Airbus Tests Autonomous Flight Diversions, Taxiway Support

The aircraft maker's DragonFly technology could enable automated diversions in response to medical emergencies and improve safety at busy airports.

Airbus UpNext fitted three external cameras to an A350-1000 for flight testing. — For its DragonFly project, Airbus UpNext has fit three external cameras to an A350-1000 for flight testing. (Image: Airbus)

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

January 12, 2023

Airbus UpNext is accelerating work on autonomous flight systems aimed at improving operational safety and efficiency. Using an A350-1000 widebody airliner, the Airbus research and development division will now conduct further flight testing mainly focused on automatic flight diversion and landing in the event of an emergency and assistance for pilots in navigating very complex taxiways at the busiest airports.

In a January 12 media briefing on the DragonFly project, which started initial flight testing in July 2022, Airbus UpNext explained that work continuing this year will deal with tasks such as maturing the computer vision algorithms needed to support the landing and taxi assistance processes. Project engineers fit the A350 with three external cameras just below the flight deck windscreen and are considering what sensors deployment on commercial airliners would need to achieve regulatory approval.

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