Windracers’ ULTRA Drones to Aid Critical Antarctic Research with NORCE

ULTRA UAVs to Support Norway’s Troll Observing Network in Expanding Global Understanding of the Antarctic Environment

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNab

English UAV developer Windracers recently announced that it had been contracted to provide independent Norweigan research institute NORCE with two of its ULTRA long distance cargo drones, for use in new scientific surveys of the Antarctic. 

These ULTRA UAVs will support the Troll Observing Network (TONe), a modern multi-platform, multi-disciplinary distributed observation network that will be established on and around the Norwegian research station Troll in Dronning Maud Land, one of the least studied regions of Antarctic territory. TONe will strengthen Norway’s Antarctic research and monitoring capability to give Norwegian and international researchers access to observational data as a basis for new knowledge. 

“NORCE will employ two Windracers ULTRAs to help carry out a critical environmental mission of global importance, namely, to gain a comprehensive knowledge of the physical, biological, chemical and geological processes taking place now in Antarctica,” said Simon Muderack, CEO of Windracers. “Windracers ULTRA is uniquely suited to support NORCE through its multi-mission capability and Antarctic mission experience in January 2024. The entire Windracers team looks forward to growing partnership with NORCE and delivering their mission of creating a better understanding of the Antarctic.”

Rune Storvold, Senior Vice President of Observing Systems of NORCE, said, “One of the reasons why NORCE has chosen Windracers ULTRA is because of its proven ability to complete missions in the extreme conditions of Antarctica. This is a part of a 200 million pound (GBP) upgrade with a new research station at Troll, renewable energy system and with eight science observatories and a drone service based on the Windracers ULTRA aircraft that allow us to carry a comprehensive optical and radar payload and cover the region from the nearby ocean to the Antarctic Plateau.”

Specializing in operations in the Arctic and Antarctic, NORCE develops sensors for integration into platforms (such as the Windracers ULTRA) for data analysis and real-time monitoring, data collection, analysis distribution and visualization. According to the press release, Windracers ULTRA is a heavy-lift, long distance self-flying cargo aircraft with a useful payload of up to 100kg and range of up to 1,000km. 

This won’t be the ULTRA’s first jaunt to the frozen environs of the bottom of the world- Windracers has reported over 3000km flown across 25 different research flights in the Antarctic region, including a February survey expedition with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

More information on Windracers is available here. More information on NORCE is available here. 

Ian McNabb is a staff writer based in Boston, MA. His interests include geopolitics, emerging technologies, environmental sustainability, and Boston College sports.