Boeing HorizonX makes first investment in autonomous technologies

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Boeing’s venture capital arm has made its first foray into autonomous technologies with an investment in Near Earth Autonomy, a company that developed the world's first full-size autonomous helicopter flights.

Boeing

Boeing and Pittsburgh-based Near Earth Autonomy have also entered into a partnership to explore future products and applications for emerging markets, including urban mobility.

"This partnership will accelerate technology solutions that we feel will be key to unlocking emerging markets of autonomous flight," said Steve Nordlund, Boeing HorizonX vice president. "We are excited to begin this partnership with a company with such a depth of experience in autonomy so we can leverage the scale of Boeing to innovate for our customers."

Near Earth Autonomy, a spin-off from Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, develops software and sensor technology that enables aircraft - ranging from sub-meter to full scale - to inspect, map and survey terrain and infrastructure, as well as transport cargo autonomously.

The company is currently working with the US Office of Naval Research in developing an autonomous aerial cargo delivery platform for the US Marines.

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