Pilotless future

Pilotless_Future.html

Unmanned Aerial Rotorcraft (UAR)

The helicopter likely has the highest power to passenger-mile of any vehicle. The weight of the pilot plus his seat, controls, door, and windows etc. add to the gross weight of the craft. The cost of oil and the pollution caused by carbon based fuels will drive the development toward electric rotorcraft. Computers, electronics, remote control and artificial intelligence are rapidly improving.

Another advantage that small UARs have is that their fuselage can be designed with aerodynamics being the primary consideration (lifting body). This will improve the speed and/or the range of the craft.

It is therefore inevitable that the pilot(s) will be eventually removed from rotorcraft and the craft be flown by computers, supported by land based pilots.

VTOL craft for In-flight Activities:

Land-based pilots can control small helicopters, which are performing in-flight activities.

Alternatively, consider the following;

STOL airplanes may be best for high-speed flight to and from areas where low-speed loitering (surveillance etc.) is required.

Powered gliders may be best for medium-speed flight to and from areas where extended low-speed loitering (surveillance etc.) is required.

Helicopters may be best for medium-speed flight to and from confined areas where airborne fixed-position hovering and/or temporary parked surveillance is required. See; Fractional-scale Usage and Full-scale Usage

Balloons and dirigibles may be best for slow-speed or no-speed flight to and from stationary airborne loitering.

VTOL craft for Transportation:

Larger helicopter, which are used for transportation, will be able to increase the number of passengers by one or two, increase the amount of cargo carried, or increase the endurance of the craft.

Electric power and electronic control are symbiotic and they will be developed outside of the rotorcraft industry. The only addition is a much-improved L/D ratio, and this is the responsibility of the rotorcraft industry.