The pilot was at a distance of 80 km from the aircraft, at the headquarters in Reliable Robotics
Created by former SpaceX and Tesla employees, Reliable Robotics announced that it has successfully completed a series of test flights of a specially equipped Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft, which was remotely controlled by a pilot located at the company’s headquarters.
Reliable Robotics conducts a series of test flights of the Cessna 208 Caravan remotely controlled aircraft
The distance from the pilot to the aircraft was about 80 km. During the tests, taxiing, takeoff, maneuvering over a densely populated area and landing were performed. At the same time, the pilot kept in touch with the nearby air traffic control point through the aircraft’s onboard radio stations.
Reliable Robotics, a pioneer in the development of self-controlled flight systems, aims to be the first to market automated systems for air cargo. The aviation industry has come to the fore in the development of commercial autonomous vehicles in recent years, she said. The anticipated integration of remotely piloted aircraft represents a more affordable and efficient automation option. Once certified for commercial use, the system, promoted by Reliable Robotics, is said to meet the growing demand for freight transport and later cover passenger flights.
“Automating a large aircraft with remote pilot infrastructure is an impressive technical advancement for commercial aviation, coming years earlier than many in the industry anticipated,” said Charles Graham, former CEO of DHL Express Aviation. “Working from the control center increases safety margins, reduces workload and allows pilots to focus on negotiations and tough decisions.”
Test flights bring the system closer to certification for use on any aircraft. Note that during test flights, there is a belaying pilot in the cockpit, who simultaneously controls the flight parameters.
