The progress of the experimental LHD program, the largest superconducting helical device in the world, is described. The LHD device, which is now under construction, will start experimentation in 1998 to study the confinement of high-temperature plasmas relevant for thermonuclear fusion conditions and will develop the physics and technology of steady-state operation. Experimental research on the LHD also contributes to physics understanding of toroidal plasmas by the study of high-temperature plasmas confined in the externally defined magnetic structure. New research directions for advanced helical systems are also discussed.