I suspect they'll be self-flying, or have heavy autopilot overrides to avoid going where they shouldn't. We'll see, but the FAA Drone stuff that has hobbyist pilots up in arms could be a pathway forward for automated flying "drone" cars.
The amount of complexity in automation you are talking about is mind boggling. Joe public have no clue what goes into the automation of aircraft or the complexity of air traffic. The sky seems really simple until you get an idea of everything that goes into making sure aircraft don’t hit each other, fly into mountains, the dirt, or into thunderstorms. Winds change constantly, fog, mist, icing conditions, turbulence, bird activity, military activity, wild fires, etc. there is an infinite number of variables to deal with when flying.
Then you start talking about safety aspect of the aircraft. Minimum fuel reserves, system failure procedures, engine failure procedures, loss of GPS (happens A LOT), loss of ground based navigation, instrument failures, software bugs (again happens A LOT) I could go on and on.
Aviation is extremely safe because we have spent decades perfecting flying and you have to have intelligence to be able to interpret all the data coming at you. It’s going to be a long while before an AI can safely automate all of that.
Yeah a new network of skyways will need to be developed outside the traditional ones used for fixed wing craft, but a lot of that could be addressed with the new FAA drone implementation plans they're rolling out. An air-car could use the same system for navigation and to keep vehicles in their lane as drones will be used to deliver packages and such.
Avoding mountains and such could be done easily enough with camera based ai systems and strict no-fly zones.
GPS could be enhanced with sensor and camera-informed dead-reckoning until signal returns, much like a pilot would do.
Low visibility craft could follow major roads and train tracks for references as well, when able.
They could also, in extreme situations, trigger an automated emergency landing like DJI drones do when running low on battery.
A lot of auto-pilot, navigation and drone technology could be combined to make some powerful solutions, given some more time. I agree however it isn't a trivial task, and the risk is much higher in flight than on the ground. Parachutes and airbags would hopefully help.
Flying cars is the future, we just need to get it through the deep state firewall.
The idea of flying cars terrifies me from a safety aspect as a professional pilot.
I suspect they'll be self-flying, or have heavy autopilot overrides to avoid going where they shouldn't. We'll see, but the FAA Drone stuff that has hobbyist pilots up in arms could be a pathway forward for automated flying "drone" cars.
The amount of complexity in automation you are talking about is mind boggling. Joe public have no clue what goes into the automation of aircraft or the complexity of air traffic. The sky seems really simple until you get an idea of everything that goes into making sure aircraft don’t hit each other, fly into mountains, the dirt, or into thunderstorms. Winds change constantly, fog, mist, icing conditions, turbulence, bird activity, military activity, wild fires, etc. there is an infinite number of variables to deal with when flying.
Then you start talking about safety aspect of the aircraft. Minimum fuel reserves, system failure procedures, engine failure procedures, loss of GPS (happens A LOT), loss of ground based navigation, instrument failures, software bugs (again happens A LOT) I could go on and on.
Aviation is extremely safe because we have spent decades perfecting flying and you have to have intelligence to be able to interpret all the data coming at you. It’s going to be a long while before an AI can safely automate all of that.
Yeah a new network of skyways will need to be developed outside the traditional ones used for fixed wing craft, but a lot of that could be addressed with the new FAA drone implementation plans they're rolling out. An air-car could use the same system for navigation and to keep vehicles in their lane as drones will be used to deliver packages and such.
Avoding mountains and such could be done easily enough with camera based ai systems and strict no-fly zones.
GPS could be enhanced with sensor and camera-informed dead-reckoning until signal returns, much like a pilot would do.
Low visibility craft could follow major roads and train tracks for references as well, when able.
They could also, in extreme situations, trigger an automated emergency landing like DJI drones do when running low on battery.
A lot of auto-pilot, navigation and drone technology could be combined to make some powerful solutions, given some more time. I agree however it isn't a trivial task, and the risk is much higher in flight than on the ground. Parachutes and airbags would hopefully help.
You may find these interesting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwZNe1rIo0s
Yea trying to license this would be a nightmare. ?
Oh god that and I’ve flown airplanes with the most advanced autopilots we have they are still really really stupid.