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It’s actually harder to do nothing and just watch things, it’s its own special kind of fatigue. I wouldn’t be surprised if this doesn’t happen more often.
First question - how do we tie this to Boeing? (A joke, of course) Second, interesting to note planes don’t have deadman switches.
> deadman switches Seems like they could address this by just changing procedures. If one pilot wants to take a nap, require a third crew member to come sit in the cockpit and make sure the other pilot doesn't doze off. When two pilots are awake, they can monitor each other, but if one is (intentionally) asleep, they can't do that, so have someone take over that function.
Can someone explain to me why we still need pilots? Could we at least have pilots serve as a backup to a fully autonomous system?
This is such an “armchair expert” take on this. Planes are not fully autonomous. They will not be for a very long time due to the regulatory environment aviation is entrenched in.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's not impossible, but the pilots' limbs are already largely "spoken for" by other controls and tasks, so it would be a harsh tradeoff.
If other controls are being actively engaged by the pilot, the need for the button press would be delayed only until there's some continuous period of non-engagement.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> deadman switches Seems like they could address this by just changing procedures. If one pilot wants to take a nap, require a third crew member to come sit in the cockpit and make sure the other pilot doesn't doze off. When two pilots are awake, they can monitor each other, but if one is (intentionally) asleep, they can't do that, so have someone take over that function.
But you’ll need a fourth person to watch in case all three fall asleep.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Unlike trains, there isn't one action that is basically always safe (stop the train). A dead man switch activating at the wrong time, could itself cause an accident.
That’s true, but there are plenty of other options. For example, a dead-man switch could: Send an alert via transponders that it has been activated. Maintain level flight but avoid terrain. (After a waiting period in which a pilot can deactivate this feature.) Or descend to a safe altitude if cabin pressure is lost. Activate a mode in which the plane could be remotely flown or directed to land itself. Alert flight cr…
Can someone explain to me why we still need pilots? Could we at least have pilots serve as a backup to a fully autonomous system?
It’s actually harder to do nothing and just watch things, it’s its own special kind of fatigue. I wouldn’t be surprised if this doesn’t happen more often.
For context, I was a private yacht chef for 7 years. On long legs of a trip I had to hold watch at the helm for 3 or 4 hour shifts while everyone else rested for their watch. Staying awake while using auto pilot was a special type of mental anguish.
It’s actually harder to do nothing and just watch things, it’s its own special kind of fatigue. I wouldn’t be surprised if this doesn’t happen more often.
One of the reasons the current "Self Driving" cars kinda suck. Majority of the time you're just not doing anything, but still have to be 100% attentive.
But in those moments where I'm trying to find the UI for adjusting some climate setting, and I don't have my eyes on the road, that's when the self-driving is useful.
Maybe technology creates its own problems. To be fair, the radar cruise control is nice for long drives.
anyway, everyone woke up (reason for sleep never identified, afaik - i suspect hangovers)
this would be mid-60s.