Artificial Intelligence For Beginners

AI, Aviation, and Human Destiny

- Thomas Atwood

Today, although largely behind the scenes, airborne machines are learning all the time, and this is burgeoning AI. Machine learning has been used by biologists in aerial surveys of forests and crops. Down next to the tarmac, robot lawn mowers map their work areas and actually learn to avoid obstacles—and they get smarter each time they tidy up the local airport or grass glider field. Are these machines truly “smart”? Not really, although many can “see” with infrared vision and seem very efficient. These drones operate according to a set of programmed rules, much like the autopilots in an airliner.

Another category of AI on the rise is what geeks call “neural networks.” These are nothing more than large collections of computer microchips engaged in what computer aficionados refer to as “parallel processing.” The largest employ millions of components and, although tiny in size, can recognize faces and even pilot chatter. Neural networks are being developed that will recognize the patterns in human piloting during landings and takeoffs, with the goal of making autopilots even smarter.