Airbus working on pilot assistance tech based on dragonfly spatial awareness

Airbus UpNext, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus, has started testing and demonstrating technologies for a new on-ground and in-flight pilot assistance platform. Known as DragonFly and described as mimicking the surroundings-recognition capabilities of the eponymous insect, the technologies include automated emergency diversion in cruise, automatic landing and taxi assistance and are aimed at evaluating the feasibility and pertinence of further exploring autonomous flight systems in support of safer and more efficient operations, Airbus said. “These tests are one of several steps in the methodical research of technologies to further enhance operations and improve safety,” said Isabelle Lacaze, head of DragonFly