http://www.astraea.aero/downloads/AS...d%20_FINAL.pdf
Tucked away in the original article is a short reference to the Astraea program which, provided you can maintain an open mind, is definitely worth researching. The above link is one starting point.
It's clear that the end goal is fully pilot-less air transport and it is probable that this will come, albeit by degrees. We just don't know the timescale yet.