MicroPilot’s HORIZONtrainer Produces Smarter, Stronger, and Safer UAV Operators
MicroPilot rolls out a training simulator for UAV operators. Customers can be rest assured that their operators will be skilled and competent before they take high-cost aircrafts to the air. MicroPilot’s new training simulator keeps all operators current with technology updates.
February 5, 2012 - Stony Mountain, Manitoba, Canada - MicroPilot, leader in autopilot solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), now releases HORIZONtrainer, a training simulator with built-in self-assessment. Effective training has long been recognized as a key part of aviation safety. Unlike typical systems, UAVs are airborne and therefore students must keep their aircrafts moving in a correct manner. Proper UAV operator training guarantees an aircraft’s safety and the welfare of those on the ground.
Simulator training is widely recognized in the aviation industry as a cost-effective training tool. HORIZONtrainer provides an efficient simulator and real-UAV-in-flight training. HORIZONtrainer's ab initio segment conducts in-flight training with a real UAV in the air and an instructor positioned beside the student.
HORIZONtrainer also allows operators to keep their skills sharp and maintain product currency with comprehensive recurring training. Additionally, HORIZONtrainer’s recurring training segment benefits operators who are based remotely and companies with confining budgets. Moreover, expansive organizations with many difficult training requirements rely on HORIZONtrainer to maintain company-wide competency standards.
“Our training solution presents pre-programmed scenarios that challenge trainees with abnormal and emergency conditions,” says Howard Loewen, MicroPilot President. “HORIZONtrainer’s recurring training reinforces what students learn during ab initio training and ensures students are prepared for all likely emergencies.”
HORIZONtrainer simulates urgent situations as well as failures, such as terrain conflict, loss of GPS link, and reduced engine power. Instructors can simulate failures and observe how students handle failures. In addition, HORIZONtrainer allows students to rate their competence after each scenario. Based on these ratings, HORIZONtrainer presents students with appropriate scenarios thereafter. Additionally, customers can easily construct and add custom scenarios to their base.
Since, some operating knowledge cannot be covered by simulated training flights, HORIZONtrainer will also present true/false, multiple-choice, and short essay questions. Based on student answers, HORIZONtrainer presents more questioning in the student’s weak areas and less in strong areas. Assessment topics include basic aerodynamics, GPS and navigation, communications, PID feedback control, radio control basics, and basic electronics. HORIZONtrainer offers a basic set of testing scenarios and test questions. UAV manufacturers can easily reorganize, add, or delete questions based on their requirements.
HORIZONtrainer works in conjunction with MicroPilot’s HORIZONmp ground control station. HORIZONtrainer is also compatible with any ground control station software developed using MicroPilot’s XTENDER software developer’s kit. When connected to HORIZONmp’s UAV simulator, HORIZONtrainer harnesses the power of a software-in-the-loop simulator. With this simulator, students are challenged to handle simulated communication failures with the ground station, high wind flight maneuvers, and more.
About MicroPilot
With 725 clients in 65 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.
Contact:
Howard Loewen
info@micropilot.com
+1.204.344.5558
www.micropilot.com
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