We fell short of our Fall Fundraiser goal of 2,500 donations. Help us catch up ⏩ Give Now

Boeing builds helicopter that can take off and land all by itself

Molly Wood Sep 19, 2013

Boeing builds helicopter that can take off and land all by itself

Molly Wood Sep 19, 2013

Aircraft maker Boeing says it has built the first helicopter that can take off and land without the help from a human. The Unmanned Little Bird helicopter uses a rotating laser scanner on its nose, which pulls in detailed real-time data on what’s ahead and what’s below the helicopter. Other companies have developed similar helicopters before, but they’ve been only for use in the military. Boeing’s innovation could potentially be useful for more efficient rescue operations and cargo transportation. 

Check out the video below to see it in action.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.