Aug 2 1996
From The Space Library
Space News for this day. (1MB PDF)
NASA and the U.S. Air Force unveiled to the public an "intelligent" aircraft, using a computerized system to "learn as it flies." Researchers had engineered the hypersonic aircraft to take inventory of flight maneuvers performed while operating under remote control, eventually using its acquired knowledge to develop the capability to fly itself. According to the flight researchers, the aircraft's control system would create a continually altering set of "control laws," to optimize flight performance. After the aircraft had perfected its system, it could assist pilots in performing such tasks as landing partially damaged planes. The intelligent aircraft could also enable flight at speeds and altitudes that human pilots could hardly ever achieve, while still maintaining adequate control of an aircraft.
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