Self-flying aircraft an overlooked opportunity in autonomous transport

In AVs, camera and sensor systems need high accuracy in detecting and identifying objects — to differentiate between a fire hydrant, a dog and a child, for example, and respond accordingly. The amount of data they need to process is far greater than what aircraft have to deal with in the open sky.

• Self-driving solutions will also require improving and expanding road infrastructure. Because available airspace increases with elevation, the sky can accommodate more aircraft flying at multiple levels.

Where it stands: The autonomous air travel industry, much like the AV industry, has its share of big players and innovators, including Airbus, Boeing, Kittyhawk and Alphabet-backed Opener, all of which are actively flight-testing custom airframe designs for safety and reliability.

• A few players, including SkyRyse and Reliable Robotics Corporation (R2Air), are focused instead on attaching new technology to existing and proven airframes.

Yes, but: Self-flying vehicles face a unique set of challenges. From a technical standpoint, operating in three-dimensional space means reliability and redundancy are critical. "Pulling over” to reset the computer is not an option.

• Consumers and regulators alike may also be concerned about the safety, economics and environmental impact of autonomous air transport.

What's next: Autonomous flight does not require any fundamentally new technology, so making it a reality is a matter of applying existing technology and establishing regulatory frameworks.

Mark Groden is the CEO of SkyRyse.