Why Airplanes Have Autopilots But Cars Are Not There Yet

The Comparative Complexity of Flight vs Driving

Why do commercial airplanes have incredibly advanced autopilot systems, capable of takeoff and landing, while cars, despite technological advancements, are still not considered fully autonomous? This article aims to explore and explain the reasons behind this distinction.

The Virtually Regulated Flight Environment

The operating domain of a commercial aircraft is infinitely more simple compared to a self-driving car on an urban street. Commercial airliners cruise in a heavily regulated and completely clear airspace, from takeoff to landing. They are not beset by the same complexity that self-driving cars face, such as:

Intersections

Heavy multi-directional traffic within inches of the vehicle

Traffic lights and stop signs

Kids chasing balls

Bicycles

Potholes

Variable speed limits and time-dependent lane flow

U-turns

Distracted drivers

Pedestrian crossings

Horses

Lane merges and lane splits

Broken down vehicles

Emergency vehicles

Road debris and construction

Ice, rain, and adverse weather affecting traction and sensor performance

While many of these situations may seem unremarkable to humans, programming a robot to handle them with reliability and safety is a monumental challenge.

The Misconception of Autopilot Functionality

When many people think of an autopilot, they imagine a fully automated system where the machine does everything while the pilot is simply a passive observer. However, the autopilot on a plane is more akin to cruise control on a car. The pilots instruct the autopilot on what to do, and the system follows the instructions. The pilots are still actively flying the plane but avoid using the manual controls. This design provides a safer flight by allowing pilots to focus on situational awareness and planning ahead:

Imagine if driving a car required typing in the street names, turning a knob to switch lanes, and controlling the speed by selecting predetermined settings. This kind of automation would certainly not be preferred by drivers.

This type of automation, while more advanced, is still far from what we imagine when we talk about a "driverless car." We envision a future where a car can take us from point A to point B without any manual intervention, adjusting parameters or making decisions.

What We Want in Driverless Cars

We want driverless cars to be fully autonomous, capable of handling all driving tasks from start to finish, including route planning, navigation, and handling unexpected situations. However, achieving this level of automation is far more challenging than what is currently seen in even the most advanced commercial airplanes.

In an advanced airliner, pilots still have to input the route, tell the autopilot and auto-throttle what to do, and make decisions throughout the flight.

Autolanding systems, although sophisticated, still need to be programmed, initiated, and monitored by trained pilots.

From taxiing to takeoff and landing, pilots are still involved in the process, even with sophisticated automation.

Thus, while autopilots have made commercial aviation safer and more efficient, they fall short of the fully autonomous driving experience we desire for cars.