A team of researchers in South Korea has created a humanoid robot capable of piloting an airplane. They baptized him with the name of Pibot and combines robotics with the artificial intelligence of ChatGPT. It’s still in development, but its creators say its capabilities could even surpass the dexterity of a human pilot.
The project is run by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Pibot measures about 160 centimeters tall and weighs 65 kilograms. He has two arms and a full set of fingers, much like a human, allowing him to maneuver the controls without issue.
Its size makes it possible for it to sit in a real airplane cockpit, without the need to modify any part of the aircraft. The institute highlights that this is a fundamental difference, which distinguishes this robot from the functions of an autopilot or drone technology.
“The human form may not be super efficient, but we designed Pibot humanoid in shape because all things are designed for humans,” David Shim, associate professor of electrical engineering at KAIST, explained to euronews.
It is equipped with cameras, which help you monitor the status of the aircraft and interact with the control panel. Its fingers and arms use high-precision technology to ensure it can maneuver even during severe turbulence.
The pilot robot relies on ChatGPT
Pibot takes advantage of ChatGPT technology to memorize complex manuals presented in natural language. The memory of the pilot robot It is so big that it can memorize all of Jeppesen’s charts.something impossible for human pilots.
A human pilot is capable of flying various types of aircraft, but needs to be trained, certified, and used to change. “With the pilot robot, you will be able to fly a plane just by clicking on the type of plane,” Shim said. Pibot also has a synthesized voice to communicate with other pilots and air traffic controllers. I mean, he could serve as a pilot or first officer.
Those responsible comment that it can respond to unforeseen situations faster than a human. It is designed to, for example, calculate safe routes in real time based on the flight status.
KAIST scientists are developing their own language model to replace the use of ChatGPT. The idea is that it only manages piloting information, in addition to not depending on the internet connection.
The pilot robot is already capable of performing all operations in flight simulators. From starting the plane, to taxiing, takeoff and landing. The developers hope to put it to the test soon in a real plane. They estimate that it will be ready by 2026 and that it could also be used to drive cars, tanks or boats.