German-based Aviotech announced last week it has completed the first phase of flight testing on its Cirrus SR22-based unmanned aerial system (UAS) demonstrator. Associated with the University of Stuttgart, Aviotech is targeting type certification for the Cirrus-based UAS.
These do amuse me. They replace a single pilot in the aircraft with a team of people on the ground.
Yes, and their work should be concentrated on the landing phase.
The take off and flying to target has been done in Ukraine in record time, although probably not certified…
It’s the new definition of progress, don’t you know?
Old news… Leading the trailing edge of technology. Move along… nothing new to see here. Britain’s Aerial Target, a small radio-controlled aircraft, was first tested in March 1917 while the American aerial torpedo known as the Kettering Bug first flew in October 1918.
Don’t overlook the potential benefits of increasing the payload carrying capacity of these aircraft by approximately one SHREK (Standard Human Reference Estimated Kilograms) plus clothing and flight bag.
Mark, I’m curious to know what the company is planning to do with this technology, so is there a scalable commercial market for UAS? If so did they share any estimates on market size or the economics for this new industry? I could see applications for utilities surveillance, maybe short haul low volume cargo, but is there more?
I first did this in 1985 with my Sig Kadet MKll.
Great for flight instructors that want to work from home.
I was also curious about the business plan for this tech. Aviotech’s website refers to this as the “RPAS23-CP project” and explains that “RPAS23-CP is a research project funded by BMWI as part of LuFo.” I believe BMWi is a German economic ministry and LuFo is an aeronautical research program.
A google search revealed this website: RPAS23-CP | Institute of Aircraft Systems | University of Stuttgart
From that document: Project goal… “European ATM Master Plan: Roadmap for the safe integration of drones into all classes of airspace”. It goes on to further explain, “…it is planned to have an aircraft of the CS23 class operate unmanned under IFR in open airspace - i.e. also without a safety pilot.”
So, based on my quick google search and some tenuous assumptions, this appears to me to be a German government funded test bed working toward certified pilotless, autonomous operations within the European aviation system and infrastructure using traditional style airframes.
Only the military or their contractors would have use for such an automated system; probably in war zones so pilots are not killed. The automated system would likely have to dodge missiles, bullets, and other flying objects. Do you think dodging objects is designed into this system?
Should win an RC scale contest hands down. 100% scale foam and glass airplane. Little hard to transport to the RC field though.
I am unsure where un-manned airplanes will be useful. By carrying passengers it becomes “un-piloted” but now is “manned”. I don’t want an AI guided un-piloted manned airplanes flying in our airspace.
It could be outfitted as a military drone, adding another method of death, destruction, and mayhem to all of our other death, destruction, and mayhem aerial machines roaming other folks airspace.
On a brighter note a RC Cirrus drone would be the prettiest, and best finished death, destruction, and mayhem aerial machine anyone could ever see, making China look good at the next military expo, plus be fraction of the cost of Reaper or Predator. Who sez we cannot get along with China? Aviation folks are pretty happy with Cirrus, Diamond, and Continental products. An RC Cirrus is just another gesture of modeling good will.
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