Originally Posted by
172_driver
Is this the software developers having run out of ideas for yet another feature?
Isn't it already doing automatic TCAS maneuvers and emergency descents?
No , it is how Airbus works, it let their brightest engineers develop new ideas and support prototyping. Not all their bright ideas or prototypes are kept , look for instance at the 2 or3 urban previous VTOLs, or their 2 electric aircraft, in each case a prototype was build, flown then abandonned.
Dragonfly here is another of thsose , but the long time aim is autonomous aircraft for sure. Wether some of hese features will see production , will it be standard or as an (expensive) option , time will tell.
As Less hair said the basic technology already exsists, ( Garmin for the auto diversion / land and Gulfstream for the recognaissance cameras ) putting iall this into practice and having it certified for a 300 seat aircraft will be the challenge I guess, But you have to admit it is very interesting .