Boeing appears to be taking a definitive major step towards automating its aircraft. The aviation giant is acquiring Aurora Flight Sciences, a manufacturer of automated drones and aviation components.
Boeing aims to use this acquisition to advance the automation of aircraft, military drones and even personal air taxis.
'The combined strength and innovation of our teams will enhance autonomy development for our commercial and military systems,' Greg Hyslop, senior vice president of Boeing Engineering, Test & Technology, said in a statement on its website.
'Aurora's products, including a long-endurance aircraft, robotic co-pilots and an autonomous electric vertical take-off aircraft will find their way into world-class products for global infrastructure,' states John Langford, Aurora's founder.
Future
The terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed, but experts say the acquisition is the clearest signal yet that the world's largest aircraft maker sees automation as the future of the aviation industry. 'It's hard to predict where the future is going,' Hyslop told several media outlets. 'But I think we know where the arrows are pointing. We want to be ready when the technology matures and take full advantage of this for our products.'
The deal with Aurora appears to accelerate Boeing's foray into autonomy technology. To date, the company has all focused on a few drone projects and an automated submarine, but not yet seriously into commercial aviation technology.
Pilot shortage
In June, Boeing announced it would further explore autonomous flight for commercial aircraft. This announcement followed concerns that the industry will face a shortage of pilots in the near future. Boeing itself estimates that the industry will need 637,000 pilots over the next 20 years. 'We are now looking at how, with the benefits of sensing technology, artificial intelligence and other aspects of autonomous flight, we can make an already safe aircraft even safer.'
Getting the right technology does not seem to be the hardest part. But convincing the public of its safety is a second. A recent survey by UBS found that only 17% of consumers would now dare to board an autonomous aircraft.
By: Kelly Bakker
Source: Boeing
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
