Owners
The American company Near Earth Autonomy created based on Institute of robotics of the University of Carnegie-Mellon at the end of 2011 develops technologies for unmanned aerial vehicles. In particular, Near Earth Autonomy develops sets of sensors, three-dimensional maps and also systems of detection of obstacles in air and prevention of collision with them.
Technologies of the company are applied to creation of cards and determination of a rate of the airplane even in places where GPS does not work, for example, in tunnels or under a thick dome of foliage of trees. As of October 19, 2017 in Near Earth Autonomy about 50 people work.
2017: Investments of Boeing
In October, 2017 the producer aircraft, space and Boeing military equipment announced investment into Near Earth Autonomy. The speech about the first investment of venture division of Boeing HorizonX in the developer of technologies for robot planes, the Reuters news agency with reference to the statement of Boeing reports.[1]
Financial side of the transaction was decided not to be opened. According to investment company Equidate, Boeing purchased a share for $10 million at assessment of Near Earth Autonomy in $40-50 million. The representative of HorizonX noted Bloomberg only that the company, as a rule, invests from several million to $13-15 million or about that.[2]
In Boeing told that the agreement also assumes a possibility of joint development of mobile solutions for the urban environment (perhaps, it is about the flying taxi) and other emerging markets. The vice president of division of Boeing Research & Technology will join Near Earth Autonomy the board.
 | It is sometimes better to fly, than to go because you will be able to jump through everything. Demand for air transportation increases, and the number of pilots decreases. For example, natural disasters in Puerto Rico led to the fact that the set of roads is washed out. Autonomous airplanes will be able to help victims with delivery of medicines and butylated drinking water … This partnership will accelerate development of technological solutions which, according to us, will play a key role in creation of the market of pilotless flights, – the CEO of Near Earth Autonomy of Sanjiv Singh reported. |  |
In October, 2017 Boeing also announced purchase of Aurora Flight Sciences company for the purpose of development of robot, electric and through-planes for commercial and military use. By the time of the announcement of the transaction of Aurora released more than 30 air vehicles and within 10 years cooperated with Boeing in the field of creation of prototypes and designing of airplanes.
As notes Bloomberg, car makers actively invest or purchase the startups which are engaged in development of systems of autonomous driving. The similar business model began to be used by players of the space industry.
One of main competitors of Boeing — Airbus — went on other way. The company founded special division under the name Urban Air Mobility which employees are engaged in development of the concept of passenger air transportation by the on-demand helicopters ("on demand") and also provide project implementation, directed to creation of logistic drones. Besides, Airbus promises to release the flying taxi in 2018.
2016: Contract of NASA
In November, 2016 Near Earth Autonomy received the contract of NASA for development of navigation systems which will help drones to cope with a so-called "problem of 50 feet". Such systems will allow UAVs to execute flights near the earth, trees or buildings. Besides, the new systems will be able to organize the dense movement of drones at small height.
Notes
| The site content is translated by machine translation software powered by PROMT. The machine-translated articles are not always perfect and may contain errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. Read original article If you find inaccuracies or errors in the results of machine translation, please write to editor@tadviser.ru. We will make every effort to correct them as soon as possible. |