MikroKopter
MikroKopter is a German company, a subsidiary of HiSystems GmbH, that manufactures battery-powered radio-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles.
Started in 2006 by Holger Buss and Ingo Busker, MikroKopter used a team of pilots to develop within 6 months a platform with great stability, manoeuvrability and powerful enough to lift a payload of several kilograms. Further developments, which incorporated an onboard GPS, piezo gyros, an acceleration sensor and a barometric sensor for altitude control, made autonomous flight possible and improved manoeuvrability.[1]
MikroKopter produce various multi-rotor models such as QuadroKopter (a quadcopter), HexaKopter and OktoKopter. The design lends itself to computer control and robotics researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a program to control swarms of what they term 'Nano Quadrotors'. CCTV cameras provide feedback on position to the controlling computer, permitting complex manoeuvres that include tumbling. [2]
Applications
A stable camera platform which is lightweight, small, cheap, versatile, reliable and remote controlled will prove invaluable to environmental scientists, town planners, armed forces, traffic control and a vast number of other applications which could benefit from a bird's-eye view. In 2010 the University of Tasmania and the Australian Antarctic Division made use of this lightweight vehicle to monitor moss beds in Antarctica to determine how they are affected by variation in temperature, wind speed and UV-B radiation. The platforms have potential in the aerial inspection of powerlines, traffic congestion control, riot control, search and rescue operations (delivering of two-way radios, light lines), vulcanology and other fields. This unmanned vehicle with its small size, relatively quiet operation, mobility and minute radar signature will pose a future security problem for industry, the armed forces and any organization or individual unreceptive to the idea of a camera in the sky.[3][4][5] A UAV company operating from Perth plans to patrol for Great White sharks over waters used by swimmers and surfers, while American realtors are using aerial photography to achieve greater sales. [6] An archaeological survey at Fife Ness found aerial images of the site to be very informative and useful. [7] In February 2012 an animal rights group used a MikroKopter to film hunters shooting pigeons in South Carolina. The hunters shot the drone down.[8][9]
The versatility of the vehicle has been demonstrated by Kiva Systems with two MikroKopters playing ping-pong using onboard sensors and processors to make real-time judgements and decisions. (see video here )
References
- ↑ "en/Mikrokopter-Get-started - Wiki". MikroKopter.de. 2006-10-24. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ Huffington Post - Nano Quadrotor Drones
- ↑ "OktoKopter set to soar Antarctic skies — Australian Antarctic Division". Antarctica.gov.au. 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ UAV Antarctic moss bed case study
- ↑ MikroKopter captures precision photos and videos
- ↑ "Mission Critical: Commercial Robotics by Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems Intl". ISSUU. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ http://www.dayofarchaeology.com/category/arch-prosp/page/7/
- ↑ Keneally, Meghan (20 February 2012) Hunters take aim at an animal rights group's video drone The Daily Mail, retrieved 5 February 2013
- ↑ Zimmerman, Dan (18 February 2013) Hunters Shoot SHARK Drone Over South Carolina The Truth about Guns, Retrieved 5 February 2013
External links
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