4 ms·

Well, article mentions computer not being able to properly identify same target by merging different sensor data (it shows two targets instead). I'd say that r

by llukas 10y ago

Well, article mentions computer not being able to properly identify same target by merging different sensor data (it shows two targets instead). I'd say that reason alone warrants a pilot.

apendleton 10y ago
Sure, but the question wasn't "why is there a pilot?", it was "why is the pilot in the plane?" Making a judgment about sensor data could just as easily be done from elsewhere.
- danmaz74 10y ago
  For a modern opponent, disrupting remote control is much easier than disabling in-plane controls...
- kodfodrasz 10y ago
  Because networks are unreliable. Because of latency. I have read several articles about drone pilots. The latency is a really big issue, the biggest of all. Because of limited bandwidth. Because of jamming. Because pilots care better for the multimillion$ equipment if their life is also at stake. (This being the least important) Because while human life is at stake military and political leaders think twice before starting a war and sending in the fighters/bombers.
  - RantyDave 10y ago
    I think the equipment would not be anywhere near as expensive if it didn't have to protect people. Case in point: drones.
    - llukas 10y ago
      Yeah RQ-9 and RQ-4 have totally different costs than modern airplanes. Not.
vitaminbandit 10y ago
> "The digital helmet projects what the pilot often sees from cameras, so the pilot isn't really looking through a window, but seeing through a digital camera."
- yellowapple 10y ago
  Right, but what part of the airplane figures out which things on the screen are friendly or hostile? Hint: it's squishy, on average less than two meters tall, and riding in the cockpit. Now granted, that can technically be done from outside the airplane, but if contact with the plane is lost for any reason, you lose that bit of wetware seated at the helm.
  - vitaminbandit 10y ago
    > but if contact with the plane is lost for any reason, you lose that bit of wetware seated at the helm. I agree with this, but this wasn't your original point.
  - engi_nerd 10y ago
    If this were a traditional (before 5th generation) aircraft, you'd be correct. But in the F-35, the pilot isn't the sensor fusion engine. The aircraft software has this responsibility in the F-35. The Fusion engine in the F-35 takes in information from the Radar, DAS, EOTS, Electronic Warfare, Comm and Navigation system, and data link information from other aircraft, and tries to figure out what that information means (is that an aircraft, what kind is it, is it friendly, etc).

by llukas 10y ago

Well, article mentions computer not being able to properly identify same target by merging different sensor data (it shows two targets instead). I'd say that reason alone warrants a pilot.

apendleton 10y ago

Sure, but the question wasn't "why is there a pilot?", it was "why is the pilot in the plane?" Making a judgment about sensor data could just as easily be done from elsewhere.

danmaz74 10y ago
For a modern opponent, disrupting remote control is much easier than disabling in-plane controls...
kodfodrasz 10y ago
Because networks are unreliable. Because of latency. I have read several articles about drone pilots. The latency is a really big issue, the biggest of all. Because of limited bandwidth. Because of jamming. Because pilots care better for the multimillion$ equipment if their life is also at stake. (This being the least important) Because while human life is at stake military and political leaders think twice before starting a war and sending in the fighters/bombers.
- RantyDave 10y ago
  I think the equipment would not be anywhere near as expensive if it didn't have to protect people. Case in point: drones.
  - llukas 10y ago
    Yeah RQ-9 and RQ-4 have totally different costs than modern airplanes. Not.

vitaminbandit 10y ago

> "The digital helmet projects what the pilot often sees from cameras, so the pilot isn't really looking through a window, but seeing through a digital camera."

yellowapple 10y ago
Right, but what part of the airplane figures out which things on the screen are friendly or hostile? Hint: it's squishy, on average less than two meters tall, and riding in the cockpit. Now granted, that can technically be done from outside the airplane, but if contact with the plane is lost for any reason, you lose that bit of wetware seated at the helm.
- vitaminbandit 10y ago
  > but if contact with the plane is lost for any reason, you lose that bit of wetware seated at the helm. I agree with this, but this wasn't your original point.
- engi_nerd 10y ago
  If this were a traditional (before 5th generation) aircraft, you'd be correct. But in the F-35, the pilot isn't the sensor fusion engine. The aircraft software has this responsibility in the F-35. The Fusion engine in the F-35 takes in information from the Radar, DAS, EOTS, Electronic Warfare, Comm and Navigation system, and data link information from other aircraft, and tries to figure out what that information means (is that an aircraft, what kind is it, is it friendly, etc).