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Air Force

Air Force’s ROBOPilot Demonstrator Platform Damaged in Accident

By Vivienne Machi

Tuesday, August 27th, 2019

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Air Force’s ROBOPilot Demonstrator Platform Damaged in Accident

A 1968 Cessna 206 with ROBOpilot installed preparing for engine start on the runway at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. (Courtesy photo)

An Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) demonstrator meant to support future optionally manned piloted aircraft was damaged during an experimentation mission Aug. 22, the laboratory said Aug. 23. The Robotic Pilot Unmanned Conversion Program, called ROBOpilot, could eventually help convert a manned aircraft into a robotically piloted aircraft and back by temporarily installing the program’s frame where the human pilot’s seat would be. The incident occurred at approximately 1 p.m. Mountain time at Michael Army Airfield on Dugway Proving Ground,…

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