He is building robots for the NHS on a disused RAF base now he is bringing 20 deer to the site and his next plan is to bring giraffes and zebras from Ukraine. DERIN CLARK meets Norfolk’s most eccentric entrepreneur.
For seven months entrepreneur William Sachiti has been rattling around the old RAF Neatishead site waiting for workers to join him at the base.
Although health and safety has kept staff away, he has not been idle or alone.
Using the time and solitude, Mr Sachiti developed an army of helper robots – called Milton - that will be used in NHS hospitals to deliver medications.
A prototype remains in the depths of a Cold War-era nuclear bunker at the Norfolk site, where the penguin-like bots were developed.
The underground maze of corridors resembles the layout of a typical hospital – which Mr Sachiti said made it the ideal place to test the self-navigating robots.
Already being trialed in a Milton Keynes hospital, the bots are ready to be rolled-out across the country.
Now with this project near completion, he is able to turn his attention to the revamping of the former RAF Neatishead base.
A self-described ‘hippy’ who is “motivated by nature”, one of his plans is set to come into fruition at the end of the month when 20 deer are due to be delivered.
The founder of artificial intelligence firm Academy of Robotics revealed he discovered that the herd was set to be culled in Scotland and wanted to save them.
He has gone through months of paperwork and applications to get permission to rehome the deer at the 26 acre site.
READ MORE: 'Tesla-like' robot hub set for Norfolk former RAF base
Mr Sachiti plans to let the deer roam free at the base, allowing them to feed on grass at the grounds – providing a natural way to keep the grass cut.
Another plan in the pipeline is to rescue giraffes and zebras from Ukraine and bring them to the Norfolk site.
The entrepreneur is currently in the process of ensuring that he has the right facilities, paperwork, and procedures in place to move the animals from the war zone.
When successfully rehomed, the wildlife will live side-by-side with the autonomous robots being developed at the base.
Energic and inventive, Mr Sachiti purchased the former RAF Neatishead site in May 2022.
He is keen to re-use its old facilities even though many of the old structures have fallen into disrepair after decades of neglect.
Already £100,000 has been spent just on cutting back and relandscaping overgrown shrubs and weeds.
Attention is now being turned to revamping buildings into modern offices and factories that can be used to develop, test, and build autonomous robots.
Local electricians, builders, and gardeners have been coming and going from the site working to get it suitable for employees.
Further renovations will include reinstating the site’s former tennis court and installing solar lights across the base.
Once fully operational, there will be hundreds of workers at the site.
There is also set to be a big recruitment drive in the next six months – many of who will be recruited locally.
Mr Sachiti is determined to ensure the location is completely self-sufficient and is even tapping into an underground stream for its water supply.
He has been working with local businesses wherever possible and is keen to keep using Norfolk firms as the site continues to be redeveloped and more robots are built there.
For example, he said that he is looking for glass-fiber experts in the region to help build the firm’s robots.
Along with Milton, the former Dragons’ Den contestant has also invented a fleet of self-driving robots – Kar-go.
These bots are used by the military to move equipment across large bases, as well as private businesses.
The driverless technology used in Kar-go bots was utilised to ensure that Miton could be self-navigating.
To help move the robots across the country, Mr Sachiti has converted an old bus into a technology hub that enables the bots to be transported and trialed when being delivered.
As refurbishment continues, soon it will be safe for workers, wildlife, and robots to exist side-by-side at the former RAF base.
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