was'nt there about 10 years ago an english commercial tv station coming up with such idea to broadcast from a blimp overflying england ?

We can't even make a pilotless land vehicle work. I'm sure this will just be another waste of time and money.

Originally posted by JabbaOnTheDais
We can't even make a pilotless land vehicle work. I'm sure this will just be another waste of time and money.

What is so difficult on unmanned airship? Go right, left, go to waypoint X, stay there, land. Any problems? If Global HAwk works this thing would also work.
This think would be especially good for countries like Iraq or Afgan., where air-defense is not present and you need to watch over large regions. It could be also good for guarding US/Mexico border.

Making a land vehicle piloting software is much more difficult ( and I don't think we'll see some in 20 years).

GPS is the magic tool they have to incorporated in any device as
general pilot or as kinda understudy/help if a craft is manned !

...and if something flying unmanned why not select and add a star or 8 into the memory and combine with GPS ?

(navigation of blackbird SR-71 was also with selected stars into the memory for navigation !! in the 1960's !!)

Originally posted by NOGODSINTHEUNIVERSE
GPS is the magic tool they have to incorporated in any device as
general pilot or as kinda understudy/help if a craft is manned !

...and if something flying unmanned why not select and add a star or 8 into the memory and combine with GPS ?

(navigation of blackbird SR-71 was also with selected stars into the memory for navigation !! in the 1960's !!)

Yes many people think it is somethink difficult to develop a pilot software for UCAVs. In reality it is quite simple and such soft is available already today. For example cruise misiles like Tomahawk, where is the difference? X-45 can be programed in the same way just with back route added. The only one more omplicated thing is the ability to find the friendly airfield without any guidance, and land.