A fully autonomous passenger plane may not be that far off in the future.

The autonomous flight concept is becoming increasingly appealing to the aviation sector. Artificial Intelligence and control systems are achieving great levels of accuracy and learning, as well as the most alluring advantage in a market-driven economy: cost reductions. The strategy implemented by Merlin Labs exemplifies the advancements in this field. This company has been using this type of artifact since 2018 to demonstrate how robots can collaborate, first with transporting certain products without the need for a pilot and second as a means of transporting humans. However, each concept is suggested inside the project as a short- and long-term strategy.

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The firm struck a deal with Dynamic Aviation, a US aircraft provider, about the option to acquire 46 King Air aircraft powered by twin turbojets. This endeavor has been backed by Merlin Labs' recent history, noting that the firm has received up to $25 million in financing from organizations such as Google Ventures, allowing it to improve its technology.

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According to the company, the hardware and software can be adjusted to any aircraft, as demonstrated in many test flights with three distinct aircraft. The experiments lasted between 10 minutes and many hours in the air. Although the planes have flown autonomously in the past, there has always been a safety pilot who would intervene if something went wrong with the aircraft's autonomous system; this will be eliminated in the future.

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Regarding the attempt to deliver items using autonomous aircraft, Merlin has stated that it hopes to begin this project in the next months to assist businesses, particularly in California, who were unable to meet order deadlines due to the epidemic. Although the health crisis contributed to the growth of internet shopping, it has also created delays in the delivery of some items.

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Boeing believes it is only a matter of time until the industry and society embrace the technology, but not immediately. "Eventually, every aircraft will be autonomous," said Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun on Bloomberg TV. "The future of autonomy is real for civil aviation."

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Meanwhile, Airbus has been testing its DragonFly suite of sophisticated autonomous flight technologies. The UpNext DragonFly prototype is inspired by the Dragonfly's eyesight and clever flying skills. DragonFly has reportedly reached the last three months of its testing phase, which will evaluate its flightpath capabilities, automated landing technology, and pilot aid technology.

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The vision of Dragonfly is far superior to a human. Airbus has developed a system that combines sensors, computer vision algorithms, and robust guiding calculations to facilitate landings in limited visibility or adverse weather circumstances. These advances prepare the way for an autonomous landing (if necessary) or can be tailored to the pilot's flying talents to relieve them of additional tasks in an emergency or urgent scenario. DragonFly's advancements might enable the aircraft to land at any airport in the globe, regardless of whether it is equipped with the current ground equipment technologies used for automated landing.

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Mobility in urban airspace is one of the primary uses of autonomous aircraft. In megacities, this type of automated mobility might reduce traffic and enhance safety. Wisk Aero unveiled the world's first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) four-passenger air taxi in the fall of 2022. Generation 6 is the FAA's initial contender for type certification of an autonomous eVTOL and serves as Wisk's market-ready aircraft. Wisk Aero is a pioneer in autonomous electric flights and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) leader.

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Generation 6 is the most sophisticated air taxi in the world, combining industry-leading autonomous technology and software, human monitoring of every trip, and an overall streamlined design to provide one of the safest passenger transport systems in commercial aviation.

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Two aircraft industry giants, The Boeing Company and Kitty Hawk Corporation support Wisk. In addition, Wisk has a competitive edge because of its strategic alliance with Boeing, which leverages Boeing's 100+ years of experience in aircraft development, scale production, and certification. In addition, Boeing's eVTOL and autonomous engineering resources contribute to the development of Wisk. With this airplane, Wisk will revolutionize traditional flying principles and usher in a safer, more scalable, and more accessible era of aviation. The newest aircraft from Wisk will revolutionize the air taxi sector and the future of travel.

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