gabe@gabegold.com
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2018 13:48:30 -0400
http://cdn.avweb.com/media/newspics/325/p1ck69odbj45312341mkikeb1ecv6.jpeg
Forget that shiny new octocopter, a Bay-area startup wants to make your
Cessna 172 autonomous. XWing says
<http://medium.com/xwing/hello-from-xwing-b25451771a61> "plug and play"
software that can make most light aircraft fly autonomously. Details on how
it works have not been released but the technology will revolve around
"sensing, reasoning and control," according to aviation tech website
TransportUP
<http://transportup.com/headlines-breaking-news/vehicles-manufactures/automated-flight-startup-xwing-raises-4-million-in-funding/>
It will also work on helicopters and multicopters but its designer sees its
main benefit as making GA [General Aviation] accessible to the
masses. According to XWing founder Marc Piette the key is getting rid of
pilots.[*] ``Getting a license and maintaining proficiency even on a single
[-engine] aircraft type is time consuming and challenging,'' he said in a
post on his website. ``Removing the need for a pilot will have a significant
impact in opening up the aviation market.''
Piette says that by eliminating pilots more people will be attracted to
aircraft ownership and that will increase demand for small planes. The
higher volumes will reduce production costs and make GA aircraft more
affordable, Piette theorizes. ``We see a bright future where people and
places are ever more connected, where small aircraft can finally take their
rightful place in the transportation landscape, and where autonomous flight
will have a profound impact on society as we know it,'' he wrote. Apparently
some investors are seeing that bright future as TransportUP is reporting
XWing has attracted $4 million in initial investment, including some from
Microsoft.
* [NOTE: The purpose of drones is to get rid of pilots and passengers.
But someone has to be around to take the `blame' when something goes
wrong... PGN]