3 ms·
I get the feeling that this should be the job of (giant) robots or drones. The number of aircraft models is quite limited (relatively speaking, compared to, say
by k_sze 4y ago
I get the feeling that this should be the job of (giant) robots or drones. The number of aircraft models is quite limited (relatively speaking, compared to, say, cars on the road), and the aircrafts should all have well-known geometry that robots or drones can be programmed against.
- cpgxiii 4y agoThe problem is accurately perceiving the remaining snow/ice coverage on the airplane, unless you have a guaranteed-clear-on-first-pass solution (you don't). Sure, you can get it "mostly" clear with current CV, but you have to be absolutely clear or serious incidents will result (some aircraft suffer significant aerodynamic consequences from ice less than 1mm thick). Neither airport operators nor airlines will seriously consider a robotic solution unless it outperforms human operators, and the potential liability is high barrier to entry.