KAIST showcased its humanoid pilot robot, Pibot, in an aircraft cockpit simulator at the RobotWorld 2026 exhibition on 5 November, Robot News reported. Developed by the university's Unmanned System Research Group, the human-sized robot is designed to operate standard aircraft without modifying the cockpit.
At the event, Pibot was demonstrated in a simulator modelled after a light aircraft cockpit. The robot operates switches and flight controls while moving its head to look between the instrument panel and the forward view. According to the research team, the system can detect emergencies such as engine failure or fire, react directly, and receive spoken instructions through a microphone.
Kim Hyung-ju, a researcher at the KAIST Robotics Institute, said cockpits are already designed for human dimensions, making aircraft modifications unnecessary. Kim said the robot has operated only in simulators during development. The team plans to conduct ground taxiing tests next year excluding take-off and landing, ahead of future test flights with an instructor and a researcher on board.
