Trimble UX5 Auto-Piloted by MicroPilot is Granted FAA Exemption
Trimble’s UX5 Aerial Imaging Solution was recently granted an exemption by the FAA making it possible for Trimble to conduct commercial flights in the US. Trimble’s UX5 is integrated with MicroPilot’s MP2128HELI autopilot.
January 5, 2015 - Stony Mountain, Manitoba, Canada –The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted a flight exemption to Trimble for its UX5 Aerial Imaging Solution. With this exemption, the company can now conduct commercial operation of its unmanned aerial system (UAS) in the US. The exemption was granted pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.
Trimble anticipates surveying, agriculture, oil & gas, mining, construction, and environmental industries will use the UX5 to generate 2D and 3D deliverables such as orthomosaic images, three-dimensional point clouds and contour maps. The system autonomously captures a series of high-resolution images during flight, which is typically up to 50 minutes covering as much as 2.3 square kilometers (approximately 1 square mile). The Trimble UX5 enables the collection of large amounts of data faster than traditional surveying or mapping technologies.
"Trimble is one of the first companies to receive an exemption like this from the FAA,” says Howard Loewen, MicroPilot President. "I am pleased the FAA is now opening the NAS for commercial UAS operations.”
Trimble’s UX5 operates with the help of MicroPilot’s MP2128HELI autopilot. The MP2128HELI provides extraordinary user definability. Additionally, its open architecture provides access to gains and the ability to load custom code using MicroPilot's developer's kit. MP2128HELI is one autopilot among a family of solutions. Customers who learn how to use the MP2128HELI know how to use all of MicroPilot’s autopilots.
Trimble’s design team customized MicroPilot’s existing ground control software, HORIZONmp, to accomplish operations integral to the UX5’s success in the field. Operators easily plan missions, perform flight checks and monitor flights. The software’s user-friendly interface allows its users to efficiently define project areas, avoidance zones, and flight parameters. Users also set takeoff and landing locations, as well as, perform pre- and post-flight checks. In addition, downloading flight data and images after landing is simplified since previous generations of this model.
About MicroPilot
With 850 clients in over 70 countries, MicroPilot is the world leader in miniature autopilots for UAVs and MAVs. MicroPilot is the first UAV autopilot manufacturer to bring to market a sub 30 gram autopilot, triple redundant autopilot, and full-function general purpose autopilot. MicroPilot offers a family of lightweight UAV autopilots that can fly fixed-wing, transitional, helicopter, and Multi Rotor UAVs. MicroPilot also provides complementary products such as the XTENDERmp SDK, trueHWIL, payloads, and catapults.
