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Club MotoFest Breakfast Meet to showcase drone and autonomous vehicle technology
The Club MotoFest Breakfast event will provide a taster of the future technology to be showcased at this year’s MotoFest Coventry, in partnership with E.ON Drive, – with one of the UK’s largest operating drones and an autonomous vehicle both on display this weekend.
The PW-Manta Ray drone, which is operated by Coventry-based Skyfarer Ltd, and an autonomous Ford Ranger vehicle will be on display in Broadgate, in Coventry city centre from 8am on Saturday 29 April, as part of the Club MotoFest Breakfast Meet event.
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As one of the largest operating drones of its type, the PW-Manta Ray weighs 25KG, with an additional 10KG cargo capability (35Kg), and has a 3.5m wingspan. It can be flown both autonomously or under BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) conditions, which gives it a great application for medical deliveries.
The autonomous Ford Ranger will be provided by Conigital and Coventry University and is part of the Multi-Area Connected Automated Mobility (MACAM) Project. The MACAM project will see a trial of self-driving technology within Coventry city centre and at the NEC in around 18 months’ time.
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For those visiting Saturday’s free event, they will have the opportunity to get up close to and find out more about both the PW-Manta Ray and the autonomous Ford Ranger, ahead of their appearance at MotoFest Coventry, in partnership with E.ON Drive, on Saturday 3 June and Sunday 4 June.
James Noble, MotoFest Coventry Festival Director, said: “With our event partners such as E.ON Drive, Coventry City Council and Coventry University, we are in an incredibly strong position to showcase the best in sustainable transport, low carbon motoring and advanced automotive and electric vehicle technology at MotoFest Coventry.
“At our Club MotoFest Breakfast Meet, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a taster of the future technology showcase we have planned for the main event weekend.
“Alongside the future technology on show we will also have static displays of Club MotoFest members’ vehicles, all of which is part of our commitment to celebrating the city’s motoring past, present and future.”
The PW-Manta Ray is part of a fleet of four drones operated by Skyfarer Ltd, each with a specific design advantage for their role.
The Intelligent Energy drone, which is powered by hydrogen fuel cells, is used for long-endurance inspection/analysis, while the PW-1 is a smaller Vertical Take-Off and Launch (VTOL) drone used for vaccine and blood delivery. The HT8 Drone in a box (DIAB) is used for autonomous security, inspection and damage review.
Cllr Jim O’Boyle cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change said, “Motofest gives us a great opportunity showcase the future of transport – which will be cleaner, greener and eventually autonomous. Much of the technology that will drive the green industrial revolution is being pioneered right here is Coventry – and it will help to provide the jobs of the future too.
“I hope people will enjoy the opportunity to get up close to some of these innovations and be inspired for the future.”
E.ON Drive is the lead brand partner for MotoFest Coventry in 2022. E.ON Drive is part of energy supply and solutions provider E.ON and provides an end-to-end electric vehicle charging service for customers.
This year’s MotoFest, in partnership with E.ON Drive, will have a significant future technology focus, showcasing the latest alternatively fuelled vehicles and electric motorcycles, including Maeving, a Coventry based Electric motorbike company, who are leading in the electrification journey.
The new future technology zone, based in the main Greyfriars Green festival site, will see exhibitors committed to showcasing the latest electric vehicles and motorcycles. Many of those two and four-wheeled exhibits will also take part in dynamic displays on the main sprint circuit and the motorsport and drift arenas.
There will also be demonstrations of autonomous vehicle technology and future transport solutions on Friday 2 June – a new additional day to the MotoFest Coventry weekend, with more announcements to follow soon regarding the full programme of events.
MotoFest Coventry is a two-day festival dedicated to the city of Coventry’s motoring heritage, taking place on Saturday 3 June and Sunday 4 June. It will feature a unique blend of racing demonstrations, static displays, live music and anything else with a connection to Coventry, transport and the city’s motoring heritage.
For more details about MotoFest Coventry, visit https://www.coventrymotofest.com/