Robotics Achieves Milestone with Fully Automated Cargo Plane Flight

California-based automation systems company Reliable Robotics achieved a significant milestone in automated aviation as a Cessna 208B Caravan completed a 50-mile flight route without a human on board. The 12-minute flight, controlled remotely by a human pilot from a ground-based control center, showcased the company’s automated flight system designed to prevent mid-flight control loss and enhance safety during take-off and landing.

The pilot communicated with the aircraft through encrypted satellite signals using an interface similar to those of air traffic controllers. Reliable Robotics emphasizes that the system, developed since 2019, is not a replacement for human pilots and aims to address the current pilot shortage by streamlining operations and allowing pilots to work from a centralized location. The company is also collaborating with the US military to apply the technology to larger aircraft.