A Drone Helicopter That Can Land On a Moving Truck

Posted by timothy on Sunday November 20, 2011 @11:12PM from the perfect-for-the-next-terminator-movie dept.

garymortimer writes with a story (the accompanying video is worth watching) of an unmanned helicopter than can automatically land on a moving surface. Though it's shown landing on a bed of a moving truck, the real purpose is for sea-based use: "This automatic system for take-off, landing and deck-landing of UAVs is the fruit of the joint expertise of Thales and DCNS. Thales is responsible for the positioning system and its interface with the UAV system, the supply of a UAV demonstrator system and slaving of the flight path along a trajectory. DCNS is responsible for predicting the vessel motions, the harpoon system as well as the interface and integration with the vessel."

1 of 60 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Re:Impressive by 1s44c · 2011-11-21 00:27 · Score: 4, Informative

Impressive but still by far not as good as an experienced human pilot.
Humans have annoying requirements like food, water, and sleep. You can't build experienced human pilots in a factory. Machines are easiler to replace and don't mind if you send them on suicide missions.