The "AT Black Knight Transformer» της Advanced Tactics, as announced by the company.
"Black Knight" is a hybrid vehicle that combines vertical take-off / landing capabilities that correspond to a helicopter with off-road terrain features. The ground tests were completed in December, while the first flight trials in March.
The test was carried out in an area of the south Californias, and the aircraft was controlled by remote control, while its stabilization and altitude were fully the responsibility of the autopilot. The only commands from the human operator (remotely) were to increase or decrease power.
According to the company, AT Black Knight Transformer performed a series of small flights. Although it is capable of flying at a height of thousands of feet, for safety reasons the height was no more than ten feet.
The hybrid craft is specifically designed for autonomous/automated casualty evacuation and resupply missions. Its unmanned capabilities keep pilots safe in dangerous missions, while it also has the ability to fly manned, like a conventional helicopter. Work on the AT Black Knight Transformer began in 2010, with funding from the government των ΗΠΑ, ενώ σημειώνεται ότι η εταιρεία το 2012 άρχισε την ανάπτυξη του AT Panther Transformer, ενός παρόμοιου σκάφους, το οποίο είναι σχεδιασμένο για αποστολές των Ειδικών Δυνάμεων. Επίσης, αναπτύσσεται και ένα τμηματικό (modular) μεταγωγικό αεροσκάφος, ικανό να μεταφέρει φορτία 1,5 τόνων σε αποσπώμενο cargo pod. Όπως επισημαίνεται από την εταιρεία, η τεχνολογία ΑΤ Transformer είναι κλιμακωτή και παραμετροποιήσιμη.