Future of Unmanned Commercial Airline - Research Paper Example

FUTURE OF UNMANNED COMMERCIAL AIRLINE The debate and discussion of how much should humans automateoperations continue to gain momentum each day as is fueled by technological advancement. Technology has had great use in the past and has been exploited for the benefit of human beings in virtually all aspects of living. Nevertheless, one field that is gaining more attention in matters of automation and use of mechanized systems as against human beings is the field of air travel. Research shows that over years, automated systems like drones have been in use for such uses as aerial photography, military operations, and research and data collection as well as for exploration among other uses (Manjeet, 2005). Commercialization of technology is however revolutionizing the uses into which this technology has been used in the past with prospects being exploited of using the technology for commercial air flights. This forms the basis of this analysis as to how willing human beings are to adopt the unmanned aircrafts for travelling and such other commercial purposes. People differ in matters of attitude as is psychologically influenced while deciding whether or not to board a pilotless plane. This however have absolute effects on the future of this technology use is concerned. It is however to be appreciated that although majority of the people would decline to board the plane, a few would still appreciate using it citing particular benefits. However, a common ground in this analysis is that more development in the technology is required in order to have the technology introduced into and appreciated the commercial civilian aviation. Introduction Changing times and advancement of technological are having an impact of barely all aspects of human life. One such technology is in use of computerized remote controlled appliances and which has been in use while operating military drones instead of having human pilots controlling them. The use of unmanned aircrafts for military operations or for cargo freights have been widely appreciated and adopted by freight companies in the recent past. However, the thought of having commercial airliners adopt he technology and have commercial freights manned from central stations through remote control systems has triggered many reactions among many people. While to some people the idea is great and very welcome, some others may have very different opinions and attitudes towards the technology. One would therefore be interested in understanding whether people would agree to board an unmanned commercial airfreight? What would be the people’s thought towards the same and the most likely outcome towards this new development in the future of the aviation industry in general as influenced by the people’s reactions? Analysis While the discussion on having unmanned aircrafts operating for commercial purposes may be heated and endless at least for the time, we must first appreciate the diverse uses in which the idea and technology has been put into in the past. The military operations, for instance, have been one area in which use of the technology has been put. Military drones represent the use of unmanned technology and they have been in use for combat missions. Besides, drones have been used over years for collection of information and search operations, research purposes and for aerial filming among other uses. Among other benefits that have been associated in operations of pilotless aircrafts has been the costs implication by having no pilots to pay and the capacity to fly over long periods, which is a limitation with human beings. Besides, the risk of losing human life in the event of accidents and counter attack by enemies in the military operations is minimized by using the drones, which are remote controlled. There is also the use of the unmanned crafts in exploration such as is used in spaceships and this is being explored for transporting human beings and cargo. However, this new development is relatively new in civilian freights and this explains the mixed reactions that stem from this. While similar benefits would be pointed out in regard to operations of unmanned civilian freights, ethical considerations as well as general operation competences would need to be considered (Johansson, 2011). Arguments in against: Basic arguments would be that many people would not board pilotless aircrafts due to a number f reasons. First, a sober person would reason that the operations of the unmanned aircraft would not occur within a vacuum and as such, the operations would deal with other aircrafts and would have to settle with air traffic systems for control. As a matter of fact, the current system controls were initially designed to work around human pilots and as such no controller would talk to the computerized system controlling the aircraft. Human responses and judgments have been very important in the rational human controlled system of aircraft operations. There is therefore the perceived incompetence of the computerized system to react to emergency situations as against how human beings would be able to react and maneuver. People would therefore point out lack of confidence with system response to emergencies as one main factor to hinder them from boarding a commercial freight without a pilot as illustrated: (retrieved from: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.priv.gc.ca%2Finformation%2Fpor-rop%2F2013%2Fimages%2Ffig34_e.png&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.priv.gc.ca%2Finformation%2Fpor-rop%2F2013%2Fpor_2013_01_e.asp&h=720&w=960&tbnid=ue_Le7lPODLy6M%3A&zoom=1&docid=ou74Vay1UtCl3M&ei=irG2U4fYFYbQ7Ab33IDICQ&tbm=isch&ved=0CCMQMygFMAU&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=9364&page=1&start=0&ndsp=15) Another reason that would support failure of people to board commercial unmanned planes would be that pilots are often entrusted with the responsibility of making informed decisions in detecting oncoming planes and therefore avoid the probable collisions. It is one of the ground rules that every pilot should be alert always and in the event that he/she detects another craft on the way, then he/she is supposed to move from its way in order to avoid collision. However, according to the fears associated, a machine would fail to recognize or make the decision on how best to avoid a possible collision and this would be detrimental to the passengers on board. Moreover, the time taken for response by human operator outside the plane and the transmission of signal by remote systems may be too long to have any effect in avoiding the collision. This therefore equally supports much of the fear that unmanned aircrafts are more risky to travel in than manned ones. There is a common perception with people (although unsupported) that aircrafts operated by human beings are much safer to travel in than such other mechanically operated ones. Rationality in human psychology may have people put more confidence in human competence than technological competence. This therefore would explain the fear that people would have while boarding a pilotless aircraft despite the already widespread fact that the future in automation is great (Wallace, 2013). While a person may easily entrust computerized systems for commercial transactions like in banking and trade, few people would have full trust in remote control systems and their lives. This is because, some of the automated transactions can be easily rectified in case an error occurs but this would hardly be the case with an error occurring through unmanned piloting. One thing is certain that death is irreversible and therefore, no sane person would be willing to gamble about with own life. The fear of death and fatality in instances of system failures would be pointed out as major factors explaining the feeling of people that all other kinds of air operations can be entrusted to unmanned aircraft operations but not the transport of human beings. Many people have the perception that a human (pilot) voice is more assuring in times of emergencies than would be system auto responses that would inform the system failure however much the two maybe result to deaths or fatalities. Reasons in support of unmanned planes for commercial purposes: On the other hand, those in support of the development and those who would be willing to board such a freight without a pilot would reason that computerized systems would even be safer and reliable than human beings (pilots) who would be overcome with such limitations as fatigue and lack of concentration to cause fatalities. In fact, the argument would be supported by the fact that many aircraft accidents and misfortunes are often associated with human error either in mechanical responsibilities or flying (competence) responsibilities. Good technology would have system defects identified on time to allow system repairs and also minimize resultant effects of human weaknesses like in loss of concentration. However, even for those who would support the development, proper planning and effective operation systems are prerequisite to having ease of control and interaction of the unmanned aircrafts with the manned aircrafts as they would share the control systems (Wilson, 2007). In fact, this forms the main basis for futuristic thinking because, just as the pilot operated systems were developed and infrastructures designed, there is the potential in developing the new technology and having all such support in place and therefore ensures efficiency and effectiveness in using the unmanned planes for civilian freights (Heilman, 2013). One already appreciates that too much automation of commercial frights have seen a reduction of human beings in the cockpit form as many as five to just two; the pilot and his/her co pilot (Croft, 2010). Automation has also contributed to too much simplification of these people’s work and this trend makes many of us believe that the use of unmanned planes for commercial purposes will ultimately come about. Nevertheless, critics raise the question of when should this be and what preparation would have been done in order to appreciate the technology fearlessly as is the case with the manned flights. Much of research and investment in technology would be required before the system that would have the unmanned crafts being used commercially for passenger freights is needed and this would boost right attitudes in human beings. However, if the technology of unmanned planes was to be introduced currently, then bad attitudes by people would lead to great losses by commercial freight operators through losing customers to the common manned air travel service providers (Pasztor, 2012). Conclusion There is therefore an ongoing discussion on whether people would be willing to embrace the unmanned planes and agree to travel in whereas there are still the manned ones. Human psychology would restrict many to embrace this technology because of fears and uncertainties that are always associated with new technology. However, even with such fears, facts show that the technology may have been successful in other aspects like in military operations, filming industry, research and exploration missions as well as space tours among others. Nevertheless, uncertainty reigns among the people on how much one would entrust his/her life to a computerized remote system, which would not likely evade accidents as human beings would through the power of reason. Although the progress of technological advancement projects to the ultimate use of this technology in commercial purposes, much requires being done before the technology would be effective. Majority of the people would require more assurance and conviction of their safety while using this type of unmanned air travel especially on matters pertaining to emergency reaction, which is the main issue of controversy. The analysis therefore finds that the current technology is not yet ready for such great exploration and this is shown by unwillingness of people to use the technology. Recommendations: More research should be carried in the technology in order to establish most appropriate systems that can be embraced to have the unmanned systems operate harmoniously with the manned systems as have been most appreciated currently. Moreover, public awareness and campaigns on the increased efficiency and the assurance of safety while travelling through the unmanned planes would enable majority change the perceptions and bad attitudes towards the technology as it is. Appendix Fig 1: conventional design of an unmanned aircraft or drone Fig 2: controller design of unmanned aircraft or drone Fig 3: comfort in use of unmanned aircrafts by passengers References Croft, J. (2010). Unmanned tests may result in single-pilot cargo crews. Flight International, 177, 13.  Heilman, W. (2013). Study: Unmanned aircraft industry will boom. McClatchy - Tribune Business News Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1327764170?accountid=45049 Johansson, L. (2011). Is it morally right to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in war? Philosophy & Technology, 24(3), 279-291. Manjeet, S. P. (2005). Unmanned aerial Vehicles/Unmanned combat aerial vehicles: Likely missions and challenges for the policy-relevant future. Air & Space Power Journal, 19(3), 45-54,127. Pasztor, A. (2012). U.S. skies could see more drones; FAA bill sets deadlines to speed up use of unmanned planes nationwide. Wall Street Journal (Online) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/919710564?accountid=45049 Wallace, B. (2013). State aims to become test site for unmanned aerial vehicles. The Enterprise, 42(31), 1. Wilson, J. R. (2007). Manned and unmanned aircraft to share controlled and commercial airspace. Military & Aerospace Electronics, 18(1), 24-31. Read More