The Windracers ULTRA, an autonomous drone developed by the UK-based company Windracers, has been deployed in Antarctica to support scientific research. Designed for extreme environments, this twin-engine, 10-meter fixed-wing aircraft is capable of carrying up to 100 kg of cargo or sensors over distances up to 1,000 km. Its autonomous operation, facilitated by the Masterless™ autopilot system, allows for minimal ground operator oversight during takeoff, flight, and landing.
In early 2024, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) initiated testing of the Windracers ULTRA at the Rothera Research Station. The drone's deployment aims to enhance BAS's scientific capabilities by enabling more extensive airborne surveys with increased flight time and geographic coverage, while also reducing carbon emissions compared to traditional crewed aviation. The testing phase includes missions such as surveying protected environmentally sensitive areas, assessing marine ecosystems, investigating tectonic structures, and studying glaciological formations.
Dr. Tom Jordan, a geophysicist at BAS, highlighted the potential of UAVs in Antarctic science, stating, "Demonstrating that UAVs can robustly and routinely collect an array of different data is really exciting for the future of Antarctic science." The successful integration of the Windracers ULTRA into BAS's operations could pave the way for new methodologies in data collection across various scientific disciplines in Antarctica.
Additionally, in September 2024, Windracers announced a contract to provide two ULTRA drones to the Norwegian research institute NORCE for Antarctic missions. These drones are intended to support the Troll Observing Network (TONe), a multi-disciplinary observation network established around the Norwegian research station Troll in Dronning Maud Land. The collaboration aims to strengthen Norway's Antarctic research and monitoring capabilities by providing access to comprehensive observational data.
The Windracers ULTRA represents a significant advancement in autonomous aerial technology, offering a versatile and efficient platform for conducting scientific research in remote and challenging environments like Antarctica.