New-York tribune., 1906-08-29
AIRSHIPS WITHOUT PILOTS.

1t is reported that aerOnautic experiments
which differ from any already on record are
being made in Canada, and Professor Alex
ander Graham Bells name is associated with
them in a short dispatch from Toronto, per-
haps without his authority. Whatever truth
there be in this particular story, it has long
seemed probable that somebody would under
take to control the movements Of an airship by
means Of Hertz waves from the surface Of the
earth, thus making it unnecessary for a person
to accompany the craft at least in the capacity
Of pilot or engineer.
At the outset it may be assumed. an airship
possessing the proper buoyancy and stability
would be provided and would be equipped with
suitable engines. 1t would be essential to sup
plement the other machinery with two or three
small electric motors TO perform the functions
of the human hand. storage battery or other
source of current, and, finally, devices closely
resembling wireless telegraph receivers At a
convenient point below it would be necessary
to have a small plant like that employed at
wireless telegraph station, but furnishing at
least two different sets OF ether waves With
one the operator could actuate the electric
motors which turned on and shut off the power.
With the other he could shift the rudder
There can no longer be any doubt as to the
entire feasibility of such a procedure, if well
known principles are only applied with intelli-
has attended some of the attempts to direct
an unnamed torpedo boat from a distance
One Of these ventures was witnessed last au-
tumn in the harbOr Of Bilbao, Spain, by num-
Der of naval officers and electrical experts. On
that occasion a small vessel, previously motion
less acquired headway, developed increasing
speed was Steered, stopped and backed by the
means here mentioned The manouvres were
controlled by the inventor, Senior Quevedo who
cIOO O1N %hn hDa taH
number Of passengers. It will probably be prac-
ticable to improve on the apparatus which was
then tested, but there is not likely TO be much
difficulty in duplicating SelOr Quevedos per-
formance in the upper air, II the task is under
taken in the right way.
Nevertheless, the question arises whether ii
would pay to do so There are many feats, like
standing on ones head, which are clearly within
the range Of human possibility, but which serve
no useful purpose Perhaps the plan which is
said to be on trial in Canada might be utilized
in war. From an unnamed airship which had
been steered over an enemy's camp a bomb
might be released or a photograph taken
For any Of the pacific services to which air
ships are likely to be devoted, however. con-
troll by Hertz waves promises to be of lit
tie value In the first place, it is essential TO
the success Of the system that the operator
keep the craft which he is guiding. marine
or aerial, in sight. That one condition
places narrow limits on its usefulness, quite
aside from the distance within which Hertz
waves will make themselves felt. Moreover
the risks of navigating the air for exploration
or sport are less than those to which the occu-
pant of a military balloon is exposed, and the
only recommendation OF wireless control is that
ii would promote safety. No matter what
consequences attend the pending experiments.
therefore, there is little promise that they will
be extensively followed up.