Boeing has unveiled a new unmanned electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) cargo air vehicle (CAV) prototype designed to transport a payload up to 226 kg.
Boeing said the vehicle, which is powered by an environmentally-friendly electric propulsion system, will be used to test and evolve its autonomy technology for future aerospace vehicles.
“This flying cargo air vehicle represents another major step in our Boeing eVTOL strategy,” said Boeing Chief Technology Officer Greg Hyslop.
“We have an opportunity to really change air travel and transport, and we’ll look back on this day as a major step in that journey.”
The CAV prototype was designed and built in less than three months and has already successfully completed initial flight tests at Boeing Research & Technology’s Collaborative Autonomous Systems Laboratory in Missouri.
The development of the vehicle was led by Boeing HorizonX, an innovation cell focused on accelerating potentially transformative aerospace technologies.
“Our new CAV prototype builds on Boeing’s existing unmanned systems capabilities and presents new possibilities for autonomous cargo delivery, logistics and other transportation applications,” said Steve Nordlund, Boeing HorizonX vice president.
“The safe integration of unmanned aerial systems is vital to unlocking their full potential. Boeing has an unmatched track record, regulatory know-how and systematic approach to deliver solutions that will shape the future of autonomous flight.”