Driverless cars has been a hot topic for several years already, so much so that we have almost accepted the inevitability of the concept in the not too distant future! If driverless cars struck fear into your heart, the notion of pilotless planes is going to cause your heart rate to skyrocket!
In case you haven’t already heard the rumours, prepare yourself. Pilotless planes are already in the pipeline and by none other than the world’s biggest commercial and military aircraft manufacturer, Boeing.
Boeing is a company that has taken leaps and bounds in terms of global aviation. It’s a company that has always had its finger on the pulse of latest tech in the aviation industry and now they are aiming to test their very first pilotless aircraft as early as 2018! It’s with relief that we tell you it will be a flight without passengers!
The technology for a system operated plane already available
The company, which presented at the Paris Air Show, stated that the basic technology for a flight to be handled without a human pilot was already available. The company inferred that with time, there will no longer be the need for a licensed and skilled pilot. Systems can be created to operate the plane much like those that are designed to operate driverless vehicles.
Of course, it is the aim of Boeing to be able to do this with the same level of safety as that of a skilled pilot who is able to make unexpected decisions in emergencies such as a bird strike.
Will a human have to pre-program responses for the system?
Of considerable concern is the belief that a human will have to pre-program such a system, so that it can react to unexpected situations, but Boeing has said that is not the case. The machine they hope to employ will need to be smart enough to be able to make its own decisions!
The question begs to be answered…with systems being vulnerable to hacks, just how easy would a pilotless plane be victim to potential data hacks and even potential terrorist attacks? We might have to wait on Boeing to shed a little light on these potential security matters.