Boeing’s Autonomous Taxi Takes Flight
Aircraft, which takes off and lands like a small helicopter, faces uncertain path to commercial use
AI-empowered systems may soon allow autonomous flying machines to reduce the number of pilots and soldiers working in high-risk environments. Could these flying robots also be firing weapons? WSJ’s Jason Bellini reports.
Boeing Co. said its prototype for an autonomous air taxi completed a first test flight, heating up a race among aerospace companies hoping to transform urban transit.
Boeing competitors including Airbus SE and Textron Inc.’s Bell helicopter unit are also developing self-flying taxis to transport passengers around cities. Tech giants such as Intel Corp. and ride-sharing specialist Uber Technologies Inc. are investing in various projects to put urban passengers into the skies.
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