2 ms·

I think the best case scenario is to have an autonomous system that only steps in when the human pilot is doing something wrong. Then the pilots stay well-train

I think the best case scenario is to have an autonomous system that only steps in when the human pilot is doing something wrong. Then the pilots stay well-trained, while getting the benefits of autopilot. You could then manually give autopilot control for short periods in times when it is too dangerous for human pilots, ex. windy dark landings.

Enginerrrd 6y ago
This has sort of been tried before for some time with occasional disastrous results. When the pilot was trying to do one thing to save the aircraft and the autonomous system was trying to do another, crashes have resulted. It's likely that either one would have been ok on their own, but the combination can be bad. I know the rebuttal to this is "override the pilot" but it's really not so simple. Sometimes the pilot has switched off part but not all of an autopilot system, and it makes sense to maintain that capability. It's a very difficult problem to solve.
- g_p 6y ago
  I believe this is speculated to have happened with an Airbus doing a low pass or touch-and-go at an airshow. The aircraft seemed to believe it was landing, the captain was requesting TOGA thrust. Airbus auto throttle is a nice idea when it works (once you understand it), but there's certainly something uncanny about the idea of not having direct control of the primary and secondary flight controls. If I was coming in with one engine out, the last thing I'd want is the aircraft trying to out-think me and tell me what's right, or decide I'm at risk of stalling (2 feet above the runway), and apply power (which with only one engine available would risk skewing the landing).
karmakaze 6y ago
This reads like 737-Max MCAS. Who/what decides that 'the pilot is doing something wrong'?
numpad0 6y ago
Well there’s an airplane manufacturer in Toulouse, France, named Airbus...

Enginerrrd 6y ago

This has sort of been tried before for some time with occasional disastrous results. When the pilot was trying to do one thing to save the aircraft and the autonomous system was trying to do another, crashes have resulted. It's likely that either one would have been ok on their own, but the combination can be bad. I know the rebuttal to this is "override the pilot" but it's really not so simple. Sometimes the pilot has switched off part but not all of an autopilot system, and it makes sense to maintain that capability. It's a very difficult problem to solve.

g_p 6y ago
I believe this is speculated to have happened with an Airbus doing a low pass or touch-and-go at an airshow. The aircraft seemed to believe it was landing, the captain was requesting TOGA thrust. Airbus auto throttle is a nice idea when it works (once you understand it), but there's certainly something uncanny about the idea of not having direct control of the primary and secondary flight controls. If I was coming in with one engine out, the last thing I'd want is the aircraft trying to out-think me and tell me what's right, or decide I'm at risk of stalling (2 feet above the runway), and apply power (which with only one engine available would risk skewing the landing).

karmakaze 6y ago

This reads like 737-Max MCAS. Who/what decides that 'the pilot is doing something wrong'?

numpad0 6y ago

Well there’s an airplane manufacturer in Toulouse, France, named Airbus...