HACT Program Technology Transfer

Examples of successful technology transfer activities from the Helicopter Active Control Technology (HACT) program to legacy and future rotorcraft platforms are documented. The U. S. Army’s strategic vision for insertion of technology developed under the HACT program into force modernization programs for legacy aircraft and new aircraft development programs is reviewed. Case studies of successful transfer of regime recognition, carefree maneuvering, and task tailored control law technologies and advanced integrated computer-aided flight control design tools from the HACT program to critical Department of Defense (DoD) programs such as the CH-47F Chinook, V-22 Osprey, AH-64D Apache, and Joint Heavy Lift (JHL) Rotorcraft programs are analyzed to quantify present-day realized and near-term anticipated Return On Investment (ROI) from U. S. government funding of the HACT program. The technical approach for modifying the full authority Fly-By-Wire (FBW) HACT Flight Control System (HFCS) so that it can be implemented generically on aircraft equipped with mechanical flight control systems and limited authority and rate stability augmentation actuators is described. Progress toward meeting the DoD Rotary Wing Vehicle (RWV) Technology Development Approach (TDA) goals and flight control Technology Effort Objectives (TEOs) for aircraft equipped with Partial Authority Flight Control Augmentation (PAFCA) and for sling loads objectives is presented and illustrated through piloted simulation and flight test data.