The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has selected small unmanned aerial systems developed by a Cardiff-based company for use in a research programme.

Produced by BCB International, they will be used in a programme run by MIT’s SENSEable City Lab to collect water samples for analysis.

Currently, water-quality testing is done by boat, which is very time-consuming.

The BCB systems were originally designed to carry canisters with essential survival equipment to the scenes of shipping disasters.

The company’s involvement in the project resulted from the Welsh Government’s membership of MIT’s international liaison programme.

It began discussions with the SENSEable City Lab when it joined a mission to MIT in April.

Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: “This is an excellent result, and I am delighted to hear that BCB International is forging links with one of the world’s top technology institutions.

“It is a highly innovative company that has won two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, as well as various technology and innovation awards. It is great to hear that technology developed in Wales is being used for research undertaken by MIT.”

Barry Davies, robotics director with BCB International, said: “BCB prides itself on its own R&D programme and continually re-invests profits into research. This is an amazing opportunity to be involved with such a prestigious institution.”