If you've seen "The Fifth Element," "Blade Runner" or "The Jetsons," you might have a certain vision of our future with flying cars.
For the most part, they hum around without creating bumper-bending gridlock. How they do that is a mystery of sci-fi. But, in the real world, managing autonomous cargo and passenger aircraft is emerging as a real challenge we have to figure out.
Austin-based AI startup SparkCognition and aviation giant Boeing on Tuesday announced they have established a new company -- SkyGrid -- to develop traffic routing, data anlaytics, cybersecurity and traffic management for unmanned aircraft.
That could range from drones dropping off consumer deliveries to unmanned rescue drones and autonomous airplanes.
Well, in the real world, that appears to be the domain of technologists developing the artificial intelligence that might manage this 3D landscape for autonomous airplanes.
"SkyGrid merges expertise in AI, blockchain, security and aviation to deliver breakthrough technological advancements for the rapidly-growing urban aerial mobility industry," Amir Husain, who will serve as CEO of SkyGrid in addition to his role as founder and CEO of SparkCognition, said in a news release. "By offering scalable and robust capabilities in a single, integrated framework, SkyGrid will make large-scale air vehicle applications more practical and accessible."
SkyGrid's team will be small and nimble to increase speed to market, a company representative told Inno. Several new jobs will be added for software development and sales, and the company's headcount is expected to scale with the business as it grows and gets regulatory certifications.
Steve Nordlund, vice president and general manager of Boeing NeXt, said the new company is unmatched in the emerging industry.
"SkyGrid is building the digital infrastructure that will make safe, seamless commercial and personal transport possible for billions of people around the world," he said.
This isn't the first partnership for Boeing and SparkCognition. Earlier this year, the two companies announced a collaboration on AI tech for air traffic solutions, and Boeing HorizonX Ventures is major investor in SparkCognition.
And Boeing recently announced a passenger-carrying hypersonic concept and an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle for on-demand cargo transport and urban air travel.
"We're at a point in history where technological advances and societal trends are converging to demand bold solutions and a different way to travel," Greg Hyslop, Boeing's chief technology office and chairman of SkyGrid, said in a statement at the time. "Boeing has the experience and expertise to safely and efficiently shape this emerging world of travel and transport."
