Boeing to build new autonomous aircraft center in Massachusetts

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Boeing recently announced plans to open a Boeing Aerospace and Autonomy Center in Cambridge, Mass., that will design, build, and fly autonomous aircraft and develop enabling technologies.

Next-generation airspace management systems will enable piloted and autonomous vehicles to safely navigate.

The center will be staffed by employees from Boeing and Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing subsidiary.

Technologies developed will support Boeing NeXt programs, which pair researchers and projects across the company with the goal of shaping the future of travel and transportation.

“Boeing is leading the development of new autonomous vehicles and future transportation systems that will bring flight closer to home,” Greg Hyslop, Boeing chief technology officer, said. “By investing in this new research facility, we are creating a hub where our engineers can collaborate with other Boeing engineers and research partners around the world and leverage the Cambridge innovation ecosystem.”

Lease agreement terms and a development timeline for the facility were not disclosed.

The 100,000-square-foot center will be the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) mixed-use district in Kendall Square’s first major tenant.

Six buildings in the square will be home to offices, retail spaces, labs and research facilities, and housing facilities.