Microdrones MD4 is a very user friendly UAV system that personnel in the field can operate with only a few day of training, even for personnel that have no previous RC experience. The quadrocopter design with four brushless electric motors is light weight and highly dependable. There is no gear or transmission system, and the system has no servos aiding the navigation. The speed of each rotor determines the flight. The electric motors and the relatively slow speed of the rotors ensure low vibrations and the system operates at very low noise level.

Even at an amazing empty weight of 585 grams (md4-200), the system has autonomous flight mode. MD4 is equipped with all the needed sensors and computer power to control the flight and carry out complicated missions and tasks without a human operator. The system is also equipped with many safety features that both prevent the operator to make grave mistakes, and secure a safe landing if there should be a technical problem. The system construction, with low weight and flexible parts, makes this system possible to operate in populated places without danger of seriously harming people or infrastructure. The system needs no prepared take-off and landing site, and can be in the air within a few minutes after arrival at a site.

All information recorded with the MD4 system can be georeferenced. Regardless if this is video or still pictures, we have solutions that secure easy georeferencing of the images. 

The downlink from the drone includes both real time video and telemetry data. The information is displayed on a laptop computer connected to the ground segment. Manual flight and sensor control from the ground is carried out with an RC radio in the 35 MHz band. If the customer prefers 40MHz or 75 MHz that is no problem. The standard downlink is an analogue link that operates in the S-band at 2,4 GHz. The ground segment has a directional antenna that increase the range and quality of the link. Optionally, the system can be fitted with a digital link system with longer range and encryption possibility.

Through partners, Scandicraft can tailor other communication solutions depending on the customer needs.

The system includes a comprehensive software, mdCockpit, for waypoint editing, a down link decoder for use when carrying out missions, a special terminal dialog for communicating with the drone and a flight recorder and data analyzing tool. The Software is translated to 17 languages among them, English, French and Spanish.

The waypoint editing system is very user friendly. The basis for the system is built with a close integration to Google maps. If the user has access to internet, then he do not need any other maps for editing waypoint lists for autonomous flight operations. If the user want to use other map sources, is it possible to import these and georeference these as basis for mission planning. The waypoint planning tool is very comprehensive and has many automated routines like making flight plan for rapid mapping projects. This routine starts with sensor settings and incorporates percentage overlap settings, area and so on. Then the system calculates a waypoint list with the commands for both camera control and the flight. The project is uploaded to the drone and you are ready to fly. The input for the rapid mapping software then consist of a list of pictures and positions, this can be imported into many different software packages for rapid mapping.

There is also the option to include a software developed to geotag images using the EXIF information integrated in all digital images. When this information is stored with the picture it is easy to integrate the picture directly in many GIS systems included Google Earth.

The mdCockpit downlink decoder is also a comprehensive tool with many options for mission control, monitoring sensor data, battery status, GPS accuracy, quality of down link and RC signal quality, flight time, altitude attitude, wind speed and other important data for safe operations. The system gives the operator possibility to see the video stream from the air in realtime. This enables the operator to secure the right picture coverage or doing the monitoring directly. The system is delivered with flight goggles where the operator gets the videostream on his eyes to better be able to fly by the camera instead of seeing the drone or autonomous flight mode. It is also possible to monitor the drone where it is on the map in realtime. 

The mdCockpit system also makes it easy to monitor technical issues and analyze flights during and after flight. These tools give the user a great tool to learn and understand the system operations. The tool is also great for detect technical issues. The recorded flight logs can easily be sent by mail to the first line support personnel. This will make this helpdesk personnel able to understand status and give instructions on how to fix issues online.

The system can run on any ordinary PC with minimum Windows XP and upward.