"Autonomous flying seems like a much easier and more cost effective problem to solve, given there are orders of magnitude fewer contexts and obstacles."
That's not true: what there is, is 3.2 trillion vehicle-miles driven annually (in the US) vs 12.5 billion aircraft-miles flown -- a factor of 400 difference.
Imagine the reduction of accident rates if, at any moment, there were 1/400 of the vehicles on the road, and every vehicle trip started with a checklist inspection by a pilot who had passed a physical exam in the last year?
> and every vehicle trip started with a checklist inspection by a pilot who had passed a physical exam in the last year?
Not to mention a slew of other requirements like 'Don't operate the vehicle with insufficient sleep', 'Don't operate the vehicle if you had even a drop of alcohol in the last 8/12 hours', etc..
That's not true: what there is, is 3.2 trillion vehicle-miles driven annually (in the US) vs 12.5 billion aircraft-miles flown -- a factor of 400 difference.
Imagine the reduction of accident rates if, at any moment, there were 1/400 of the vehicles on the road, and every vehicle trip started with a checklist inspection by a pilot who had passed a physical exam in the last year?