Tech start-up Moonware has secured $7mn in venture capital to automate airport ground operations through artificial intelligence (AI).
In hopes to “revolutionise the aviation industry”, the company said that with the funding it is ready to address the industry’s “operational inefficiencies”.
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.
Javier Vidal, CEO of Moonware, said: “Aviation ground operations stand at a critical juncture for necessary technological transformation, with Moonware leading the charge.
“This new funding round serves as great validation of our vision to modernise the sector and allows us to catalyse a new era of efficiency and innovation for the industry.”
The company added that the new funding underscores the industry’s confidence in the “innovative approach Moonware has taken with HALO” – the world’s first ground traffic control platform powered by AI.
Initial applications for the platform include British Airways and dnata, to be rolled out at New York JFK.
Mike Kim, Third Prime general partner, added: “We’re excited to continue partnering with Moonware, a burgeoning leader in aviation technology.
“This capital infusion sets up the stage for transformative growth, reshaping aviation standards and driving transformation across industries embracing digital evolution.”
Moonware claims HALO offers a transformative solution, promising to revolutionise the passenger and cargo sectors, and that it consolidates various aspects of ground operations into one platform, enabling increased awareness and operational efficiency on the ramp.
Being powered by artificial intelligence means airlines’ process management and decision-making will be taken by the software, “streamlining” operations.
This will result in faster turnarounds, minimised delays and higher flight throughput, according to the start-up.
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.
It will be operated using real-time data collected and processed through the HALO system which will allocate vehicles to specific flights.
