic · · Score: 1

      It's possible the article was wrong and they were using a Mazda rotary engine. These are commonly used for experimental/hobbyist aircraft because of a high power to weight ratio and a simplicity that translates into good reliability. Some of the triple and quad rotor variants can match or better the power output of the turbine they switched to.

      --
      I am becoming gerund, destroyer of verbs.
    8. Re:The problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The other thing that struck me was that Subaru are known for boxer engines. Is it possible they needed this sort of arrangement for balance or centre of mass reasons?

    9. Re:The problem by ZDRuX · · Score: 1

      They just had Vin Diesel attach two bottles of NOZ.. BIG ONES.. bro

      --
      The magical number is: 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
    10. Re:The problem by fnj · · Score: 1

      According to Merriam-Webster, "automotive" doesn't have to mean "car." It could be a truck engine or some other ground vehicle (military?) engine. My guess is that it IS from a car, though. You can readily get over 500 hp from a WRX engine.

    11. Re:The problem by Onnimikki · · Score: 1

      Subaru sells a number of engines that aren't used in their cars. We used a four-stroke Robin Subaru V2 EH65 on the University of Alberta's "Polar Bear" robot ( http://www.igvc.org/design/reports/dr24.pdf & http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9189202946151470237# ). Their "industrial" engine line can be found here: http://robinamerica.com/industrial.aspx

    12. Re:The problem by MachDelta · · Score: 1

      I suppose it's possible, but I doubt Subaru/Robin makes anything big enough for aircraft. However, the article does state "Subaru automotive" so I don't think another division of Fuji (they do dabble in aerospace, after all) was the source of the engine.

      Also, kind sir, I must take the liberty of informing you that UofA drools and Grant Mac rules. ;)

    13. Re:The problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem with a 500hp EJ20/25 (or 4G63, SR20DET, etc, etc) is that they start to get very temperamental or very expensive at that output. 300 or 400hp is easy enough to get in bolt-ons, but moving past that... I dunno. Perhaps the whole point of moving to the P&W was for more power and performance than they could consistently (and reliably) wring out of an EJ-series?

      Uh oh, my inner mechanic just wondered what would happen if you stuck a PW207D into a WRX! o_O

    14. Re:The problem by cyn1c77 · · Score: 1

      I'm actually kind of curious what Subaru motor they were using. Wikipedia says the PW207D puts out a max of 572shp, so I imagine the Subaru motor must have been fairly extensively modified because their consumer offerings top out around 320hp in the EJ25. An extra 100 ponies out of an EJ isn't hard, but much more than that gets expensive real fast.

      They are custom modifications... just like 500-hp STIs. Try searching google for "500 HP Subaru engine." Or search for "Subaru aircraft/hovercraft engine."

  3. Too ambitious - Fail? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I guess it'll stay in development for much longer than expected.

  4. Wikipedia content by Mattb90 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Almost all of the summary story above is content straight from the A160 Wikipedia article, including a glaring reference number.

    --
    Mattb90
    Editor, allaboutgames.co.uk
  5. This almost a bit familiar... by sznupi · · Score: 1

    So - when will they declassify a version with small high wing and two large swiveling turbines at its ends?

    --
    One that hath name thou can not otter
    1. Re:This almost a bit familiar... by miwoods · · Score: 1

      As soon as Professor Sankai and his team finalize the flight control software.

  6. "Still not reported elsewhere" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just FYI, this hasn't been reported elsewhere because it's of little interest to anyone outside of the rotorcraft/aviation field. It's not a key defense system to the US, it's not revolutionary technology (variable speed rotor is an advancement, but not a game changer), and it's not particularly high priority. That it's not being reported widely is no surprise, most people would not care.

    1. Re:"Still not reported elsewhere" by Arrepiadd · · Score: 1

      How can parent be modded informative?

      Not reading the article is the way to go on /. but not properly reading the intro and then complaining about it should be frowned upon even on /.
      Just for you, from the text *up there*: "Still not reported elsewhere, Flight International reports..." actually linking to that Friday news you talk about.

      I know my post is just garbage and adds nothing to the subject itself, but rather than modding you down I think it may be more helpful to shove it on your face so you don't do it again (at least in the next two weeks, then you forget...)

  7. "Still not reported elsewhere" by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 1, Informative

    This was on Flight International's iOS app yesterday.

    Flightglobal news has it as 1239 Friday.

  8. Just ignore by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Insightful

    but test flights already demonstrate successively greater endurance, higher altitudes, more extensive autonomy, and greater payload.

    Don't let the fact that it crashes bother you at all, this is the drone you want!

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    1. Re:Just ignore by Ghjnut · · Score: 1

      Skynet...is that you?

      --
      MouseClass extends ScrollClass, which extends TabClass, which extends SidebarClass, which extends PowerClass, w
    2. Re:Just ignore by ScrewMaster · · Score: 1

      but test flights already demonstrate successively greater endurance, higher altitudes, more extensive autonomy, and greater payload.

      Don't let the fact that it crashes bother you at all, this is the drone you want!

      No big deal ... they just didn't put enough sugar water in the feeder.

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
    3. Re:Just ignore by Alistair+O'Twill · · Score: 1

      I agree with you if you mean that the drone you want is a bomb. xx

    4. Re:Just ignore by MadGeek007 · · Score: 1

      but test flights already demonstrate successively greater endurance, higher altitudes, more extensive autonomy, and greater payload.

      Don't let the fact that it crashes bother you at all, this is the drone you want!

      So this is the droid we're looking for!

    5. Re:Just ignore by MadGeek007 · · Score: 1

      What. No one likes Star Wars jokes?

    6. Re:Just ignore by l0ungeb0y · · Score: 1

      Yes, yes... that's all fine but does it speak Bocce?

    7. Re:Just ignore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's like a second language to it.

  9. Problem Solved by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The drone is equipped with an AI control system and it apparently chose to Self Terminate, they are hard coding this ability out of the terminator sub routines.

  10. No fear by pedantic+bore · · Score: 1

    That's probably why it crashed. It wasn't afraid not to.

    --
    Am I part of the core demographic for Swedish Fish?
    1. Re:No fear by derGoldstein · · Score: 1

      Did the programming team who designed the UAV flight-AI "afraid" that these multi-million drones drop like flies? If so, they should have programmed in "fear of losing your job", at the very least...

      --
      Entomologically speaking, the spider is not a bug, it's a feature.
    2. Re:No fear by v1 · · Score: 1

      well it was flight testing after all. you're gonna lawn-dart a few drones from time to time.

      I'd like to have seen more details on the why and how though... good bet it was at landing or takeoff. I've smashed up my model heli numerous times that way. I've only mortared it twice. Flying, meh. Takeoff, not too bad. Landing, can be quite tricky.

      And never forget, takeoff is compulsory, but landing is mandatory. ;)

      --
      I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
  11. Why Belize? by schwit1 · · Score: 1

    A great vacation spot for diving, but flight testing?

    1. Re:Why Belize? by ScrewMaster · · Score: 4, Insightful

      A great vacation spot for diving, but flight testing?

      Most test flights work fine over a desert. Trying it in a jungle is much more elucidative.

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
    2. Re:Why Belize? by shinehead · · Score: 1

      It looks like the requirements are quite demanding, even for 2010. I would expect multiple mishaps before it reaches production status. As a side note: MILSPEC RFP's are generally quite aggressive and challenge the "state of the art" and requires correct operation in all conceivable environmental conditions. This accounts in part for the expense of military equipment.

    3. Re:Why Belize? by brinic · · Score: 1

      A great vacation spot for diving, but flight testing?

      They were testing the DARPA developed Forester foliage-penetrating radar over Belize's dense jungle canopies. They needed a stable platform, so it had to be a rotorcraft. Not sure why they chose a a fairly new unmanned aircraft as the test bed. Aviation Week has been covering the A160T and the testing down there pretty extensively.

  12. Always nice to see the war effort... by mrsnak · · Score: 2, Insightful

    further bankrupt the U.S.

    1. Re:Always nice to see the war effort... by ScrewMaster · · Score: 2, Informative

      further bankrupt the U.S.

      Well, this kind of tech at least has the potential for significant civilian spinoffs. Flying communications drones, for example, are being considered for providing broadband connectivity.

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
    2. Re:Always nice to see the war effort... by regularstranger · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Or swarming a natural disaster area with resources.

  13. Something bad happened by zippthorne · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Therefore we shouldn't develop this weapon any more. After all, one failure means the whole project will never produce a useful tool, ever.

    --
    Can you be Even More Awesome?!
    1. Re:Something bad happened by oljanx · · Score: 1

      I don't think TFA is saying that. It mentions that "those trials" are coming to an early end. Which is appropriate. Obviously you want to work out the kinks before trashing another multi-million dollar UAV.

    2. Re:Something bad happened by Simon+Brooke · · Score: 1

      I don't think TFA is saying that. It mentions that "those trials" are coming to an early end. Which is appropriate. Obviously you want to work out the kinks before trashing another multi-million dollar UAV.

      Particularly if you only had one actual flying prototype example to work with. I too would like to know more about how and why it crashed - something that size coming down hard is not funny, and I'd rather they got the bugs out of the control systems while they're still testing.

      --
      I'm old enough to remember when discussions on Slashdot were well informed.
    3. Re:Something bad happened by zippthorne · · Score: 1

      I was commenting on a general tone which seems to follow failures, not-quite-meets expectations's, and the weird notion that initial expectations of early prototypes is somehow too low.

      See past projects plagued with criticism in the way-early stages that was really uncalled-for (and had the potential to stall the project, becoming self-fufilling). For example, the V-22 Osprey, and missile defense systems.

      --
      Can you be Even More Awesome?!
  14. ha by dominious · · Score: 1

    where are all these people who thought that pilots are not necessary anymore? I've seen many of those in this thread:
    http://news.slashdot.org/story/10/09/06/1716245/Ryanairs-CEO-Suggests-Eliminating-Co-Pilots

    1. Re:ha by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      They're completely unnecessary -- we've finally developed AIs capable of controlled flight into terrain with no human input!

      More seriously, anyone who thinks a crash of an experimental autonomous rotorcraft with an open-ended AI (i.e. generating its own flight profile from requirements) is a valid argument against the feasibility of a fixed-wing transport flying a pre-planned profile semi-autonomously (likely with the ability to transfer control to one of a bank of standby pilots on the ground somewhere), is just as ill-informed and/or stupid as they are.

    2. Re:ha by Xugumad · · Score: 1

      We're here, taking note. I would want to know what the drone was doing when it crashed, for example are we talking fairly standard fly from A to B stuff, or doing stunts at low altitude? I would also say... I don't think pilots are unnecessary yet, but the days of requiring two pilots in a passenger jet are numbered. Possibly just with really big numbers...

    3. Re:ha by dominious · · Score: 1

      you are underestimating the intelligence required when something goes unexpectedly wrong.

    4. Re:ha by Joce640k · · Score: 1

      No, he's keeping co-pilots. The 'plane is the pilot, the human is the co-pilot. There's still two pilots on the aircraft, see?

      --
      No sig today...
  15. Yet more copying-for-traffic BS sites by inflex · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why don't the editors just link to the original source rather than sending bucketloads of traffic to these sites?

    http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/09/10/347201/a160-hummingbird-crashes-during-testing-in-belize.html

    Even contains MORE information like how it failed (in this case, something caused it to go into autorotation and basically didn't succeed with the landing).

    1. Re:Yet more copying-for-traffic BS sites by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is a nice photo here http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/07/03/225070/darpas-hummingbird-unmanned-helicopter-comes-of-age.html

    2. Re:Yet more copying-for-traffic BS sites by inflex · · Score: 1

      Thanks (sincerely), that was a nice one - worth reading indeed.

  16. So let me understand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So if I am to understand correctly, these things are on full-time autopilot. So if I'm flying along, minding my business (light sport aircraft, not necessarily any transponders), and this thing comes along, and its traveling faster than me, we have a meeting? After all, its following terrain and a flight plan. If it doesn't pick me up on radar or other sensors, BOOM? Oh, and one more thing... if its just 'flyin' along' and it happens to spot a target of opportunity (Osama bin Hidin'), will it have another accidental 'crash'?

    1. Re:So let me understand by turbidostato · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "So if I am to understand correctly, these things are on full-time autopilot."

      You understood wrongly.

      Hey, but don't let that making you to read TFA.

      "If it doesn't pick me up on radar or other sensors, BOOM?"

      What do you think that happens if you are flying in a colliding trajectory to another human-piloted aircraft and no one of you pick the other on radar or other sensors? Yes: pilot eyes are sensors.

  17. "autonomous" huh.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    gotta love them autoshoot UACV choppers with a propensity for crashing.

  18. news links from Belize by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This what the Belizean news have to say-- Channel 5 News- U.S. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles crashes http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/37964 channel 7 News- “Spy Chopper’s” Demise http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=17746&frmsrch=1 It’s A Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s...the Spy Chopper! http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=17648&frmsrch=1

  19. 2 of them crashed here by markdueck · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't see other posts about this but they had 2 of those Hummingbirds here. Both were equipped with some new radar technology that is able to 'look' through canopy and see people. http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=17648&frmsrch=1 - The oval shaped box underneath the bird is the radar. It rotates to be perpendicular during flight. The point was to test the radar and also the bird at the same time. It's supposed to be quite enough for 'bad guys' not to hear it when it's flying at 10,000 feet. Belize was chosen for the testing because of the ideal canopy we have here. Word on the street is that the first one crashed because it ran out of fuel.

    1. Re:2 of them crashed here by brinic · · Score: 2, Interesting

      More info on the DARPA developed radar being tested here. The A160T program has had a few crashes over the last few years, even before it got to Belize. That said, it is a challenging project, so some accidents are inevitable.

  20. "A160" by Joce640k · · Score: 1

    I like the way they used Airbus naming conventions. Is that so that every time a crash makes a headline Joe Sixpack will swear never to fly in a yoorapeean airplane.

    --
    No sig today...