"Threat" of Autonomy
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Join Date: May 2014
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"Threat" of Autonomy
Hey guys, new to the forum here, i have a quick question that effects any future pilots and is something that i'm sure most of you are aware of, that being autonomous (unmanned) flight and remote drone operations.
My question is about how severe the threat is and what stage the development of both civilian and military use is at as this information is hard to find, the technology however definitely exists.
The reason i am asking is because i have been planning a career as a civilian pilot for over a year now and this came up as the biggest "threat" to those jobs.
Here is a short video posted by Lockheed Martin recently that explains what i mean:
Obviously certain aspects of civilian flight wont change in the near future (correct me if i'm wrong) but things like load transport and monotonous shipment jobs seem to be those most at risk.
Would love to hear what you have to think about the subject, thanks!
My question is about how severe the threat is and what stage the development of both civilian and military use is at as this information is hard to find, the technology however definitely exists.
The reason i am asking is because i have been planning a career as a civilian pilot for over a year now and this came up as the biggest "threat" to those jobs.
Here is a short video posted by Lockheed Martin recently that explains what i mean:
Obviously certain aspects of civilian flight wont change in the near future (correct me if i'm wrong) but things like load transport and monotonous shipment jobs seem to be those most at risk.
Would love to hear what you have to think about the subject, thanks!
311,
I'm not sure it won't happen soon in some traditional RW sectors. Once robust Detect & Avoid systems are certified be prepared for an explosion of UAV use in pipeline inspection, news coverage, Police and para military and security roles. The low acquisition costs, DOCs and the reduced need for "expensive" aircrew will drive the market in this direction; it might take 10 years but they're coming....
I'm not sure it won't happen soon in some traditional RW sectors. Once robust Detect & Avoid systems are certified be prepared for an explosion of UAV use in pipeline inspection, news coverage, Police and para military and security roles. The low acquisition costs, DOCs and the reduced need for "expensive" aircrew will drive the market in this direction; it might take 10 years but they're coming....
they are already here. For many kinds of aerial photography and film work, UAVs are taking over fast. Pipeline/powerline inspection is just starting, but it'll happen quickly there, too.
It's mostly simple jobs like that for now (no passengers), unfortunately those are the typical jobs that a low-time beginner pilot would have started out with in the past.
UAVs won't take over the market from one year to another, it'll simply slowly become a mixed market over the next ten years. Companies might have a mixed fleet, new UAV operators are going to start up and compete.
It's mostly simple jobs like that for now (no passengers), unfortunately those are the typical jobs that a low-time beginner pilot would have started out with in the past.
UAVs won't take over the market from one year to another, it'll simply slowly become a mixed market over the next ten years. Companies might have a mixed fleet, new UAV operators are going to start up and compete.
Join Date: Jun 2010
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Well, there's a difference between UAV and autonomous UAV.
UAVs can be both, but to date, most of them are just radio controlled by at least one remote pilot. Autonomous flying is still in development.
The first multicopters which are able to do some "fly home when battery get's empty" and "follow this GPS-path" are on sale, but they are in no way able to avoid midair collisions with high obstacles or other aircrafts. There's quite some work to do regarding "see and avoid".
Imagine some multicopter flying parcel service in e.g. 1500ft and some HEMS helicopter trying to land beneath an accident an crossing this altitude...
For me that's currently one of the biggest threats for GA (whether fixed or rotary wings), at least until autonomous avoiding procedures are established.
Thracian
UAVs can be both, but to date, most of them are just radio controlled by at least one remote pilot. Autonomous flying is still in development.
The first multicopters which are able to do some "fly home when battery get's empty" and "follow this GPS-path" are on sale, but they are in no way able to avoid midair collisions with high obstacles or other aircrafts. There's quite some work to do regarding "see and avoid".
Imagine some multicopter flying parcel service in e.g. 1500ft and some HEMS helicopter trying to land beneath an accident an crossing this altitude...
For me that's currently one of the biggest threats for GA (whether fixed or rotary wings), at least until autonomous avoiding procedures are established.
Thracian
