Boeing has been given a patent for a new kind of amphibious drone that’s like something straight out of a classic spy movie. The aeronautics giant has a novel design for an unmanned aerial drone that can spontaneously convert into an unmanned submarine and go for a dive.
Boeing’s take on a real world “transformer” begins with a drone that is launched aboard a large carrier aircraft and then separated near its target spot for entering the water. When the craft hits the water, some combination of its rear wings, stabilizer and one of its sets of propelling blades detach to make it more maneuverable underwater.
via Gizmag
Image: Boeing’s concept for a UAV that transforms into a submarine (Credit: USPTO/Boeing)