PREVIEW

British Antarctic Survey scientists have shared the first images and video from their new Windracers drone, as they test the ULTRA uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) over the southern continent’s icy wastes.
Over the last few weeks the UAV has flown over 720kms collecting images and scientific data that could enable researchers to widen the range of research they do and understand how Antarctica is being affected by climate change.
Designed for extreme environments like Antarctica, the Windracers ULTRA is a fully autonomous, twin-engine, 10-metre fixed-winged aircraft, capable of carrying 100 kg of cargo or sensors up to 1000 km.
Carl Robinson, head of Airborne Survey Technology & UAVs at BAS says: “So far so good, everything has very much gone to plan and the Windracers ULTRA has shown that it can robustly gather a range of science data. Our initial flights have been up to 1.5 hours long with even longer missions planned in the next couple of weeks.”
Tom Jordan, the lead scientist on the project, adds: “It’s very early days, but initial data is already showing the platform can collect high quality environmental information useful to a range science disciplines”.
During this season’s testing phase, the Windracers ULTRA will assess the marine food chain (krill) using cameras, investigate tectonic structures with magnetic and gravity sensors, assess ice sheet structures using airborne radar, and test an atmospheric turbulence probe.
Stephen Wright, Founder and Chairman of Windracers, says that he believes the drones are an important aide to the BAS’s work.
“We firmly believe that high endurance, high payload autonomous drones have a valuable role to play in the future of environmental research,” he explains. “So it has been hugely rewarding to see the team testing the ULTRA drone in Antarctica and, while it is early days, we’re very encouraged by its achievements so far and the feedback we’ve been receiving from the scientists and engineers on the ground.”
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British Antarctic Survey scientists have shared the first images and video from their new Windracers drone, as they test the ULTRA uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) over the southern continent’s icy wastes.
Over the last few weeks the UAV has flown over 720kms collecting images and scientific data that could enable researchers to widen the range of research they do and understand how Antarctica is being affected by climate change.
Designed for extreme environments like Antarctica, the Windracers ULTRA iis a fully autonomous, twin-engine, 10-metre fixed-winged aircraft, capable of carrying 100 kg of cargo or sensors up to 1000 km.
Carl Robinso, head of Airborne Survey Technology & UAVs at BAS says: “So far so good, everything has very much gone to plan and the Windracers ULTRA has shown that it can robustly gather a range of science data. Our initial flights have been up to 1.5 hours long with even longer missions planned in the next couple of weeks.”
Tom Jordan, the lead scientist on the project, adds: “It’s very early days, but initial data is already showing the platform can collect high quality environmental information useful to a range science disciplines”.
During this season’s testing phase, the Windracers ULTRA will assess the marine food chain (krill) using cameras, investigate tectonic structures with magnetic and gravity sensors, assess ice sheet structures using airborne radar, and test an atmospheric turbulence probe.
Stephen Wright, Founder and Chairman of Windracers, says that he believes the drones are an important aide to the BAS’s work.
“We firmly believe that high endurance, high payload autonomous drones have a valuable role to play in the future of environmental research,” he explains. “So it has been hugely rewarding to see the team testing the ULTRA drone in Antarctica and, while it is early days, we’re very encouraged by its achievements so far and the feedback we’ve been receiving from the scientists and engineers on the ground.”