The eagle has scanned it

and

recently demonstrated new software aboard ScanEagle, the long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), that allowed the UAV to autonomously map its route while in flight.

The software, imbedded in ScanEagle’s auxiliary processor board, enables the UAV to map its own path without operator input and fly to an area to locate fixed and moving ground targets, monitor weapon strikes or provide imagery for damage assessment.

At present, an operator on the ground must plot the UAV’s course via waypoints to ensure it reaches and remains in the proper position to accomplish its task.

‘The ultimate goal is to increase UAV autonomy so there doesn’t always have to be a human in the loop,’ said Patrick Stokes, Boeing program manager for Network Centric Operations Contracted Research and Development programs.

Phantom Works, the advanced research and development arm of Boeing, is assisting in ScanEagle’s development.