Simon Thompson has joined Windracers Group (https://windracers.com/), the low-cost platform for autonomous air transport, in a brand new function as Group Chief Govt Officer. He’ll initially deal with product R&D, fundraising & world development of the corporate.
Windracers was based in 2017 with a transparent mission of utilizing self-flying low-cost drones to ship humanitarian assist to distant communities. The imaginative and prescient of bringing prosperity to people who want it lives on right now.
Its ULTRA UAV – a strong, twin-engine fixed-wing plane with a 10-metre wingspan – can take off, fly and land safely with out the necessity of a distant pilot because of its proprietary Masterless autopilot system. The multi-purpose drone can carry 100 kg as much as 1000 km, with purposes starting from the supply of parcels and medical provides to humanitarian assist and the detection of forest fires.
Simon Thompson, incoming Group CEO of Windracers, stated: “I’m delighted to be becoming a member of this cutting-edge British know-how enterprise primarily based in Southampton. Windracers is the low-cost champion of autonomous aviation and we are actually very nicely positioned to take this functionality world. There may be a lot to do, however the current work with the Royal Navy and British Antarctic Survey are a transparent demonstration of the corporate’s nice potential to learn many enterprise sectors world wide.”
Stephen Wright, Founder & Govt Chairman of Windracers added “We’re centered on making self-flying plane reasonably priced, reliable and an on a regular basis actuality. Simon’s background in constructing buyer benefiting know-how, deep logistics experience and expertise as a FTSE CEO can be invaluable in supporting our mission of taking Windracers’ autonomous drone platform world.”
Simon’s digital experience constructed at firms similar to Apple & lastminute.com mixed together with his deep logistics experience from Ocado PLC & Royal Mail will present invaluable perception to an already gifted crew.
Windracers just lately expanded into North America, launching the world’s first AI middle centered on autonomous aviation with the esteemed Purdue College in Indiana. The middle, named AIDA3, is geared toward realizing the total transformational potential of uncrewed aerial autos (UAVs) and associated applied sciences by making certain self-flying plane will be operated effectively and at scale. The corporate’s ULTRA UAV has accomplished its first flights in the USA with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval.
Windracers supplies options throughout 5 sectors: Mail & Parcel, Humanitarian Help, Medical, Defence and Environmental Safety. It has already accomplished profitable flight trials with Royal Mail, Royal Navy, MOD, British Antarctic Survey and Future Flight problem for UK Analysis and Innovation (UKRI).