Boeing, Insitu to Cooperatively Develop Unmanned Vehicle Prototype

The tiny Seascan was the inspiration for the new joint Boeing/Insitu project. With its 10-foot wingspan, 55mph cruise, and nearly 500fpm climb, the little drone would take and transmit real-time photos all day, before returning to its mother ship. The Scan Eagle, the new project, promises to expand on those abilities -- in a big way.

Through this agreement, Bingen (WA) Insitu will build for Boeing a prototype Scan Eagle, using Boeing systems integration, communications and payload technologies. "Cooperation with innovative, entrepreneurial companies such as Insitu is key to our growth," said Dina Hyde, general manager of partnerships and new ventures for the Boeing Unmanned Systems organization. "We can leverage their technologies with the best of Boeing to open new opportunities in the government and commercial arenas."

In 1998, Insitu and the University of Washington demonstrated the potential of these vehicles by flying one 2,000 miles from Newfoundland to Scotland, using 1.5 gallons of gasoline. Initsu is trying to keep it aloft for three days at a time, although one-day (15-hour) missions are the current fare.

"Our goal is to develop low-cost, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles offering a high degree of autonomy," said Tad McGeer, Insitu's founder, chairman and chief technology officer. "Working with Boeing is a tremendous benefit for us."

FMI: http://www.insitugroup.com/Seascan.html, www.boeing.com