Boeing's Autonomous Taxi Takes Flight

Recent flight stoppages involving remote-controlled drones have highlighted the potential for self-flying vehicles to interfere with existing commercial aviation. The autonomous airborne vehicles under development generally take off and land like a small helicopter that could carry a handful of passengers. They would shuttle between predetermined sites, such as building rooftops. Boeing said its electric-powered concept demonstrator, designed to have a range of 50 miles, flew for the first time on Tuesday in Manassas, Va. The 30-foot-long, 28-foot-wide aircraft took off, hovered and landed, the company said.