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4 The cover story in this issue brings to mind the hypothetical case of the driverless car which, when having the option of swerving one way or the other, doesn’t have a human’s moral judgement in choosing between an oncoming car and a pedestrian. But that overlooks a major consideration: the driverless car might have the ability the average motorist lacks to avoid any collision at all. Few motorists have the skill to cope with an emergency in the manner of a professional racecar driver, although the artificial intelligence focus and the PS in this issue both point to the day when the driverless car will have that aptitude. However, that doesn’t address the question of what happens when not even the utmost skill can avert disaster. Then there is the question of risk. Humans not only vary in skill level but also their propensity to take risks. There have been obvious examples in private aviation where one man’s risk-taking in challenging conditions has been the downfall not only of himself but also of his passengers – at least some of whom are likely to have chosen a more cautious (if more arduous) strategy. Unmanned vehicles will have to make moral judgements and adopt risk strategies, but I would not like to predict how that will come about. Yet it is all part of the technological journey we are documenting in this magazine – a journey that is all the more fascinating for this quasi- human dimension. Ian Bamsey | Editorial Director Risky business April/May 2017 | Unmanned Systems Technology Intro | April/May 2017 Editorial Director Ian Bamsey Assistant Editor Guy Richards Technology Editor Nick Flaherty Staff Writer Stewart Mitchell Contributors Peter Donaldson Rory Jackson Technical Consultants Paul Weighell Ian Williams-Wynn Dr Donough Wilson Design Andrew Metcalfe andrew@meticulousdesign.com UST Ad Sales Please direct all enquiries to Simon Moss simon@ust-media.com Subscriptions Jim Cavanagh jim@ust-media.com Publishing Director Simon Moss General Manager Chris Perry Office Administrators Frankie Robins Ellen Culliford For UST Online please contact: EchoBlue Media Online Publisher Caroline Rees caroline@echobluemedia.com Subscribe today @ www.ust-media.com Editorial opportunities Do you have a strong technical knowledge of one or more aspects of unmanned systems? As we grow we are on the lookout for experts who can contribute to these pages. If that sounds an interesting challenge then don’t hesitate to explore the possibility of writing for us by emailing me: ian@ust-media.com Swappable self-drive Modular technology in the AutonomouStuff Lincoln MKZ Brain power AI systems now on the horizon At your service Maintenance and safety focus UST 13 :APRIL/MAY 2017 UK £15,USA$30,EUROPE e 22 Volume Three | Issue Three April/May 2017 High Power Media Limited Whitfield House, Cheddar Road, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4EJ, England Tel: +44 (0)1934 713957 Fax: +44 (0)20 8497 2102 www.highpowermedia.com ISSN 2056-9823 Printed in Great Britain ©High Power Media All rights reserved. Reproduction (in whole or in part) of any article or illustration without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. While care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information herein, the publisher can accept no liability for errors or omissions. Nor can responsibility be accepted for the content of any advertisement. US COPIES ONLY Unmanned Systems Technology ISSN No: 2056-9823, is published by High Power Media in England and is distributed in the United States by SPP, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe, NJ 08831. Periodicals postage paid at New Brunswick, NJ. Postmaster please send address changes to: Unmanned Systems Technology, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe, NJ 08831. SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available from High Power Media at the address above or directly from our website. Overseas copies are sent via air mail. UST SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS 1 year subscription – 15% discount: UK – £75; Europe – e 125 USA – $150; ROW – £97.50 2 year subscription – 25% discount: UK – £135; Europe – e 225 USA – $270; ROW – £175.50 Make cheques payable to High Power Media. Visa, Mastercard, Amex and UK Maestro accepted. Quote card number and expiry date (also issue/start date for Maestro)