The first equipment at the centre in Westcott is expected to be operational this Autumn.
Satellite Applications Catapult announced today (209/09) its investment in the National Autonomy and Drone Innovation Centre (NADIC) at Westcott Venture Park will be backed by £2.25 million from Buckinghamshire Council.
The facility, designed primarily for small and medium-sized companies and component builders, is intended to give UK companies somewhere to test drones and critical components under controlled, repeatable conditions including testing how drones perform when satellite navigation or communications are disrupted.
Council leader Steven Broadbent said their financial backing "is about investing in Buckinghamshire’s future economy and making sure residents benefit from the skilled jobs, training opportunities and wider prosperity that successful innovation sectors can bring.
"The Buckinghamshire Growth Fund was created for exactly this purpose - to invest in projects that bring long-term value to our economy, communities, businesses, residents and I am delighted that this first major funding decision does exactly that.
“This is not simply investment in individual organisations, it is investment in Buckinghamshire’s ability to compete nationally in the industries that will shape future growth. It’s important to note that this funding is dedicated to economic growth and investment activity and is not money diverted from day-to-day council services."
The centre's capabilities will include:
- Position, navigation and timing (PNT) testing facilities that allow companies to assess how systems perform when satellite navigation signals are unavailable, disrupted or manipulated
- A Satellite Communications Integration & Test Lab enabling drone and autonomous systems to be validated across satellite, terrestrial and hybrid communications networks
- A Remote Operations Control Centre where operators can train, simulate missions and validate remote command-and-control procedures under realistic operating conditions.
- A Windshaper system capable of generating precise, repeatable indoor wind conditions
- A robotic arm
- A motion platform that can recreate operations on moving vessels, vehicles and uneven terrain
The robotic arm, motion platform, and control room are expected to be operational from this autumn, with the full facility anticipated in the second half of 2027.
John Abbott, Chief Executive Officer at the Satellite Applications Catapult, said:
"Britain is very good at proving that drones can work. What we have never built is the shared infrastructure that turns a promising system into a proven one. Companies come to us with technology that works and a gap in their evidence, and there has been nowhere accessible for many of them to close it.
"A company should be able to arrive with a system, establish its operational limits under controlled conditions, and leave with data that goes straight into a regulatory application. This facility offers a serious step forward for the sector."
A418 Closed between Wingrave Crossroads and Wing
