Quadrotors capable of autonomous flight could help remove the need for people to put themselves in any number of dangerous positions.
The S4 Ehécatl has an electronic system that is designed to provide up to eight hours of autonomous flight, in either daytime or nighttime conditions.
In October 2003 the first totally autonomous flight across the Atlantic by a computer-controlled model aircraft occurred.
After that, an autopilot had to be installed so a non-stop autonomous flight for 24 hours could be achieved.
The Class I used autonomous flight and navigation, but it would interact with the network and soldier to dynamically update routes and target information.
It is also designed for autonomous flight with the help of an autopilot.
It can spend up to 30 days in autonomous flight and is able to carry 100 kg more.
The autonomous flight was performed between 200 and 400 feet.
Following a two day autonomous flight the Soyuz spacecraft docked with the Mir station on January 31, 1998.
After two days of autonomous flight the Soyuz spacecraft docked with Mir on August 7.