Robotic Pilot Tested
The Air Force and tech company DZYNE have created an ungainly-looking device that can take off, fly and land an airplane like a human pilot and without tearing the aircraft apart. The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Center for Rapid Innovation flew a Cessna 206 with the ROBOpilot at the controls for two hours on Aug. 9 and said the idea is to make the machine interchangeable with human pilots. “Imagine being able to rapidly and affordably convert a general aviation aircraft, like a Cessna or Piper, into an unmanned aerial vehicle, having it fly a mission autonomously, and then returning it back to its original manned configuration,” said Dr. Alok Das, senior scientist with the Center for Rapid Innovation, in a statement. A video with the news release shows the robotic pilot making corrections to keep the centerline during takeoff and a bounced, but ultimately safe landing.
Special Attention On AOAs
The FAA is reminding aircraft operators to keep a close eye on their angle of attack sensors, warning the devices are particularly vulnerable to careless damage on the ground. “There are multiple entities involved with the operation and maintenance of aircraft, such as aircraft operators, certificate holders, maintenance providers, ramp service providers and miscellaneous service providers,” the agency said in an Information for Operators sheet in August. “Regardless of certification basis, it is imperative that all operators are aware of the criticality of AOA sensors and the potential for damage during normal operations, maintenance procedures, servicing procedures, and any other procedures around an aircraft where damage to an AOA sensor could occur.” Faulty AOA data is suspected as a factor in the crashes of two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and suspect AOAs resulted in the temporary grounding of Cirrus VisionJets earlier this year.
