Autonomous aircraft are inching closer to widespread use, with crop-dusting drones and cargo planes leading the charge toward pilotless operations. Several companies are developing distinct strategies, focusing either on building aircraft from the ground up with autonomy in mind or retrofitting existing planes with advanced systems.
Pyka and Windracers are among the companies constructing new aircraft designed specifically for autonomous flight. This approach allows for the integration of autonomy from the initial design phase, tailoring the aircraft's capabilities to its intended mission. Pyka's autonomous crop-duster, for example, is designed to fly low over fields, spraying liquid.
In contrast, U.S.-based Reliable Robotics, backed by Boeing's investment arm, is retrofitting existing aircraft. They are currently testing their autonomous system on the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, a single-pilot cargo plane capable of carrying approximately 1,360 kg of payload over hundreds of kilometers. Robert Rose, Reliable Robotics' co-founder and CEO, stated that retrofitting allows the company to concentrate on proving the safety of the autonomous system without the added complexity of certifying an entirely new aircraft.
Merlin Labs, another U.S.-based company, is also retrofitting aircraft but is progressing through increasingly larger military planes. They are applying their autonomous system to the two-pilot Lockheed Martin C-130J military transport plane, with plans to move to commercial multi-crew cargo planes next. "It is a common autonomy brain that can transition between different aircraft," explained Matt George, Merlin's founder and CEO.
Differing AI Philosophies
Companies also diverge on their use of artificial intelligence. Reliable Robotics is intentionally avoiding AI in its system, believing it would complicate the certification process. Conversely, Merlin Labs is taking a more AI-centric approach.
This divide is particularly evident in the development of "detect and avoid" systems, crucial for replicating a pilot's ability to safely maneuver around other aircraft and obstacles. Reliable Robotics has incorporated forward-looking air-to-air radar to detect other aircraft more than eight kilometers ahead, using software governed by fixed rules for response. Rose described this system as "better than a pilot's eyeballs."
Merlin Labs, meanwhile, is employing AI-powered cameras for object detection and classification. Pyka, which has used lidar for detecting objects like trees and birds, plans to integrate AI-powered cameras for enhanced object recognition, particularly for distinguishing distant aircraft from other visual noise.
The use of AI extends to communication with air traffic control. Reliable Robotics plans to utilize a remote pilot on the ground to handle communications and make safety-critical decisions. Merlin Labs aims to use generative AI, trained on extensive recordings of air traffic communications, to interpret instructions and respond autonomously. George stated, "Our problem is harder… but we want to move beyond remote piloting."
Merlin intends to gradually reduce the number of pilots onboard, moving from two to one and eventually to none. Pyka, according to Norcia, is observing the progress of others in navigating shared airspace.
While fully autonomous passenger flight remains a distant goal, the technologies being pioneered are expected to influence commercial aviation, potentially enhancing the safety of piloted flights. The U.S. pilots' association, ALPA, has indicated that such advancements would be a welcome development.