Boeing bets on robot pilots, flying taxis with Aurora takeover INNOVATIVE ACQUISITION

Boeing is buying drone pioneer Aurora Flight Sciences, gaining a portfolio of futuristic technology such as unmanned air taxis that may someday navigate city skies for Uber Technologies.

With the acquisition, Boeing is betting that smarter airplanes will dominate flying, with computer algorithms and artificial intelligence playing an increasingly important role in the cockpit. Aurora is an early leader in autonomous flying, with products like a robotic co-pilot and software that can sense landing strips.

“We can’t predict what that future looks like. But whatever form that air travel takes, we want to be a leader,” Greg Hyslop, Boeing’s chief technology officer, said on a webcast after the acquisition was announced Thursday.

The deal underscores Boeing’s focus on smaller, targeted transactions while competitors such as Northrop Grumman Corp. and suppliers like United Technologies Corp. pursue large-scale mergers. Boeing said the purchase of Manassas, Virginia-based Aurora, which has 550 employees, wouldn’t affect its financial guidance.

Terms weren’t disclosed in a statement by the companies. Hyslop didn’t say if he expects the takeover to close this year, noting that the purchase is subject to US Defense Department approval over the transfer of some of Aurora’s leading-edge technologies.

Aurora has designed, produced and flown more than 30 unmanned air vehicles since the company was founded in 1989. Its aircraft use autonomous technology including perception, machine learning and advanced flight-control systems. Aurora has designed, produced and flown more than 30 unmanned air vehicles since 1989 Its aircraft use autonomous technology including perception, machine learning and advanced flight-control systems In April, the company successfully flew an air-taxi prototype that takes off and lands vertically, handy for rooftop arrivals and departures Aurora aims to deliver 50 of the aircraft by 2020 for testing by Uber Elevate, the ride-sharing company's initiative for flying cars There’s the Centaur, an “optionally piloted aircraft,” and a robotic copilot that has flown a Boeing 737 flight simulator.

In April, the company successfully flew an air-taxi prototype that takes off and lands vertically, handy for rooftop arrivals and departures. Aurora aims to deliver 50 of the aircraft by 2020 for testing by Uber Elevate, the ride-sharing company’s initiative for flying cars. Uber, which also counts Textron Inc. and Embraer SA as partners, envisions urban customers zipping over traffic snarls with aircraft summoned by computer or mobile phone.