Where Are Drone Pilots Located?

[GusNSpot]

@Cheshire_Human

It’s only about 1/5th of a second to Geosync orbit and back, so I doubt there’s even 1/2 of a second delay, even if they have to bounce it from one satellite to another before going back down.

True???

Drone camera streaming to satellite. 1

Assuming instant retransmit to antenna at Vegas. 2

The Pilot sees & mentally processes a problem requiring flight control input that the on board equipment is not taking care of. 3

( Requires a real pilot to recognize. )

He has real good reactions. 4

The signals are sent to the satellite. 5

Satellite send signals to the drone. 6

Why do all this with a pilot who has millions of $$$ in training & experience in machines that do not fly like any aircraft they have ever been in?

A talented gamer that will follow protocol can do the, " Yes, it is locked on target, do I have the proper ‘engage authority?’ Yes sir, I will push the red button." Then he says, “Which way should I point the deadly expensive toy now sir?”

Pictures I have seen show a joy stick & all control surfaces needed can be combined. So why do they not do the take off & recovery? Why do they need some one close?

Go out to the RC plane fields & see how many can not crash reliably enough that you will entrust a multimillion $$$ aircraft with real weapons on board to operate day & night without picking a good day to fly.

Call them pilots if you want but I prefer them not to be in control of anything I am in.

I am not really sold on the trams in big airports yet & they are on tracks with lots of anti-crash equipment & sensors.

We are in the infancy of this tech, not even to the “A” model yet & I got to be an old pilot by being very lucky & very good at what I do the few times I was forced into flying the “A” models of anything.

Your piloting skill may vary…

Chuck Yeager is the exception, not the rule.

[scr4]

If satellite delay is an important factor, it still wouldn’t matter where the operator is located. They could use a fiber-optic link (via submarine cables) between the operator’s base and the antenna that directly talks to the drone.

But my understanding is that most large drones like the Predator are controlled through a satellite signal (i.e. the drone uses a satellite relay to communicate to a ground station). So again, it doesn’t matter where the operator is; even if he/she is 100 miles away from the drone, the signal bounces through a satellite.

[Cheshire_Human]

@GusNSpot

True???

Drone camera streaming to satellite. 1

Assuming instant retransmit to antenna at Vegas. 2

Yeah, not much time at all.

The Pilot sees & mentally processes a problem requiring flight control input that the on board equipment is not taking care of. 3

( Requires a real pilot to recognize. )

He has real good reactions. 4

Same issue with a manned aircraft. No difference.

The signals are sent to the satellite. 5

Satellite send signals to the drone. 6

And now we’re back to the other half of “to Geosync and back”. As I said, no more than 1/2 second difference between a pilot in the aircraft, and an idiot working a joystick in Arizona. I really don’t see what you’re on about…

Oh, wait. Here it is:

Call them pilots if you want but I prefer them not to be in control of anything I am in.

Call 'em what you want. I doubt they care. They’re not flying your airliner, nor are you required to surrender the controls of your general aviation craft to them. Lighten up, Francis.