7th Research Corridor UAS Action Summit Report

More than 350 professionals associated with the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry gathered at the seventh annual Red River Valley Research Corridor UAS Action Summit to learn about current and trending UAS technologies, practices, platforms and issues facing this rapidly growing industry.

This year’s theme Where the Future Gets its Flight Plan: Global Destination for the UAS Industry” focused on worldwide industry growth potential and expansion to civil and commercial markets.

According to summit organizers, the Grand Forks region is becoming an epicenter for UAS activity and serves as a great location for a conference covering the industry. “The Grand Forks Air Force Base and Customs and Border Protection already fly UAS missions and we have created vast knowledge and research capabilities through our regional universities, colleges and other aviation organizations that support the UAS mission. This not only creates an obvious fit for the UAS Action Summit, it also positions the Upper Great Plains to be a lead contributor to the rapidly growing UAS industry,” says Ryan Aasheim of the Red River Valley Research Corridor.

Presenters included UAS leaders of federal agencies, universities and commercial entities who covered topics such as international airspace integration; UAS in precision agriculture; commercial, civil and military applications; and privacy, legal, moral and ethical implication of the UAS industry.

Summit participants also witnessed a strategic signing ceremony between North Dakota congressional leaders, Northrop Grumman, UND and Northland Community & Technical College. This agreement is the first of its kind and forms a unique alliance to provide specialized education, UAS operations training and advanced employment opportunities. Additionally, Grand Forks County and the Grand Forks Air Force Base unveiled plans for Grand Sky, a new state-of-the-art business and technology park dedicated to supporting all phases of UAS development.

U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp, along with the Red River Valley Research CorridorNorthrop Grumman and the City of Grand Forks co-hosted the UAS Action Summit on May 30-31, 2013, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. “It is important to bring all these leaders together to learn about the new and exciting concepts that continue to shape the UAS industry,” Aasheim said. “The people and organizations that make up the Red River Valley Research Corridor are proud to be part of aviation’s worldwide technological transition that incorporates the use of unmanned aircraft systems. We can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Some presenters have made their presentations available here.

The 2014 Research Corridor UAS Action Summit is scheduled for Aug. 26-27 in Grand Forks, N.D.

The Red River Valley Research Corridor is a nonprofit corporation in North Dakota. It is committed to catalyzing and promoting science, technology, training and engineering initiatives that create new economic opportunities in the Upper Great Plains region.

Source: Press Release

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