It is the ultimate flying machine: a robot plane which can take off, land, and even avoid bad weather without human intervention.

But far from being a scientific dream, one is currently flying in the skies above Britain as part of a test programme.

The engineers behind the technology say it represents the future of air travel and could even be used on passenger jets to allow pilots to fly alone.

Until now, unmanned aircraft have been limited to military use in war zones such as Afghanistan, while police in Britain have also used small remote controlled models fitted with surveillance cameras. Both usually require pilots on the ground to fly the aircraft remotely.

The new system, however, can fly civilian aircraft unaided. Unlike the autopilot system used in most passenger aircraft, it can fly without the need for pilots in the cockpit.

On-board cameras scan the sky for potential hazards and the robotic pilot can recognise other aircraft, hot air balloons and even parachutists before taking action to avoid them.

The cameras also detect clouds, allowing the system to identify and avoid potentially dangerous weather conditions.

"It is doing all the things a human pilot would be doing," said Lambert Dopping-Hepenstal, engineering director of systems and strategy at BAE Systems, which has developed the system, and programme director of the consortium conducting tests on the pilotless plane.

"The level of autonomy can be gradually increased. The system flies by itself on a preprogrammed course until it detects something is wrong. Then it suggests manoeuvres that an operator using a laptop on the ground can confirm or reject.

"If the communication link goes down or the operator is not paying attention, the on-board system will take action to keep the aircraft safe.

"In an emergency, it can use infrared cameras to identify safe sites to set down aircraft by itself and can look for body heat to make sure a landing area is clear of living things."

The system is being tested in a converted Jetstream passenger aeroplane fitted with a bank of computers, switches and relays that can take control of the plane, which is being flown in an 80-mile (79.37-kilometre) wide area of airspace over the Irish Sea, off the coast of Preston.

Pilots on board fly the aircraft into the test area before switching over control to the computer system, which has been developed using technology BAE has used in its military unmanned aircraft.

Using data from a satellite navigation system, on-board cameras and transponder signals from other aircraft, it is able to map out a safe route through the sky.

Mr Dopping-Hepenstal said if all goes well, he expects to see the first unmanned aircraft being used in British airspace by the end of the decade and it could initially be used to perform search and rescue missions over the sea or in remote areas.

Ultimately, it could be fitted to passengers jets as a full backup to passengers, although the prospect of passengers flying in totally pilot-less planes is not being seriously suggested.

He said: "Human crews are limited by the amount of time they can spend in the air. An unmanned vehicle could stay in the air searching all night long or in weather conditions that may pose a threat to manned aircraft.

"Having no pilots on board passenger planes is probably a step too far, but we could end up having just a single pilot or the technology could provide emergency systems that can take over should something happen to the crew or if they fail to spot something that poses a threat."

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority, which is part of the consortium carrying out the pilot-less tests, said unmanned aircraft were currently restricted to "segregated airspace" where they were being tested.

He said: "For unmanned aircraft to fly in non-segregated airspace alongside manned aircraft will require the development of 'sense and avoid' technology, which will allow them to operate safely with other airspace users."

The first tests of a passenger plane flown by a robotic pilot are taking place in British airspace. Richard Gray goes on board to see what it is like

With a sudden rush of speed, the small plane I am sitting in lunges along the runway.

Along with photographer Julian Simmonds, we are the first members of the public to fly on board a unique aircraft -one that pilots itself.

Former RAF Nimrod pilots Graham Morgan and Bob Fraser are taking us to the Irish Sea, where we can test the robotic pilot's ability to detect and avoid aircraft.

With a flick of a switch, the plane is under the control of a computer. And, surprisingly, it feels very smooth.

Due to the adverse weather, we have to simulate the collisions instead of using another plane. Rod Buchanan, group leader for the international flight systems team at BAE, creates a blip on his laptop and the robot immediately flags up that we are on a collision course.

If left alone the robot will manoeuvre itself to avoid a crash. We go through five or six simulations, the robotic pilot gently banking the plane each time to avoid a collision.

Mr Morgan explains that the system can see problems "much sooner" that he can.

After an hour, the human pilots take control and perform a smooth landing.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/flying-without-pilots-britains-robot-plane-20120709-21qkm.html