Unmanned Cargo Plane Takes Flight: Journeying Beyond Human Control
A groundbreaking achievement! In a remarkable first, a leading cargo plane successfully completed an entire flight autonomously, with no human pilot on board This major milestone highlights the remarkable progress in aviation technology
The world's leading cargo plane completed its first unmanned flight, lasting about 12 minutes. The flight took off from Hollister Airport in Northern California and was operated by Reliable Robotics, a company that has been developing a semi-automated flying system since 2019. In this system, the aircraft is controlled remotely by a pilot.
Recently, the company announced that a 50-mile flight occurred in November, using a Cessna Caravan, a durable single-engine aircraft widely used for flight training, tourism, humanitarian missions and regional cargo. Reliable Robotics CEO Robert Rose stated, "Cessna has produced 3,000 Caravans, making it the most popular cargo plane you've never heard of. Pilots consider it the workhorse of the industry."
The aircraft poses a challenge due to its operation at lower altitudes and in more adverse weather conditions than many large aircraft. This makes its operation more dangerous, and there is a need for automation to improve the safety of these operations. According to consultancy firm AviationValues, there are currently 900 Caravans in active service, with FedEx being the largest operator, utilizing around 200 of them since 1985. Reliable Robotics is currently collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration to certify its technology for commercial operations, with the expectation that the process will be completed in as little as two years.
Not a video game
The remote operator, a certified real pilot, sends commands to the aircraft through encrypted satellite signals. However, they do not pilot the aircraft in real-time or receive any visual feed from the plane itself.
The interface used is more reminiscent of air traffic controllers than drone pilots. “This is not a video game,” Rose explains. “There’s no joystick and no ability to manually fly the plane remotely. There’s no real-time video feed for feedback. The aircraft is controlled through a menu of options, similar to a choose-your-own-adventure based on the aircraft's position, with buttons to redirect it.”
Every command sent to the plane includes all necessary landing instructions, so the aircraft always knows what to do, even if communication is lost."The aircraft can be considered autonomous," Rose states. "If no further commands are given, or if communication is lost, it will carry out the last instruction given, which is the definition of autonomy. It has no direct human control."
A view of the cockpit during the flight, with no pilot in sight.
Reliable Robotics
The Reliable Robotics system can handle all aspects of a flight, from leaving the gate to reaching the runway, taking off, and landing, unlike a standard autopilot. According to Rose, to other planes and air traffic controllers, it operates just like any other aircraft, as the remote operator will manage radio calls and voice communications in a manner that makes it indistinguishable from a piloted aircraft.
What happens if something goes awry? Rose suggests handling emergencies remotely, noting a benefit in being able to communicate the plane's position and last command immediately to air traffic control in the event that a pilot loses control. This approach she believes is superior to current methods as it presents a clear advantage when compared to the current practice. Typically if a plane loses radio communication or experiences issues, air traffic control has no knowledge of the plane's intentions and clears the airspace around it. This will occur on a flight from London to New York on Sustainable Aviation Fuel, though experts argue it is not a complete solution.
Larger planes
Upon the system's commercial availability, additional security measures will be implemented, such as the mandatory use of a smart card to operate any aircraft. Furthermore, pilots will be stationed at a control center, under the supervision of other personnel.
Reliable Robotics is currently seeking certification for the Caravan system, while also conducting tests on the larger KC-135 Stratotanker with the US Air Force. The company aims to begin testing on jet cargo aircraft within the next five to 10 years.
Rose stated that the adoption of remotely controlled regional cargo planes could have a beneficial impact on safety as well as addressing the ongoing pilot shortage. She explained that the pilot shortage has placed pressure on smaller aircraft operations, as larger planes are attracting more pilots. This has made it increasingly challenging to maintain operations with smaller aircraft fleets.
"We view remote piloting as a potential solution to this problem in the near future," he explains. He further states that airlines will have the ability to optimize their operations by eliminating the need for layovers, as pilots will be able to work from a centralized location.
The crew preparing the Cessna Caravan for the unmanned flight.
Killian Page/Reliable Robotics
âSignificant milestoneâ
As for safety, Rose emphasizes that the system is capable of preventing the most common types of accidents caused by human error, such as "unintentional collisions with terrain" and loss of control during flight, which are responsible for the majority of fatal crashes. Rose clarifies that the Reliable Robotics system is specifically designed to mitigate these risks, for instance by cross-referencing a terrain and obstacle database in the event that the aircraft is mistakenly programmed to fly into a potential obstacle.
The development of pilotless aircraft dates back to the early years of aviation, with the first unmanned planes being created in the US and Britain during World War I. Today, most unmanned aerial vehicles are known as drones and are used for various purposes including military operations, search and rescue missions, and photography.
In addition to Reliable Robotics, companies like Merlin Labs and XWing in the US, and Volant in the UK, are also working on similar systems with a focus on the cargo sector.
The idea of pilotless air taxis has gained attention in recent years. German company Volocopter made history with the first pilotless flight in Dubai in 2017, and the Emirate is now planning to open its first "vertiport" for flying taxis within three years, although the vehicles will be manned by human pilots. In China, EHang, an urban air mobility company, became the first to receive full certification from local authorities in October to fly a pilotless passenger-carrying UAV, after conducting over 40,000 test flights.
Architects Foster + Partners has created a concept for a vertiport for vertical take-off and landing vehicles in Dubai, shown in this rendering.
Foster + Partners
Dubai's long-standing ambition of launching a flying taxi service took a significant step forward with the successful debut public test flight of the XPeng X2 electric flying car at the Gitex technology expo in October 2022.
XPENG AEROHT
Chinese company XPeng Aeroht hopes to have a flying vehicle available for public use in small regulated urban areas within just five years.
GITEX 2022
Among the many flying cars in development, the XPeng X2 is making waves. Another innovative creation, SkyDrive's single passenger flying car, was also showcased at Gitex 2022, showcasing its zero-emission flying capabilities.
KARIM SAHIB/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
Another air taxi currently in development is the Ehang 216, a vehicle designed by the Chinese company Ehang. Following a series of successful public test flights, there is optimism that the Ehang 216 will be operational by 2025, aligning with the Chinese government's goal of having flying taxis in the air by that time.
In 2021, Hoversurf's Drone Taxi prototype successfully completed its first test flight, with plans to introduce it to city skies by 2025. Additionally, the company is in the process of developing a Drone Ambulance.
ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
The German Volocopter 2X offers a unique solution to the flying car dilemma. As a multirotor electric helicopter, its purpose is to serve as an aerial taxi in densely populated urban areas.
Image credit: ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
The CityAirbus NextGen prototype is a revolutionary all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle. What makes it stand out from other urban flight vehicles is its capability to accommodate up to four passengers, setting a new standard for urban air mobility.
LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
The Lilium Evtol Jet is designed to be a hovering minibus. It takes off vertically but cruises through the air on wings and uses electric jet propulsion.
CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
Israeli-founded company Eviation Aircraft has developed and successfully flown Alice, the world's first electric passenger aircraft intended for commuter travel.
Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Bold designs for a Dubai 'vertiport'
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Jack W. Langelaan, a Penn State University Aerospace Engineering professor not associated with Reliable Robotics, stated that the company's feat of completing a pilotless flight from hangar to hangar is a significant achievement. "Robotic aircraft face many challenges, including dealing with unexpected situations and integrating into the current air traffic control system. Unexpected issues may arise from mechanical or sensor failures," he told CNN.
Europe's largest rocket is transported by a cargo ship powered by wind. "We cannot predict every scenario and we must demonstrate that the autonomous pilot is just as capable as a skilled human pilot. Adapting to the air traffic control system poses its own challenges: currently, it is operated by humans communicating via radio, so Reliable utilized a remote pilot to handle this aspect of the journey. Additionally, the human remote pilot was on standby to intervene in any unforeseen circumstances."
Gary Crichlow, the leader of commercial analysts at AviationValues consultancy firm, acknowledges the impressive technology that enables uncrewed operations. However, he also warns that the transition from crewed to uncrewed operations on a global scale is a significant challenge, not only involving technology but also economic and political factors. He anticipates that overcoming these barriers may be even more difficult than the technological hurdles.
