Windhover Labs is close to introducing a low-cost modular flight computer that it says will be suitable for integration with a variety of new applications. The Texas-based company initially developed the open-architecture software and hardware with commercial drones and small satellites in mind but says that the technology could be readily adapted for use with new eVTOL aircraft.
According to cofounder and CEO Mathew Benson, the new computers are based on largely open-sourced software that he initially helped to develop as a contractor to NASA and which he says can be readily certified by the FAA. “To make the flight computer itself, we took the same approach as for manned space flight and so it is almost over-engineered for drones,” he told FutureFlight. “We’re looking at partners [developing new aircraft] that are still a year or two away from having something that is flyable. We’ve tried to make this very cost-effective, on the assumption that it is almost always the flight computer that goes over budget in a program.”
The Windhover team built in redundancy throughout the computer and the supporting sensors. It aims to get the system certified under FAA rules to support autonomous flight in the U.S. National Air Space. The company also is marketing its solution as an alternative to technology developed outside the U.S. that is now restricted by new legislation covering drone security.
Looking ahead to supporting commercial unmanned or piloted operations, including air taxi services, Windhover intends to enable its computer to be networked with other vehicles and systems on the ground via Wi-Fi and 5G connections. A key goal is that its autopilot function would serve as an operating system to support autonomous flight operations.
Windhover Labs is owned by a group of self-funded military veterans with more than 15 years of experience in human space flight software development. The software framework employed for the new flight computer has been in use with space vehicles since 2009. The company had some initial funding through NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research program that culminated with a test flight to demonstrate its open drone software ecosystem.
According to Windhover, it has been profitable since 2017 and is now conducting early integration work for its system with undisclosed drone manufacturers. It is seeking further investment to bridge the gap to full production and to fund further product development.
