A robot has been tested as a plane pilot

BII

This story was delivered to BI Intelligence IoT Briefing subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here.

A recent demonstration tested the use of a robot in helping to fly a plane, reports The Associated Press.

The demonstration was conducted by the Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS), which is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). ALIAS' eventual goal is to replace human pilots in planes, but currently it's simply exploring the use of a robot as the second pilot in flights.

The robot in the demonstration was armed with an array of cameras that enabled it to read the gauges and cockpit instructions. It was able to recognize when switches were in the correct position, and change them if necessary. The robot carries data on thousands of previous accidents and flights, meaning that it has the equivalent of 600,000 hours of human flying experience. Further, it reacts faster than a human to in-flight emergency situations, and is able to quickly pull up emergency protocols.

In-flight robots could lessen the workload on human pilots. Due to a shortage of well-qualified pilots, airlines often force them to work long hours. This can lead to mistakes made by pilots who are tired or not fully attentive, such as a 2015 incident in which an American Airlines flight had to be diverted to make an emergency stop in Chicago because the pilot needed sleep. Replacing overworked pilots could make routine operations of flights safer and more efficient.

However, robots will not replace human pilots anytime soon. ALIAS notes that elements of its technology can be adopted by airlines over the next five years, but Dan Patt, a program manager at DARPA, said he thinks that completely replacing human pilots is still several decades away. Further, once the technology becomes available, it could face pushback from pilots unions that seek to protect the jobs of their members.

Businesses throughout the world are increasingly using robots to automate portions of their workflow.

Traditionally, robots have been used primarily in manufacturing. But other industries including healthcare, shipping and logistics, food services, retail, hospitality, and more are starting to also use robots. For example, hospitals are using robots to assist in surgery, retail stores are testing robots to take inventory, and warehouses are using robots help sort packages.

John Greenough, senior research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on enterprise robotics that examines the rising use of robots across many industries. It examines top use cases, market leaders, growth drivers, potential for workforce automation, the top barriers, and includes market forecasts on shipments and investment in robots between 2015-2021. 

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• We expect enterprise robotic shipments to nearly triple between 2015-2021.
• Manufacturing will continue to be the top adopter of robots. A recent Boston Consulting Group (BCG) survey found 44% of US manufacturers and 66% of German manufacturers plan to install autonomous robots and assistance systems within the next five years.
• Rising wages around the world is just one of the key reasons enterprises are beginning to leverage robotics.
• Robots have the potential to displace jobs, meaning that while they might take some more labor intensive jobs they have the potential to create new jobs for working on robots.

In full, the report:

• Forecasts enterprise robotic shipments
• Identifies market leaders
• Discusses economic conditions leading to the rise of robots
• Examines the advantages of using robots
• Identifies five of the top barriers preventing robot adoption

Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

1. Subscribe to an All-Access pass to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
2. Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the fast-moving world of robotics.