Kikuchiyo

From the article:

Piasecki Aircraft Corp. and Carnegie Mellon University have developed and successfully flight-tested a navigation/sensor system that enables full-size, autonomous helicopters to fly at low altitude while avoiding obstacles; to evaluate and select suitable landing sites in unmapped terrain; and to land safely using a self-generated approach path. Autonomous flight at low altitude and landing zone evaluation/selection is an unprecedented feat with a full-size helicopter. This technology has been developed to allow future unmanned helicopters to evacuate wounded soldiers from contaminated or active battlefields and to resupply military bases in combat zones. The technology is also applicable as a pilot aid to help both military and civilian pilots avoid obstacles, such as power lines, and select landing sites in areas such as emergency scenes, even when operating in low-light or low-visibility conditions.

Unprecedented RoboChopper - Carnegie Mellon University

Flyinhawaiian

I ain't getting on it

1Seat 1Engine

Unless you're wounded...

Grumble

True statement, but what are the odds the thing wouldn't run into a mud hut in the 'stan in the middle of an active fire fight. Way to complicated of an enviroment to pull something like this off.

Dubes

Agreed. This whole autonomous aircarft deal that's been going on lately is leaving a bad taste over here.. Its great to see technology move forward, but I don't think this is the right direction. Don't get me wrong, I think it's safe to say most pilots will have some sort of bias against a machine taking their job, but this seems a little too dangerous in my book. I can understand surveillance, but replacing humans with machines to help ground just doesn't make sense to me. Like Grumble said, sending autonomous aircraft into a hazardous zone doesn't sound very safe.