Boeing has unveiled a prototype of an unmanned electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing cargo air vehicle which it developed to test and evolve autonomy technology for future aerospace vehicles.

According to Boeing, the drone is designed to transport a payload up to 500 pounds for possible future cargo and logistics applications. Powered by an electric propulsion system and outfitted with eight counter-rotating blades that allow for vertical flight, the drone measures 15 feet long, 18 feet wide and 4 feet tall, and weighs 747 pounds.

“This flying cargo air vehicle represents another major step in our Boeing eVTOL strategy,” said Greg Hyslop, chief technology officer of Boeing. “We have an opportunity to really change air travel and transport, and we’ll look back on this day as a major step in that journey.”

Boeing HorizonX and Boeing Research & Technology led the development of the CAV prototype, and a team of engineers and technicians designed and built the CAV prototype in less than three months. Initial flight tests were completed at Boeing Research & Technology’s Collaborative Autonomous Systems Laboratory in Missouri. Boeing researchers will use the prototype as a flying test bed to mature the building blocks of autonomous technology for future applications.

Aurora Flight Sciences, a company acquired by Boeing late last year, is also developing an eVTOL passenger air vehicle prototype aircraft.

“Our new CAV prototype builds on Boeing’s existing unmanned systems capabilities and presents new possibilities for autonomous cargo delivery, logistics and other transportation applications,” said Steve Nordlund, vice president of Boeing HorizonX. “The safe integration of unmanned aerial systems is vital to unlocking their full potential. Boeing has an unmatched track record, regulatory know-how and systematic approach to deliver solutions that will shape the future of autonomous flight.”