Dr Leonardo Barilaro of the Institute of Aerospace Technologies (IAT) was invited to present a talk at the AERO Friedrichshafen Expo, dedicated to European general aviation. The event is one of the biggest in the world of this type and it is held yearly in April on the shores of Lake Constance at the exhibition center of Friedrichshafen, Germany. AERO took place for the first time in 1977 and attracts more than 600 exhibitors and 33,000 visitors every year.
Friedrichshafen's reputation is related with its being a cradle of aviation, which was initiated by Ferdinand Count Zeppelin in the year 1900, but also on a fast-growing ultralight aircraft sector.
At the event many conferences took place and every hangar was focusing on different topics, like: avionics, engines, gyroplanes, drones, e-flight, etc.
The IAT presented the research developed on SmartCopter, a new type of gryroplane with detachable pod. Project SmartCopter is financed by the Malta Council for Science and Technology through FUSION: The R&I Techology Development Programme 2016.
