About BML

Overview of BML

Barnard Microsystems Limited (BML) was set up in 1986 as a technology consulting company. In 2004, BML moved into research, design and development of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

In 2008, BML participated as a finalist in the UK MOD Grand Challenge to develop robotic technology to detect threats to British military personnel. BML has since received funding in the form of grants to develop UAS technology from:

  • The European Space Agency (ESA)
  • InnovateUK
  • The UK Ministry of Defence

What BML does

Panchito VTOL UAV flying

BML designs, develops and manufactures unmanned aircraft systems for use in civilian, security and military applications. BML also offers managed services, based on the use of unmanned aircraft, in:

  • Linear feature (e.g. oil pipelines, railway lines, power lines and roads) monitoring
  • Border area in maritime patrol
  • Geophysical multi-spectral and magnetic survey
  • A cargo delivery service, for example, to remote villages in Africa
  • Testing of airborne sensors, for example, Synthetic Aperture RADAR

Manufacturing Quality Control

Using a formation of intelligent Unmanned Aircraft

Using a formation of intelligent Unmanned Aircraft

The BML Mission Manager software provides situational awareness of multiple UAVs and enables the Operator to simulate and manage a mission in which multiple UAVs are used:

  • a simulation of a mission can be performed to check the automated UAV route planning
  • we use a Panasonic ToughBook computer, running Windows, to have situational awareness of several networked UAVs, and manage each of their activities
  • we use additional ToughBook computers to manage the sensor data from visible spectrum cameras, thermal imaging cameras and from other sensors mounted on each UAV
  • a UAV can be dynamically re-tasked to perform a higher priority mission