Boeing Patented a Drone That Turns Into a Submarine—Just Like in Movies

The idea to build a sheet that turns into a submarine is not new . However , the mission to work up an remote-controlled fluctuation of such a vehicle is rather 21st - century . Boeing really alreadyhas a design quick .

Earlier this class , the USPTOawarded the aviation hulk with a patentfor a “ rapid deployment air and water fomite . ” It ’s evidently exactly what it sounds like : a drone that can be launched from an aircraft carrier and plunge into the ocean near its target . That ’s when the magic find . When the drone hits the water , the letters patent says it detaches portions of the annexe with “ an explosive dash or H2O soluble gum ” for reduce drag . The drone can then deploy a cargo and/or resurface to send messages back to the mothership .

This is not yet a veridical fomite . Boeing just has a patent on the design , and it ’s ill-defined if the society ever plans to build it . It ’s basically an invention from a Batman film , so it ’s hard to comprehend just how utilitarian it would be in real life . However , people have been endeavor to work up something like thissince before World War II , so there ’s obviously interest . The United States Navyeven built and examine a dronethat can be launched from underwater . Now permit ’s see if the individual sphere can do the reverse .

Starship Test 9