BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - Navy Completes Shipboard Testing of Full Sized Drone Helicopter

Mr. Luddite

On 12/25/2014 4:00 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 25 Dec 2014 14:48:13 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 12/25/2014 1:52 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 25 Dec 2014 12:24:32 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

http://www.livescience.com/49259-navy-helicopter-drone-tests.html

I doubt these will be man rated any time soon but for cargo or as a
weapons platform they look very promising.
Of course, if being overrun and killed or going for a ride on a drone
are the options I think I would take my chances with the drone, man
rated or not.

I do wonder if they use some kind of beacon on the deck of the ship to
assist landing, maybe IR or some other, fairly low range and focused
beam.

I don't think they are ever intended to be man rated. Sorta blows the
whole concept.

I was just going on what the article said

"U.S. defense contractors are also working on several other variants
of pilotless helicopters, including an unmanned version of the iconic
Black Hawk helicopter, which could one day be used to deliver cargo —
and even troops — into battle. An unmanned medical transport
helicopter is also being developed, as well as vertical takeoff and
landing (VTOL) drones that combine the hovering capabilities of a
helicopter with the speed of an airplane."

I think the future of military aircraft will include many unmanned
variants. Heck, unmanned Naval vessels and robotic infantry are already
being developed.