Windracers invites you to see and learn about ULTRA, the pioneering self-flying aircraft developed and built in the UK, at FIA 2024 between 22nd and 26th July.
Windracers will be located at Stand 1110 and on static display outside.
Windracers is the pioneer of self-flying aircraft, having started from research projects at the University of Southampton. The idea was simple and bold – to find a new way to deliver humanitarian aid reliably and cost-efficiently to people in remote locations. From the heritage of this cause, the mission of Windracers is now to make self-flying aircraft an affordable, dependable, everyday reality to bring prosperity to those who need it.
Stephen Wright, Chairman at Windracers Group, said: “The middle mile of supply and logistics, especially to remote locations, has long been overlooked by the industry and is ripe for innovation. We’ve spent the last seven years focused on developing the most commercially viable essential logistics drones so we’re truly delighted to be working on this ambitious and pioneering deployment of autonomous aircraft for the logistics sectors.”
Visit Windracers Stand 1110 at the UK Research and Innovation stand (located in Hall 1) to meet the Windracers team and learn about ULTRA, Windracers’ fixed-wing aircraft with a 10 m wingspan and the ability to carry 100kg payload over 1000 km. ULTRA is dependable, universal and lower cost than traditional middle-mile logistics transportation, making it suitable for multiple applications and mission types. U Windracers offers not only the ULTRA self-flying aircraft but also the training required to operate it. Organizations can purchase ULTRA and receive thorough training for independent operation, or they can choose Windracers to manage the entire operation, ensuring seamless mission execution. With ULTRA, you can elevate your logistics and mission capabilities through advanced technology and reliability.
ULTRA utilizes essential, autonomous autopilot technology with deep redundancy that ensures safe flight continuation. This capability is enabled Masterless™, Windracers’ AI-supported autopilot technology, powers ULTRA and delivers an autonomous solution from engines on to engines off.
ULTRA is a dependable platform that has been designed and built to scale. From eliminating the need for a pilot to creating a universal platform with high utilization, a streamlined operational experience, and comprehensive maintenance, Windracers aims to reduce the cost of automated logistics for organizations with diverse mission needs. Our goal is to make advanced, cost-effective logistics accessible to all.
Windracers ULTRA provides a platform from which to address solutions in three use case areas:
Deliver – Mail & Parcel distribution to remote locations, known as the middle mile, has long been overlooked by the mail delivery and logistics industry. Operating “long thin” routes such as these, to remote or island communities point-to-point, has always been challenging and complicated. This results in slow and infrequent deliveries that are expensive to operate profitably. In addition to our ground-breaking work with the Royal Mail in 2023, Windracers is now participating in the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to test and refine parcel and post delivery for selected routes in the Orkney Islands using the ULTRA self-flying aircraft.
Detect – This is where ULTRA is utilized as means for uncrewed aerial survey for use cases such as early detection of forest fires (using SWARM technology), geological survey and agricultural survey. Windracers partnered with British Antarctic Survey in January 2024 when ULTRA gathered a broader range of science data in an effective, lower-carbon, lower cost manner than traditional crewed aviation. In total, ULTRA flew a total of 3,000 km in the Antarctic. The outcome was achieved: the expedition monitored and measured the impact of climate change on our environment, including ice thickness measurement, marine and mammal life, and conducted geological survey of targeted areas in the Antarctic.
Drop – ULTRA has Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capability (automatic take-off and land within 150 m in wet and dry conditions) and can be fitted with drop doors to provide the capability to drop and deliver essential security and defence logistics to where they are needed most. ULTRA provides a maximum take-off weight of 450 kg, featuring an internal cargo bay that supports a payload capacity of up to 100 kg. Since 2023, Ukraine has operated multiple ULTRA self-flying aircraft for defence resupply for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in addition to conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
Through completing numerous missions for our customers, Windracers has accumulated extensive operational flying time, earning more BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) permissions than any other operator. We have successfully conducted challenging flight trials in remote locations like the Scilly Isles, Orkney, and Shetland Islands. From this, Windracers has gained approval to fly in the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom, solidifying our position as a pioneer in the aviation industry.
ULTRA by Windracers ULTRA is long-range, heavy lift and dependable. The ground-breaking aircraft that will disrupt middle mile logistics to make self-flying aircraft an affordable, dependable, everyday reality to bring prosperity to those who need it.
First published by FINN: www.wearefinn.com
Jun 20, 2024 – 10:52 am
