8 Windracers, a UAV developer in the UK, has made its first autonomous flight in the US, as part of a new artificial intelligence (AI) centre, writes Nick Flaherty. The Windracers ULTRA, a fixed-wing, long-range aircraft, made its fully automated inaugural flight from Jasper County Airport in April. Windracers is working with Purdue University in the US on the Center on AI for Digital, Autonomous and Augmented Aviation (AIDA3) to boost the development of AI for UAVs and other autonomous systems. AIDA3 will investigate AI and machinelearning (ML) models for autonomous transport applications, ranging from demand analytics and maintenance in commercial logistics to meteorological sensing and real-time weather prediction. Measuring 6 x 9 m, the ULTRA UAV has a cruising speed of 85 mph and a range of up to 620 miles with a 100 kg payload. It uses a patented autopilot system to take off, fly and land safely without the need of a remote pilot. By 2027, nearly one million commercial, uncrewed aircraft systems are expected to be flying throughout the US, doing more than delivering packages by providing key supplies for emergency services, humanitarian aid and healthcare. To support the r&d programme at AIDA3, Windracers will bring two of its fixed-wing, long-range, ULTRA UAVs to West Lafayette this spring for regular realworld testing, with applications including mail and parcel delivery, humanitarian assistance and environmental protection such as tracking wildfires. AIDA3 is the first major output of Purdue’s Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), whose purpose is to develop AI at the intersection of the virtual and physical worlds. “With IPAI, we focus on practical innovations that bring together the ‘bytes of AI’ and the ‘atoms of what we grow, make and move’, and AIDA3 will make this a reality in the realm of aviation transportation,” said Sabine Brunswicker, a Purdue professor of digital innovation and communication, and director of AIDA3. Existing AI/ML models are not sufficiently reliable to close the loop from data to action in the real world in a way that is safe, trustworthy and scalable, she pointed out. “Currently, it can take 10 people to operate one UAV. It is time for one operator to be able to coordinate 100 UAVs at the same time,” said Brunswicker. “Our mission is to go beyond current AI/ML models, where the potential benefits of smarter UAVs can be fully realised globally. If AIDA3 is successful, its breakthroughs can truly transform society at scale.” “This collaboration will be the anchor of our r&d and will serve as a platform for the US,” said Stephen Wright, founder and executive chair at Windracers. “The centre’s focus is on interdisciplinary research in modelling and humanautonomy teaming, developing advanced statistical models and integrated systems that enhance safe, real-world applications and empower humanmachine collaboration to overcome key challenges.” Artificial intelligence AI centre in US guides inaugural flight of UK UAV Platform one June/July 2024 | Uncrewed Systems Technology The Ultra UAV on its first US flight (Image courtesy of Windracers)
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