Boeing has unveiled the prototype of a new unmanned electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) cargo air vehicle (CAV) to test and advance the company’s autonomy technology to be used in future aerospace vehicles.

The prototype is capable of carrying payloads weighing up to 500lb to potentially serve the future cargo and logistics sectors.

Completed within a three-month period, the CAV prototype has already been tested in an initial flight conducted at Boeing Research and Technology’s Collaborative Autonomous Systems Laboratory situated in Missouri, US.

“The safe integration of unmanned aerial systems is vital to unlocking their full potential.”

The prototype is powered by an environmentally-friendly electric propulsion system and is equipped with eight counter-rotating blades to enable vertical flight.

The 339kg prototype is 15ft-long, 18ft-wide and 4ft-tall.

Boeing HorizonX has collaborated with Boeing Research and Technology to develop the CAV prototype, which is expected to be used as a flying test bed to mature autonomous technology for future applications.

Boeing HorizonX vice-president Steve Nordlund said: “Our new CAV prototype builds on Boeing’s existing unmanned systems capabilities and presents new possibilities for autonomous cargo delivery, logistics and other transportation applications.

“The safe integration of unmanned aerial systems is vital to unlocking their full potential.”

The new CAV prototype complements the eVTOL passenger air vehicle prototype aircraft, which is currently under development by Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences.