University of Manitoba Wins 2006 AUVSI Student Competition using MicroPilot’s MP2028g
July 5, 2006
MicroPilot Inc. is proud to announce that University of Manitoba’s student team participating in the 4th annual AUVSI Student Competition beat out 17 other institutions for first place overall and first place in their flight category.
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Program Executive Office for Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation hosts the annual competition, which showcases unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology from around the world. Held at Webster Field Annex in St. Inigoes, Maryland June 17 and 18, 2006, this is the fourth year MicroPilot has participated as the official autopilot of the competition. Over the four years since the competition began MicroPilot's autopilots have flown many of the winning UAV's, including the University of Manitoba UAV this year. MicroPilot autopilots also flew three of the four winning UAV's at this year's competition.
The flying portion of the competition requires competitor teams to launch an unmanned, radio-controllable aircraft that transitions to autonomous flight. The aircraft must then navigate a specified course and use on-board payload sensors to locate and assess a series of man-made targets before returning to the launch point for landing. The flight can last no more than 40 minutes. Using MicroPilot’s MP2028g autopilot, servo expansion board, GPS receiver, antenna, connector kit, and HORIZONmp ground control software, the University of Manitoba plane completed its flight with no human control, including takeoff and landing.
“We are delighted that University of Manitoba’s team took home the title this year,” said Howard Loewen, President and creator of MicroPilot, “It is not only a pleasure to be the official autopilot of the competition, but an extra bonus to have our local team win.”
Taking 2nd, 3rd and 4th places respectively were Brigham Young University, University of Texas at Arlington and Virginia Polytechnic. Also competing were Cornell University, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Istanbul Technical University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University, Polytechnic University of NY, University of California at San Diego, University of Colorado, University of Kentucky, University of Mississippi, University of West Florida, Virginia Commonwealth University.
