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Briefing October 2023

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Korean researchers developed "Pibot," a humanoid robot capable of autonomously piloting any aircraft by manipulating controls like a human and interpreting instruments with AI.
  • Canada's initial ADS-B mandate took effect in August for Class A airspace, requiring specialized transmitters for both ground stations and satellites, with an expansion to Class B airspace planned for May 2024.
  • Delta Airlines injected $500 million into Wheels Up, acquiring 95% ownership and preventing the charter/fractional ownership company from bankruptcy.
  • Wisk Aero and Archer Aviation resolved their legal dispute to partner, with Wisk becoming the exclusive provider of autonomy technology for Archer's future eVTOL designs.
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“Pibot” Can Fly Anything Say Researchers

Korean researchers say their humanoid “pibot” is an autonomous flight system that doesn’t require significant flight deck modifications. The team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) say the robot is installed in a regular seat and uses servo activated human-like appendages to manipulate controls like a flesh-and-blood pilot. Its two cameras mounted like human eyes scan the instruments and interpret their information with artificial intelligence. “Pibot is a humanoid robot that can fly an [airplane] just like a human pilot by manipulating all the single controls in the cockpit, which is designed for humans,” said David Shim, an associate professor of electrical engineering at KAIST. It also has prodigious memory and is able to store the full library of Jeppesen charts and the operating specs and manuals of virtually any aircraft.

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