“US start-up Merlin, which has for several years been flying conventional aircraft modified for autonomous operations, is rolling out a new autonomy system intended for various types of large commercial aircraft, starting with cargo types.

The company on 14 May revealed ‘Merlin Pilot for Commercial Cargo’, a technology Merlin says incorporates AI, will handle all phases of flight and can improve aviation safety by preventing human-related accidents. The system can also enable “augmented operations”, allowing for a single pilot to be alone in the cockpit of aircraft typically operated by two pilots.

‘Merlin Pilot works alongside pilots in real-time to extend crew capabilities and scale operations beyond the limits of the traditional model,’ the company says. ‘Integrating into existing and new cargo aircraft, Merlin Pilot is designed to provide operators a practical pathway to autonomy.’

Merlin, based in Boston, envisions its technology as compatible with multiple aircraft types, including Airbus and Boeing commercial jets and a variety of military designs.”

From FlightGlobal.