The goal is to enable computers to perform tasks traditionally done by human pilots, according to Taylor Alberstadt, Honeywell\u2019s senior director of sales.<\/p>\n
\nI had the opportunity to fly a drone simulation at Honeywell Aerospace\u2019s Advanced Air Mobility lab in Deer Valley. Full story airs tomorrow. @KTAR923<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6uHrJvUanm<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Heidi Hommel (@heidi_hommel) July 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201cHaving elements of the machine that\u2019s capable of doing that work safety to allow humans to focus on what humans do best instead of burdening a human with every required task,\u201d Alberstadt told KTAR News 92.3 FM.<\/p>\n
While humans will always be involved, Honeywell\u2019s goal is to progress technology to the point where a pilot can monitor multiple drones from a command center.<\/p>\n
How far along are avionics?<\/p>\n
One of Honeywell Aerospace\u2019s clients is Archer Technologies<\/a>, which plans to debut its electric air taxi at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Like helicopters, air taxis use vertical propulsion to take off and land. However, their designs differ in that many air taxis are electric or hybrid-powered, while helicopters typically run on fuel.<\/p>\n
In addition to passenger transport, smaller autonomous drones are also being used to deliver packages.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven in Phoenix, in the West Valley, Amazon is doing drone deliveries<\/a>,\u201d Alberstadt said.<\/p>\n
While the technology is here, other pieces of the puzzle still need to fall into place, such as building an infrastructure of vertiports for the drones to take off and land.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile these will start doing airport operations or city center operations, there\u2019s a future where you have vertiports connected to specific communities,\u201d Alberstadt said.<\/p>\n
Airports and helipads can be used in lieu of vertiports as the infrastructure catches up with the technology. What makes vertiports unique is that they require a charging station for the electric drones.<\/p>\n
Honeywell Aerospace looking at the future<\/p>\n
A whole new generation of pilots will need to be trained in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration.<\/p>\n
Honeywell also has a contract with the Department of Defense as they develop autonomous helicopters. Because it\u2019s an experimental aircraft, there are two safety pilots onboard.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut both the pilots were hands off and the autonomy took the aircraft for quite a while during our test,\u201d said Senior Director of Product AAM and Autonomy Sapan Shah at Honeywell Aerospace.<\/p>\n
Honeywell is working to gain public acceptance.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I trust that the drone\u2019s not taking pictures of me sunning in my backyard, do I trust that the drone is safe and it\u2019s not going to drop something on me?\u201d Alberstadt said.<\/p>\n
Drones have several benefits when compared with typical methods of transportation:<\/p>\n
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- They\u2019re emissions-free because they mainly run on batteries.<\/li>\n
- They\u2019re quieter because they have multiple small rotors spinning and drone manufacturers are optimizing them to reduce sound.<\/li>\n
- Drones are also safer than a trip on an airplane.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cIn the air you go left, right, forward or back, and up and down,\u201d Alberstadt said. \u201cSo, you have another degree of freedom to avoid potentially dangerous situations.\u201d<\/p>\n
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