After the possibility of double-decker seats replacing conventional ones, the airline industry might incorporate another major innovation. A new test conducted by Airbus seems to be the game-changer in the future of flight travel. The European aerospace company has successfully conducted take-offs and landings for planes on autopilot, without the assistance of a pilot.
Airplane To Have Exterior Cameras
Airbus’ project, titled Autonomous Taxi, Take-Off and Landing (ATTOL) began in 2018. The company chose its A350-1000 XWB carrier to fly autonomously, using ‘image recognition technology’. This allowed the plane to essentially see through a given a pair of eyes. With the help of exterior cameras, it could operate autonomously. The plane could also successfully perform complicated manoeuvres, apart from taxiing, taking off and landing. Meanwhile, the Airbus-operated Emirates’ A380, made a comeback earlier this July.
Airbus concludes ATTOL with fully autonomous flight tests.
Read our press release: https://t.co/4bg0ED1RZZ pic.twitter.com/iPvXTdiWey— Airbus PRESS (@AirbusPRESS) June 29, 2020
Passengers will also be able to see their planes take off and land, as a part of in-flight entertainment services, with the help of cameras installed on the plane.
Also Read: Aircrafts Will Soon Have Inflight Mobile Services
A Total Of Thirty Successful Landings Observed
In all, 500 test flights were conducted. Out of these, 450 flight trials were used for gathering raw data to fine-tune the algorithms. A total of thirty autonomous take offs and landings across six flights sealed the deal. The idea behind these tests is to enable the pilots focus more on strategic decision making, while the autonomous technology takes care of a flight’s operations. This also includes correcting a plane’s heading, when factors like wind and temperature affect its take off.
Also Read: Etihad Trials ‘Contactless’ Technology At Check-In
Airbus’ Innovations In The Aviation Sector
Airbus has consistently introduced innovations in the aviation sector. In 2010, it developed the first all-electric commercial aircraft. The zero-emission carrier was a huge step towards the usage of cleaner technology in aerospace. Apart from this, the company has also worked on delivering the best interior designs in its planes, like reclining seats, USB ports, and In-Flight-Entertainment (IFE) systems. India-based Vistara received its first Airbus A321neo flight with flat beds on July 24. It is the first South Asian airline to have seats that fully recline into flat beds.
Meanwhile, if you’re a first-time international flyer, check out this guide on how to make your experience seamless:
With Airbus being a popular carrier for many airlines, this test could certainly change the way we perceive flight travel.