Boeing is bringing weight to the UAV market, 500 pounds to be exact. Yesterday, Boeing unveiled an unmanned electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) cargo air vehicle (CAV) prototype with some serious lifting power.
Designed to progress, test, and mature autonomous technology for future systems, the prototype can deliver cargo weighing up to an impressive 500 pounds.
"This flying cargo air vehicle represents another major step in our Boeing eVTOL strategy," says 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."
(Image credit: Boeing)The CAV prototype achieves vertical flight with eight counter rotating blades. Its dimensions settle at 4 ft tall, 15 ft long, and 18 ft wide. The entire design tips the scales at 747 lb.
"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," says Boeing HorizonX Vice President Steve Nordlund.
"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," adds Nordlund.
According to Boeing, the CAV project took less than three months to complete. Recently, the system passed early flight tests at Boeing Research & Technology's Collaborative Autonomous Systems Laboratory.
