Composites Make Boeing Cargo Drone Possible

1. Composites Make Boeing Cargo Drone Possible Right now is an exciting time to be involved in the composites industry. Composite materials, like glass and carbon fiber, are truly revolutionizing manufacturing. As such, they are also revolutionizing many areas of daily life. From sporting goods to laptop computers, carbon fiber and other composites are transforming the world. It is with this in mind that we are thrilled to know that Boeing is getting ever closer to full production of its massive cargo drone capable of lifting 500 pounds. This is no hobby project. It is a drone outfitted with 6 dual rotors, 12 propellers, and a set of batteries capable of lifting the drone's own weight of 1100 pounds on top of its cargo. Pretty impressive. From our perspective, what's even more impressive is that composite materials are partly responsible for making it happen. A Nearly Two-Year Project Boeing first announced its cargo drone in early 2018. Back then, they were calling it an "unmanned electric vertical- takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) cargo air vehicle (CAV) prototype." Today they are calling it the NeXt CAV. Naming differences aside, this beast of a drone can do some pretty impressive things. When Boeing first made their cargo drone plans public, they had already tested a prototype in their lab. Their first prototype measured 15 feet long by 18 feet wide. Without cargo, it was 4 feet tall. And guess what? It only took three months to design and build. Nearly two years later, the drone is slightly larger and heavier than the original prototype. It also has four more propellers for greater vertical lift. It's safe to say that Boeing's use of composites has been instrumental in keeping weight in check even while making the vehicle a bit larger. Boeing hopes the drone opens up new markets for cargo shipping and delivery. They intend for it to be used by companies that specialize in delivering high-value, time-sensitive cargo. We can think of a number of logistics companies right off the bat, but we'll see who steps forward once production begins. Maximum Strength, Minimum Weight We have seen video of the Boeing drone and trust us, it is impressive. Watching it fly is almost a surreal experience. The machine looks completely effortless during vertical takeoff, then almost elegant as it flies horizontally.

2. Once again, composites have made it possible. By relying on carbon fiber for key components, Boeing has been able to maximize strength while keeping weight to a minimum. Doing so is absolutely necessary if Boeing wants a drone capable of such impressive payloads without requiring monster machines. The thing is, Boeing's choice of composites is no accident. They are already one of the largest consumers of carbon fiber thanks to massive passenger jets that rely on the material for fuselage panels, wings, and more. Boeing's experience with carbon fiber is such that using it to build their drone is really a no-brainer. The Same Benefits for Your Project We don't know what you're working on at the moment, but you can enjoy the same benefits Boeing enjoys when you replace more traditional building materials with carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is ideal for drones, robots, replacement auto body parts, and so much more. Feel free to contact us for more information about how composite materials might be implemented in your project. We offer a full line of composite materials, supplies, and equipment. Also be sure to ask about our prototyping services. We can help you get your design from paper to production via our rapid prototyping platform.