MikroKopter
German manufacturer of multi-rotor UAVs with autonomous flight capability.
MikroKopter, a subsidiary of HiSystems GmbH based in Moormerland in Lower Saxony’s Leer District, builds battery-powered, radio-controlled drones. The company was founded in 2006 by Holger Buss and Ingo Busker. Using a team of pilots, they created a stable, maneuverable platform within six months that could lift several kilograms. Later additions—an onboard GPS, piezo gyroscope, acceleration sensor, and barometric altimeter—enabled autonomous flight and better handling.
The company’s multi-rotor models include the QuadroKopter, HexaKopter, and OktoKopter. Their design suits computer control; researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have used them to manage swarms of what they call “Nano Quadrotors,” with CCTV cameras feeding position data to a computer for complex moves like tumbling. Parent company HiSystems GmbH also integrated a LEA-6S GPS receiver, a high-performance u-blox module, into MikroKopter aircraft for precise positioning in photography and other uses.
In February 2012, an animal rights group deployed a MikroKopter to film hunters shooting pigeons in South Carolina. The hunters shot the drone down.
- Founded
- 2006
- Founders
- Holger Buss and Ingo Busker
- Location
- Moormerland, Leer District, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Parent company
- HiSystems GmbH
- Product types
- QuadroKopter, HexaKopter, OktoKopter
Lore & Background
MikroKopter was started in 2006 by Holger Buss and Ingo Busker. The company used a team of pilots to develop within six months a platform with great stability, manoeuvrability, and powerful enough to lift a payload of several kilograms. Further developments incorporated an onboard GPS, piezo gyroscope, an acceleration sensor, and a barometric sensor for altitude control, making autonomous flight possible and improving manoeuvrability.
The company produces various multi-rotor models such as the 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. Parent HiSystems GmbH has developed a built-in LEA-6S GPS receiver, u-blox’ highest-performance GPS module for MikroKopter aircraft, allowing precision positioning for photography and other applications.
In February 2012, an animal rights group used a MikroKopter to film hunters shooting pigeons in South Carolina. The hunters shot the drone down.
Reader's Guide
MikroKopter's significance lies in its early development of stable, manoeuvrable multi-rotor UAVs capable of lifting several kilograms and achieving autonomous flight through integrated GPS, gyroscope, acceleration, and barometric sensors. The company's designs have been adopted by robotics researchers at the University of Pennsylvania for swarm control experiments, demonstrating the platform's adaptability for advanced computer-controlled manoeuvres including tumbling. The integration of a high-performance LEA-6S GPS module by parent HiSystems GmbH further enhanced precision positioning for applications like photography. The company's legacy includes a notable operational incident in February 2012, when an animal rights group used a MikroKopter to film pigeon hunters in South Carolina, resulting in the drone being shot down, highlighting early real-world use and conflict involving civilian drones.
Did You Know?
- The company's multi-rotor models include QuadroKopter, HexaKopter, and OktoKopter.
- University of Pennsylvania researchers used MikroKopter designs to control swarms of 'Nano Quadrotors'.
- In February 2012, a MikroKopter used by an animal rights group was shot down by hunters in South Carolina.
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