A cargo plane flew over northern California without a pilot in the cockpit last month in a test of self-driving technology hailed as a “milestone” for aviation.
A Cessna 208B Caravan took off, flew and landed without a person aboard on Nov. 21 — a first for the flight, the company that operates the pilotless flight announced today.
The craft’s autonomous test flight from Hollister Municipal Airport was overseen by a remote pilot about 50 miles away, Reliable Robotics said. The pilot can take over control from the ground if something goes wrong.
Total flight time was about 12 minutes, enough for the converted FedEx plane to take off from the San Benito County airport, make a few laps around a residential neighborhood, circle the airport and land, Trusted Robotics CEO Robert Rose told San Francisco Chronicle.
“This was supposed to be a boring, uneventful thing, like a regular airplane, and that’s what we got,” Rose said. “We spent years preparing to make sure that there would be no surprises.”
The tech company put a self-driving plane in the air in 2019 as well, but that craft, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, was much smaller, according to local publications.
The Cessna 208B Caravan Flight took place outside San Jose on November 21st. A FOX Business Cessna 208B landed with no one aboard on Nov. 21 — a first for the flight, the company announced. FOX Business
The Skyhawk seats four while the plane used in last month’s test can hold up to a dozen people.
Both planes are designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc, which has partnered with Reliable Robotics – founded in 2017 by former Tesla and SpaceX employees – to build the autonomous aircraft.
“The successful flight of the reliable Cessna 208 Caravan represents a milestone for the industry in bringing new technology to aviation,” said Textron Aviation Senior Vice President of Engineering and Programs, Chris Hearne.
The 12-minute flight had just enough for the converted FedEx plane to take off from the San Benito County airport. FOX Business
Trusted Robotics has also been working with the US Air Force on how to figure out technology for military use, such as cargo logistics and aerial refueling, under a series of contracts since 2021.
“This breakthrough accelerates dual-use unmanned flight opportunities, improves flight safety and allows us to bring a wide range of autonomous military capabilities into denied environments,” said Col. Elliott Leigh, Director of AFWERX and Chief Commercialization Officer for the Department of the Air Force.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
