Korean scientists have created a humanoid robot pilot, because drones aren't everything

Korean scientists have created a humanoid robot pilot, because drones aren&#039;t everything — (Image credit: Reuters)

Meet the Pibot, South Korea's answer to the unmanned aerial drone. Shim Hyung-Chul and his colleagues at the Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Daejeon, South Korea, aren't trying to replace the drone, Shim tells Reuters, but he argues that the Pibot has one big advantage: It "can immediately automate any kind of aircraft." That's handy for instances when flights are too dangerous for human pilots, such as after a nuclear disaster.

The Pibot has proven adept at flying a computer flight simulator and even a miniature airplane. Tests in a real, full-size airplane are next. There are no plans to replace commercial airline pilots. At least not yet. Watch the Pibot in action at Reuters.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.