Boeing [NYSE: BA] is funding the creation of a state-of-the-art laboratory facility dedicated to the research and testing of autonomous aerial vehicles within Stanford University’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
The Boeing Flight & Autonomy Laboratory features a control room and maker area, the newest motion-capture cameras and sensor networks, and a public observation area. The lab is the latest support by Boeing in Stanford’s Aero/Astro department.
“We’re pleased to contribute to Stanford’s mission of educating lifelong learners, entrepreneurs and leaders,” said Charles Toups, vice president and general manager of the Disruptive Computing & Networks organization at Boeing.
“We are very grateful to Boeing for their gift,” said Charbel Farhat, the Vivian Church Hoff professor of Aircraft Structures and chairman of Stanford’s Aero/Astro department. “The company’s generosity helps enable us to continue to educate the next generation of aero- and astronautic engineers and conduct the kind of groundbreaking research for which Stanford is known.”
In addition to the $2.5 million contribution to fund the Boeing Flight & Autonomy Laboratory, located in the Durand Building, Boeing is a founding member of the Stanford Aero/Astro Launch Fund for a new undergraduate program in aeronautics and astronautics. The inaugural class in that program will graduate in 2020.
Since 2010, Boeing has contributed nearly $850,000 to Stanford curriculum enrichment, STEM and diversity initiatives, as well as to student organizations such as the Stanford Student Space Initiative and Stanford Solar Car Project. The company also hosts an annual tour of its commercial airplane production facilities in Everett, Washington, for Sloan Fellows in the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
“We are proud to support the diverse people and programs at Stanford, many of whom continue to further aerospace technology today,” said Bruce Dickinson, vice president and general manager of the 747/767 program at Boeing.
Boeing also has funded more than $26 million in collaborative R&D projects at Stanford since 2003. These projects span diverse fields of study, including aerodynamic analysis and optimization using advanced computational methods, materials and sensors, machine learning and autonomy.
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As the top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.
