MyQJ | QJ.NET | Apple | Mobile | Science | MMORPG | Nintendo DS | Wii | World of Warcraft | PlayStation 3 | PSP | Xbox 360 | Gadgets | PC Gaming | Age of Conan | DL.QJ | QJ.NET Forums

Boeing: New auto-pilot lands plane in event of emergency

Posted Dec 04, 2006 at 07:43AM by Tim Y. Listed in: Computer Science Tags: Boeing, FAA, patent, Canada
Ó

Problem is, where?


Here's one for the paranoid jetsetter: Boeing has a patent pending in Canada for a new anti-terrorist system that they believe will help improve the survivability of passengers and crew in the event of a terrorist takeover. The device takes the form of a  "uninterruptible" auto-pilot system, that once turned one, automatically locks the  controls and redirects the plane to the closest runway, ensuring that hijackers can't use the plane for other purposes.

The device, running on an independent power source to prevent tampering, activates either at the flick of a switch by either the pilot or co-pilot, by pressure sensors on the door reading forced cabin entry, or by ground control in the event the first two fail.

"There is a need in the industry for a technique that conclusively prevents unauthorized persons from gaining access to the controls of the vehicle and therefore threatening the safety of the passengers onboard the vehicle, and/or other people in the path of travel of the vehicle, thereby decreasing the amount of destruction individuals onboard the vehicle would be capable of causing," said Boeing regarding this device.

No details on how the system works yet, though a recent issuance of a $1.9 million U.S. Federal Aviation Administration contract to Raytheon for an Advanced Route Evaluation System does give clues as to how Boeing plans to program the new system with regards to landing spots. With that said and done, we're wondering what sort of protection they're offering for the pilots, as the system assumes that both pilot and co-pilot are incapable of flying the plane.

[Via Ottawa citizen] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

Bookmark / Find this article on:

1 Jumps     Far out theory: Milky Way cycle responsible for mass extinctions

2 Comments


Sort by:
   by Advertising -
   by CHUCKINGROCKSATSPACESHIPS - 2006-12-04
 » Sounds Good
These kind of tactics will help, but what would stop them from tearing up the plane in midair and making it come down on a city anyway? Better than nothing I guess.

   by mohaas05 (Unregistered) - 2006-12-04
 » another idea
howabout making the plane so it can be controlled by ATC. that might be a smarter solution.



Contact
QJ.NET Blog Network RSS Feeds
MyQJ Feed / PDA
MyQJ RSS / PDA
Blog of Blogs Feed / PDA
QJ.NET RSS / PDA
Gaming Consoles Feed / PDA
Nintendo DS RSS / PDA
PlayStation 3 RSS / PDA
PSP Updates RSS / PDA
Wii RSS / PDA
Xbox 360 RSS / PDA
PC Gaming Feed / PDA
Age of Conan RSS / PDA
Games for Windows RSS / PDA
MMORPG RSS / PDA
Tabula Rasa RSS / PDA
World of Warcraft RSS / PDA
Science Feed / PDA
Science RSS / PDA
Technology Feed / PDA
Apple RSS / PDA
Gadgets RSS / PDA
Mobile RSS / PDA
Photography RSS / PDA
Add QJ.NET
Add to My Yahoo!
Google Reader Subscribe with Bloglines
Add to your Kinja digest Subscribe in NewsGator Online
Subscribe with Pluck RSS reader Add 'www.qj.net' to Newsburst from CNET News.com
Subscribe with SearchFox RSS del.icio.us www.qj.net
Add to Technorati Favorite! Add to My AOL
furl! it Stumble for Treehugger!
User Favorites - July
Most Commented
(27)
(15)
(14)
(9)
(7)
(6)
(5)
(5)
(4)
(3)
(3)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
User Favorites - July
Top Jumps
Far out theory: Milky Way c.. (20)
The price of green living? .. (14)
More than fireworks: planet.. (13)
A 30-megaton blast from the.. (12)
Will Earth's largest parti.. (5)
You can grow asparagus on M.. (5)
Who needs paper? Scientists.. (3)
North Pole to have no ice t.. (3)
The Autobot Matrix is out t.. (2)
The feeding habits of black.. (1)
Mars used to be like Earth .. (1)

 Username: 
 Password:
Forgot password
New user registration



Poll
Are unidentified flying objects (UFOs) really alien spaceships?
Earth Science
General Science
Health Science
Space
Archives


Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the TERMS & CONDITIONS and PRIVACY POLICY
Copyright © 2006, Content Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Version. 1.31