Aviation giant builds AI-powered unmanned concept aircraft

According to foreign media reports, British aerospace giant BAE Systems has developed a new "robot" fighter, which is larger than some unmanned fighters in appearance, can stay in the air for up to 24 hours, and can perform all-weather surveillance tasks. According to personnel, the "robot" is a new type of unmanned system when fighting. This technology can be developed and used in passenger aircraft in the future, and unmanned passenger aircraft can be derived. At present, BAE Aerospace Systems has approached the final stage of the research and development of the unmanned fighter system and will conduct new tests next year.

The Mantis drone is preparing for a test flight

New drone technology will be used in future commercial unmanned passenger aircraft

This new "robotic" combat system is named the Mantis UAV system. There is no cockpit and no pilot on the aircraft. BAE Aerospace Systems won the contract for the Mantis UAV system. If all goes according to plan, this unmanned fighter system with artificial intelligence will be put into use in the near future, which also means that there may be no manned fighter jets in the British sky after the F-35 fighter.

In 2013, BAE Aerospace Systems' Mantis UAV system will conduct its first flight test, and researchers want to use this to understand whether its subsystems are designed and working properly. In addition, BAE Aerospace Systems claims that this technology will be used for unmanned commercial airliners in the future, and passenger planes may be as convenient as today's unmanned trains. According to The Times, BAE Aerospace Systems' unmanned fighter system is a joint project between the UK Ministry of Defense and the French government, with a total value of approximately 40 million pounds.

Researchers at BAE Aerospace Systems believe that the unmanned fighter system will be mainly used for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, which has attracted great attention to the drone combat system. For example, it can perform "simple but dangerous" tasks to bomb targets of al-Qaeda. This is not a simple unmanned aircraft, but a "robotic" unmanned aerial vehicle with certain artificial intelligence, which can carry more diverse equipment and extensive search capabilities. The "Mantis" drone system can take on the surveillance missions of four helicopters, find its own targets and launch automatic missiles, and does not require the control of ground personnel, realizing primary artificial intelligence.

During the test, researchers expect the Mantis UAV system to fly a distance of 750 miles and an altitude of 15,000 feet over the Irish Sea. Researchers from BAE Aerospace Systems will install electronic eyes, or camera equipment, on it, which will allow researchers on the ground to observe the entire process of the flight experiment and understand what is happening on the aircraft. Ground researchers will remotely control the takeoff and landing of the Mantis UAV system, and infrared cameras are also installed on it to land in an emergency. The Mantis UAV system is expected to conduct 20 test flights next year, each lasting about three hours.

Once sufficient test flights are completed, the drone will be able to reach an altitude of 60,000 feet, monitor and decrypt targets through advanced equipment, and can also monitor mobile phone calls in the air. The "Mantis" drone system may have been shelved due to budget cuts in the UK Ministry of Defense, but the project is still ongoing. According to Chris Boardman, head of the military aircraft department of BAE Aerospace Systems, "We will move towards a more cost-effective direction. Signing the plan to build future unmanned fighters is an important contract. The drone system will become mature in production and operation within the next decade."