11–20 of 74 posts
A pilot would only eject if the aircraft was uncontrollable with no reasonable hope for recovery. Unlikely the autopilot can do anything deliberate at that point.
Yes, but the autopilot should have some kind of contingency programming in case the pilot is mistaken about the aircraft being unflyable.
I think the most proper thing for the jet should be to destroy itself. In a war enviornment I would not like my enemy to gain intel about my military jets.
Not my wheelhouse, but doesn't that involve packing the aircraft with explosives, and wouldn't that involve risk of blowing up if someone else shoots you? Or is there some better way to self-destruct?
I think the most proper thing for the jet should be to destroy itself. In a war enviornment I would not like my enemy to gain intel about my military jets.
Even if mechanical, warplanes get combat damage, and having a system like that could make a difference between survivable and sure death.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, but the autopilot should have some kind of contingency programming in case the pilot is mistaken about the aircraft being unflyable.
If this was possible it would just be part of regular flight control laws and would be used to avoid becoming uncontrollable in the first place.
* starts broadcasting a mayday?
* crashes into the nearest large body of water?
* attempts to fly itself back to base (we have the technology)?
I mean, it has to do something and flying straight and level until it runs out of fuel is unlikely to be the optimal value of "something"
Why would it be controversial to say "Look, guys, we should decide what the plane does after the pilot ejects. Maybe the best policy is just flying same course and speed until fuel exhaustion, but we should choose this policy, not default into it without consideration."
It seems like the sensible thing to do would be to fry / erase any IFF and encryption related stuff, but otherwise continue as before. E.g, if it's already been programmed to fly straight and level, continue to do that. If it's deactivated, stay deactivated. Just seems like a whole 'nother set of characteristics to test otherwise, as well as adding extra unpredictability. The aircraft is probably damaged / on fire, s…
I think the most proper thing for the jet should be to destroy itself. In a war enviornment I would not like my enemy to gain intel about my military jets.
I think the most proper thing for the jet should be to destroy itself. In a war enviornment I would not like my enemy to gain intel about my military jets.
Would you go near a plane that's an electronic signal away from blowing itself up? Even if mechanical, warplanes get combat damage, and having a system like that could make a difference between survivable and sure death.
I think the most proper thing for the jet should be to destroy itself. In a war enviornment I would not like my enemy to gain intel about my military jets.
Not my wheelhouse, but doesn't that involve packing the aircraft with explosives, and wouldn't that involve risk of blowing up if someone else shoots you? Or is there some better way to self-destruct?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
If this was possible it would just be part of regular flight control laws and would be used to avoid becoming uncontrollable in the first place.
Huh? If I'm the human pilot, I can pull the ejection lever for multiple reasons, including my just being an idiot. The plane, after I eject, should do something reasonable. Maybe it * starts broadcasting a mayday? * crashes into the nearest large body of water? * attempts to fly itself back to base (we have the technology)? I mean, it has to do something and flying straight and level until it runs out of fuel is unli…
So while yes it's possible, it's unlikely, and the return on investment of making the plane able to do something like "return to base" in that circumstance would be a large negative number.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
If this was possible it would just be part of regular flight control laws and would be used to avoid becoming uncontrollable in the first place.
Huh? If I'm the human pilot, I can pull the ejection lever for multiple reasons, including my just being an idiot. The plane, after I eject, should do something reasonable. Maybe it * starts broadcasting a mayday? * crashes into the nearest large body of water? * attempts to fly itself back to base (we have the technology)? I mean, it has to do something and flying straight and level until it runs out of fuel is unli…