Meet Pibot: South Korea's Game-Changing Humanoid AI Pilot

South Korean scientists from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) have developed "Pibot," a humanoid robot that can fly aircraft and understand complex flight manuals. The research can potentially transform the aviation sector by bringing AI-driven pilots capable of flying with the finest accuracy.

Pibot, a humanoid robot, is the product of careful engineering and research work. Pibot, created by a group of engineers and scientists from KAIST, demonstrates an unheard-of capacity to manage airplanes without requiring changes to the cockpit, according to Euronews.

'Top Gun': Robot Version

Pibot's innovative design allows it to operate every control in the cockpit like a human operator, simulating the movements of human pilots. This involves operating the numerous levers, switches, and other controls necessary for flying.

The pilot robot can fly an airplane by handling all the individual controls in the cockpit, which is made for people, according to David Shim, an associate professor of electrical engineering at KAIST.

Pibot is skilled enough to precisely operate the flying instruments, even in difficult circumstances like intense aircraft vibrations. With the use of cutting-edge control technology, the humanoid pilot can precisely handle flight instruments with the help of its arms and fingers, mimicking the motions of a human pilot.

The robot's aptitude for remembering intricate flight instructions written in everyday language is one of its most notable qualities. This innovative feature improves its adaptability to different aircraft types. Pibot's memory is so impressively large that it can recall every Jeppesen aviation navigation chart in the world; a task that is impossible for human pilots to accomplish.

Recent developments in large language models (LLM), including ChatGPT, have fueled the creation of Pibot. These LLMs provide Pibot the capacity to comprehend and retain flight instructions initially created by humans, increasing its operational effectiveness and flexibility.

Pibot's Promising Future, Timeline of Development

Prof. David Shim noted that while they had created a pilot robot in 2016, the AI technology at the time was less advanced than it is now, per Inquirer. "Neither the handbook nor the material can genuinely teach them anything. But lately, the technology advanced significantly with ChatGPT or other significant language model systems"

Pibot's adaptable humanoid design puts it for various functions in numerous sectors outside of its prospective use in aviation. Pibot is a robot that is 160 cm tall and weighs 65 kg. Its design has been specifically adapted to work in human-centered settings. This versatility extends to activities other than flying, such as operating vehicles, tanks, and seagoing vessels.

Although Pibot is still being developed, the KAIST team hopes to have it finished by 2026, according to an article from Firstpost. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) in South Korea provided funding for the experiment, with the possibility of using the technology for military purposes, which also emphasizes how this innovative AI-driven humanoid robot has the potential to revolutionize many other sectors.