Moonware, a tech start-up using artificial intelligence (AI) to automate ground operations at airports and vertiports, has raised $7 million in seed funding. Initial applications for its Halo software platform include British Airways, aviation services group Dnata, and ground handler Aerocharter, with the California-based company also having ambitions to support new eVTOL air taxi operators.
The seed funding round was led by venture capital groups Third Prime and Zero Infinity Partners, with backing from The House Fund, Lorimer Ventures, and some private investors. According to Moonware CEO Javier Vidal, the capital will support its efforts to make ground operations more efficient and mitigate flight delays and cancellations in the air transport sector.
Earlier this month, Moonware announced that Mexico-based Aerocharter will use the Halo system for its operations at Los Angeles International Airport. In New York, British Airways, along with other carriers in the International Airlines Group and Dnata, are set to introduce the technology at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The company is also targeting applications in the military and air cargo sectors.
The AI-driven Halo system uses real-time location data to automate task assignments and resource allocation, improving operational efficiencies that can lead to flight schedule disruptions. Moonware will install low-cost GPS tracking devices on all ground vehicles to keep tabs on their positions, while the locations of personnel also can be tracked using personal devices like smartphones and tablets. This approach is intended to provide users with a comprehensive view of the status of ground operations, to support decision making and task management.
Following the seed funding round, Moonware is expanding its workforce to increase its research and development bandwidth as it looks to expand partnerships with aircraft operators and airports. “Aviation ground operations stand at a critical juncture for necessary technological transformation, with Moonware leading the charge,” Vidal said. “This new funding round serves as a great validation of our vision to modernize the sector and allows us to catalyze a new era of efficiency and innovation for the industry."
Moonware is also working on a design for an autonomous electric vehicle called Atlas that could be used to tow aircraft during taxi movements at airports. The company said this will be operated using real-time data collected and processed through the Halo system which will allocate vehicles to specific flights.
The Atlas vehicle is intended to attach to the main landing gear of the aircraft. The system will feature sensors to allow it to safely move around the ramp without colliding with other aircraft or vehicles.