March 12, 2014

Unmanned Aerial Systems Forum to be held

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The NDSU Office of Research and Creative Activity is sponsoring an Unmanned Aerial Systems Forum, scheduled for Tuesday, March 25, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fargodome.

The forum is an opportunity for the NDSU community and others to learn more about North Dakota’s Northern Plains Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Site recently designated by the Federal Aviation Administration and NDSU research activities related to the site.

According to Dennis Anderson, NDSU associate vice president for business development and industrial development, attendees also will hear about activities of NDSU faculty, staff and students related to unmanned aerial systems that will be advanced through access to the test site.

“NDSU has been carrying out a variety of research and development activities related to unmanned aerial systems for some time,” said Kelly A. Rusch, vice president for research and creative activity. “These activities include research, development and testing of new or improved microelectronic technologies for sensors and communications, remote sensing systems, new materials to enhance performance of the systems, high performance computing and algorithms and other software for enhanced data analysis. Such advanced technologies will enable unmanned aerial systems to be better used for a variety of applications beyond defense and homeland security.”

Rusch said other important uses include precision agriculture, transportation and other commercial applications.

Planned speakers include representatives from North Dakota’s Northern Plains Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Site, University of North Dakota Aerospace’s Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aerial Systems and NDSU researchers with on-going activities related to the systems.

“NDSU faculty, staff and students interested in learning more about NDSU’s on-going research and development activities related to unmanned aerial systems, technologies and applications will find the forum interesting and informative,” Rusch said. “The forum also offers an educational opportunity for the NDSU community learn firsthand about the state of North Dakota’s Northern Plains Unmanned Aerial Systems Test Site and its key roll in the FAA’s overall plan for safe integration of the systems into the national airspace.”

The North Dakota test site is one of six designated sites across the country. According to the FAA, the test sites were mandated by Congress and will conduct critical research into the certification and operational requirements necessary to safely integrate unmanned aerial systems into the national airspace during the next several years.

The test site operates under the aegis of the Northern Plains Unmanned Systems Authority, which was established by an executive order issued by Gov. Jack Dalrymple. It plans to develop essential data about unmanned aerial system airworthiness and validate high reliability link technology. Human factors research also will be conducted and a variety of different airspaces examined.

The test site has begun and will continue to attract a variety of private sector parties to North Dakota interested in a variety of unmanned aerial systems applications, particularly commercial ones. The North Dakota Department of Commerce sees opportunities for the test site to help the state realize technology-based economic development and diversity through new business applications for unmanned aerial systems involving the private sector.

Other FAA approved test sites included proposals from the University of Alaska, the state of Nevada, New York’s Griffiss International Airport, Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

For more information, contact Rusch at kelly.rusch@ndsu.edu or Anderson at dennis.k.anderson@ndsu. RSVP for the forum to Cassie Johnson at cassandra.j.johnson@ndsu.edu.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.

 

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