The key to making the Vortex unique (compared to other PG-only eWinches on the market)  is our custom digital controller - it is what makes the Vortex a "SMART" winch.  It will allow all aspects of the winch operation to be automated with manual over-rides.  It has required substantial development done in-house at Instinct by our electronics engineer.  No other winch out there has this and is also the foundation for future features - it enables controlling many other parameters in the motor controller that simply isn't an option without these custom electronics.

We may only allow our winches to go out to new stationary winch operators with the Digital controller as it will greatly assist in winch operating.

We have one other option for those experienced winch operators that opt for much more limited/basic controls and no automation and most importantly NO ability to limit the max torque the winch ha to offer during a tow.  Over-tensioning a pilot is the biggest safety risk in stationary winch towing.

The Custom Analog version - is a basic controller in an ergonomic handheld box and also the ability to limit the max-power of the tension available to the winch operator during the tow - the goal is to not make the full power of the Vortex available to the pilot...it is to reduce the possibility of over-tensioning the pilot during a tow.  THE reason why stationary winching has a sorted reputation.

This is a nice feature if you are switching between teaching and experienced pilots or between paragliders and hang gliders.  It REDUCES the ability to over-tension a pilot.  It also activates the digital brake and disables the throttle in the "Line Out" mode for easy line retrieving.

The Custom Digital controller is the reason you should be considering only the Vortex as an eWinch solution.  It will house the SMARTs of the SmartWinch including, WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRan, ethernet, memory for logging, connection to rpm and direction sensor, connection to rope guillotine.  This allows us to automate all aspects of towing and the ability to have some presets for various forms of towing, various types of aircraft (PG & HG) and even the ability to have per-pilot towing profiles.  It will also allow us to automate step-towing in the near future.