Embraer Tests Autonomous Aircraft

Embraer announced that it has successfully completed the first test of an autonomous aircraft in Brazil. As shown in the video below, the taxi test, which was overseen by a pilot in the cockpit, took the aircraft “along a previously established path without human interference.” According to Embraer, an integrated artificial intelligence system capable of acting independently on acceleration, steering and braking monitored the aircraft’s “external and internal conditions.”

“Our strategy for technology development in autonomous systems seeks to position the country at the forefront of artificial intelligence processes in a variety of applications”, said Embraer Executive Vice President of Engineering and Technology Daniel Moczydlower. “Achieving this technological milestone in Embraer's 50th anniversary month demonstrated not only the importance of bringing industry closer to the university, but also how prepared and engaged our people are for the journey of excellence needed for the coming decades.”

The test was conducted as part of a partnership between Embraer and Brazil’s Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes). It took place at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility in São Paulo, Brazil.