back to article DARPA unveils robot co-pilot

Good news. DARPA’s ambitious project to recreate Otto, the autopilot from Airplane, is finally bearing fruit. ALIAS, The Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System program, was announced in 2014. Autopilots are almost as old as the aeroplane – with Sperry demonstrating automatic flight control in 1912. But unlike its …

  1. xeroks

    Your Plastic Pal Who's Fun to Be With!

    (c) D.A.

    1. richardcox13

      Re: Your Plastic Pal Who's Fun to Be With!

      But unfortunately. the human pilots information only contains the out of tune text "go stick your head up a pig".

  2. allthecoolshortnamesweretaken

    Any word on how ALIAS* handles flying on instruments?

    * Somewhere in the DARPA charter must be a "no acronym - no funding" clause.

  3. Andytug
    Joke

    Shirley you can't be serious?

    Should it not be called Over, Under or Dunne?

    1. allthecoolshortnamesweretaken

      Re: Shirley you can't be serious?

      Don't call me Shirley.

      Also, have you checked our vector yet with Victor?

  4. 's water music
    Coat

    Darpa: we have a new autopilot development

    Press corps: what is it?

    ...

    1. Alister

      Re: Darpa: we have a new autopilot development

      Press corps: what is it?

      It's a group of journalists or correspondents invited to attend an important event, but that's not important right now.

  5. I ain't Spartacus Gold badge

    A warning from history

    Remember what happened in Airplane II - which should warn us to be cautious.

    Also, will this autopilot be capable of smoking a cigarette? Very important part of crew-interaction that...

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Go

    Bon Voyage

    "The human pilot would be continuously informed through an intuitive interface of which actions the automation is executing, and take back control if so desired.“

    Scene from the cockpit after ten hours in flight:

    "I'm turning left to 225 degrees."

    "I'm turning right to 227 degrees."

    "I'm turning left to 225 degrees."

    "I detect the cockpit door is unsealed."

    "I'm falling into the sea..."

  7. ecofeco Silver badge

    Will it have the manual inflation tube?

    Asking for a friend.

  8. yce

    I thought I already had a robotic co-pilot. It's called an "autopilot." Linked to the FMS it'll fly the whole damn route from wheels up to touchdown (if appropriately rated).

    I've been keeping an eye out for an "Otto" for my plane- I'd love to have him sitting in it when it's in the hangar.

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