MicroPilot (Hall 1, Stand C7), a developer of miniature autopilot systems, is displaying innovative mini-UAVs that use its autopilot systems. At Farnborough, MicroPilot chose to unveil the Israeli Boomerang UAV, designed by BlueBird, using MicroPilot's MP2028 miniature avionics package to support its fully autonomous flight capability from takeoff to recovery. This backpackable UAV, with a wingspan of 2.4m and weight 5kg, can be launched from a catapult or by hand. Carrying a payload of half a kilo, it uses a high-resolution, stabilized, continuous panning camera. The Boomerang operates at an altitude of 500 ft, up to 10 km from the control station, and can loiter over a target area for up to two hours. Flying at an airspeed of 55-100 km/h it can operate under strong winds of up to 35 kt.
