Boeing carries out synchronised UAV flight tests
Boeing has successfully completed the first tranche of synchronised UAV flight tests using new on-board autonomous C2 technology developed by Boeing Australia with the support of local industrial partners.
The test flights, which were conducted at a Queensland airfield, saw five UAV test beds equipped with Boeing’s new on-board system safely complete in-air programmed missions as a team without input from a human pilot.
Over the coming months, Boeing Australia will incorporate and test more advanced behaviours on high performance air vehicles before exploring other domains such as unmanned ocean vehicles.
This activity is being delivered in partnership with the Queensland government as part of Boeing’s Advance Queensland Autonomous Systems Platform Technology Project.
Shane Arnott, director of Boeing Phantom Works International, said: ‘What we’ve created here in Australia has the potential to transform the use of unmanned vehicles for civil, commercial and defence applications – whether that be in the air, on the ground or out at sea.
‘This capability will be a huge driver of efficiency and productivity. By safely teaming unmanned systems with human operated systems, we keep people away from dull, dirty and dangerous tasks so they can focus on activities that machines can’t or shouldn’t do.’
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