Real AI ?

[GHD]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22511395

[DaveB]

Oo-er

Getting the technology right is one thing.. convincing the general public that it's safe for unmanned aircraft of that size to fly around the UK is something else I fear

ATB
DaveB

[Dev One]

Just think of the paper trail before the trial took place! I bet its been flying that route & others with a safety pilot on board for some months. I also think that the NATS boys kept a very sharp eye out for traffic, so not really much different than operating Jindivik as far as radar directing goes, except that it was obviously overland. As for the Aberporth range, although it was a designated danger area there was no legal method of keeping out strangers!
Keith

[Motormouse]

Oo-er

Getting the technology right is one thing.. convincing the general public that it's safe for unmanned aircraft of that size to fly around the UK is something else I fear

ATB
DaveB

Them Reaper drone things aren't exactly small y'know.

Ttfn
Pete

[SkippyBing]

Reapers don't currently fly in UK air space though, in fact I don't think any military UAVs do over land yet.

To be honest this doesn't seem that impressive, they've basically made a radio controlled Jetstream with a comms relay.

[Dev One]

I think the comms relay would have to be via a satellite, as Reapers etc are. I also believe Reapers (or similar) have been flown out of Llanbedr & BAe have flown their 'stealth' model out of Warton. The technology would appear to be in the signal loss safety system to get it to land at a chosen airfield or at least to steer it out to sea & destroy it. Probably quite easy with GPS.
Keith

Edit - Just read the post on the Unmanned Jetstream ---Ha Ha Ha - it had a pilot on board for take off & Landing.........Not unmanned at all! It just has a radio controlled autopilot......
K

[SkippyBing]

I also believe Reapers (or similar) have been flown out of Llanbedr & BAe have flown their 'stealth' model out of Warton.

I think the ones flying out of Llanbedr are only allowed over the water in the associated Danger Area, hence the choice of airfield. I'm pretty sure they're part of the Watchkeeper development programme rather than Reapers. I don't think Taranis, the BAe stealth model, has actually flown yet and the test programme is due to be in Woomera.

The problem in the UK is that the CAA don't want UAVs outside Danger Areas unless there's a pilot in the cockpit, which is a bit tricky if you haven't got one to start with, and the UK doesn't have Danger Areas big enough for everything you'd want to do with a decent sized UAV. The USA and Australia on the other hand have Danger Areas the size of the UK.

To be honest compared to what Reaper/Watchkeeper/Hermes 450 can do autonomously, playing with the AP on a small airliner by remote control is a bit behind the times.