Future of Aircraft Flight Control System

Modern day aircraft use computerised flight control system which is totally digitalised. But today’s computerised flight control system mostly executes the command given by pilot! These computers makes pre-determined calculations to control the actuators.

Video Credits: Airbus

With successful autonomous take-off and landing being demonstrated. What does a future of flight control system look like? Are they going to totally rely on artificial Intelligence (AI)? or, are they just going to rely on pilot’s commands?

FYI (For Your Information), the most commonly known term in aviation, "Autopilot's" actual technical terminology is "Automatic Flight Control System." Lets look an existing Flight Control System.

Intelligent Flight Control System (IFCS)

An advanced flight control system known as “Intelligent Flight Control System (IFCS)” built under collaborative efforts of NASA and Boeing is one among the next generation technology.

The main objective of such system is to optimise aircraft performance by using neural networks. Additionally the neural network must be capable of training itself about the flight characteristics. So how does an IFSC work?

Video Credits: Tech Insider

IFCS’s working

IFCS has a neural network which learns different operations of aircraft. It learns all the data from error corrections to sensor data. Then it creates a stable flight model. If failure occurs, the IFCS switches the control to a stable flight model. Therefore ensuring a safe flight.

What is the benefit of an IFSC?

It optimises aircraft’s performance in normal flight. It increases safety. IFCS is yet in an development phase, two generations of IFSC’s were developed and tested.

So what does future have in store for us? Future aircraft may be completely airworthy, by a combined effort of human involvement and enhanced technology. Therefore ensuring safety at all levels.