How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Aviation
According to a recent report, the market for artificial intelligence (AI) in aviation is set to grow to close to $1.9 billion by 2027, compared to just under $390 million in 2021. The growth will be driven to a large extent by an increase in demand from airlines for AI-based virtual assistants, smart maintenance, manufacturing support, training, surveillance, flight ops, and dynamic pricing. Collins Aerospace, out of North Carolina, works across markets, disciplines, and boundaries to develop new and more advanced technologies for hybrid-electric propulsion and more fuel-efficient flights, and they have come together with the UK's leading provider of Air Traffic Control (ATC) services, NATS, to announce a partnership to develop next-generation Air Traffic Management (ATM) solutions utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics to improve the management and flow of air traffic.
Managing complexity as the industry grows
The primary function of ATC is to conduct the safe and efficient movement of aircraft in the airspace and monitor factors that may impact aircraft operations. This is currently managed by humans. Although errors can sometimes occur, the vast majority of the time, they are doing an outstanding job working in an environment with tremendous complexity.
However, as the industry continues to grow, the number of planes in the air will increase. ATM issues with aging technology are already causing significant delays, and the existing systems, as they stand today, will not be able to cope with the demands added over time.
Aviation is just beginning to figure out how to capitalize on the enormous amounts of data to the greatest extent possible.
For instance, optimization of flight routes has the potential to reduce fuel burn and lower overall emissions, as well as reduce delays and disruptions. AI can also assist with demand predictions and monitoring weather patterns.
AI for aviation will see tremendous growth in the following years
“When we take the vast amount of aviation-related data within Collins’ safety-critical ARING Global Network (AGN), bring in the power of our aircraft tracking network and predictive analytics capabilities through FlightAware, and combine that with NATS’ extensive experience in managing the flow of aviation traffic, we’ll be able to use aviation data like never before,” says Gene Hayman, director of the government services group of Collins Aerospace.
Air travel passengers are projected to reach 4 billion in 2024, exceeding pre-COVID-19 levels, according to the International Air Transport Association. To deal with such a huge number of passengers, airlines need to innovate and integrate with emerging technologies like AI and machine learning, which have the potential to increase urban air mobility, improve airline safety, automate flight scheduling, and enable predictive maintenance of airplanes.
Original article posted by SimpleFlying.com, By LINNEA AHLGREN
Published March 13, 2023
