Θ Texas's UAS Sensing by yourDragonXi Δ 10th of October 2014 Ω 2:12 PM

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~ Texas A&M University Δ ~ NASA Johnson Space Center ~ The University of Texas, Austin	~ Texas State University ~ Cockrell School of Engineering ~ UAS Test Center	~ UAV Direct ~ sense for Ξ ~ sense for Ξ
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«UAS Sensing in U.S.	Θ	Θ
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~ Texas A&M University

»Texas A&M University
ξ Texas has been named a test site for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),
ξ based on a statewide proposal led by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
ξ �We are proud to be a part of this historic moment in aviation history,�
ξ said Dr. Flavius Killebrew, President and CEO of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
ξ �Together with our partners, we will lead the way for the research and development of this new age in aviation technology.�

ξ The test sites will facilitate testing and research of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technologies
ξ to provide scientific data on the future integration of these aircraft safely with other air traffic.
ξ Congress mandated that the UAS be integrated into the national airspace by 2015.
ξ One of the main research goals is finding the safest methods for unmanned planes
ξ to sense other aircraft and take measures to avoid collisions.

ξ Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has been doing UAS research for about two years,
ξ looking at ways to use UASs for mapping sea grass, detecting oil spills and hotspots in wild fires,
ξ monitoring hurricanes, and herd counting for ranchers.

ξ The University�s Lone Star Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center (LSUASC) proposal
ξ was the only one from Texas being considered by the FAA, and had the backing of Texas Governor Rick Perry.

ξ "Texas has a long and distinguished history in the aerospace industry,
ξ and this test site is an important opportunity to create jobs and grow the industry in our state," Gov. Perry said.
ξ "This technology will not only protect our country,
ξ but has the potential to advance other industries as well, and
ξ this test site will play a role in ensuring it is used in a way
ξ that benefits our citizens while protecting their privacy and safety."

ξ This historic decision will have huge financial implications for the entire state of Texas, especially South Texas.
ξ The Association of Unmanned Vehicles International published an economic impact study in March projecting,
ξ once airspace is opened to UAS, the economic impact would be about $8 billion statewide,
ξ and $260 million in South Texas over the next 10 years; creating about 1,200 jobs.

ξ �Texas earned the FAA designation partly as a result of efforts by two Texas A&M System institutions
ξ who brought together their industry-leading knowledge and research,�
ξ said Chancellor John Sharp, Texas A&M University System.
ξ �We are proud to grow the Texas A&M System�s reputation for excellence in research to the unmanned aircraft field.�

ξ Much of the expected economic benefit would center on the Coastal Bend.
ξ The City of Corpus Christi recognizes the importance of bringing
ξ this type of research to the area and has been very supportive of the proposal.

ξ �This is good news for the University, for Corpus Christi and for the entire state,�
ξ said Nelda Martinez, Mayor of Corpus Christi.
ξ �The FAA recognizes what our community has to offer in its expertise and immense airspace that cannot be found anywhere else.�

ξ The LSUASC has been designated as a research center affiliated with the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES)
ξ by the Texas A&M System Board of Regents.
ξ A&M-Corpus Christi and TEES collaborated with private-sector partner Camber Corporation and
ξ other research institutions and private-sector companies to form the statewide team
ξ that produced the competitive proposal accepted by the FAA.

ξ �This is a unique opportunity for TEES to connect its research divisions from Corpus Christi and College Station
ξ into a powerful coalition and help develop a test site
ξ that will benefit from the research and technology expertise within TEES in several key areas
ξ associated with the design, communications, and the command and control of unmanned aerial vehicles,�
ξ said Dimitris LaGoudas, Deputy Director of TEES.

ξ Camber is a leader in unmanned technology and
ξ was approached by several states to help in developing test sites,
ξ but chose Texas because of what the University has to offer.

ξ �The intellectual energy and intellectual capital this university brought to the table,
ξ along with the leadership and the vision of both University President Dr. Flavius Killebrew and Dr. Luis Cifuentes,
ξ makes us very excited about our partnership with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi,� said Joe Henry, Camber Corporation.

ξ A&M-Corpus Christi is also collaborating with the top engineering, research and technology experts in the state
ξ including those at the University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute and
ξ the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) in San Antonio.

ξ "The University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute (UTARI) and our UTA-affiliated faculty
ξ are proud to be part of such a momentous effort for the state of Texas,"
ξ said Lt. General Rick Lynch, U.S. Army (Retired), Executive Director of UTARI.
ξ "We're looking forward to working with our statewide partners
ξ in the coming months to bring all of our hard work and planning to fruition."

ξ The SWRI is one of the oldest and largest independent, nonprofit,
ξ applied research and development organizations in the United States and
ξ has designed and operated UAS vehicles and payload systems since 1993, utilizing numerous Texas sites.

ξ �This designation will help make South Texas and the Gulf Coast the home of future generations of unmanned aerial systems,�
ξ said Richard Somers, Vice President of SWRI�s Aerospace Electronics, Systems Engineering and Training Division.
ξ �Good flying weather year-round, varied terrain, and
ξ the possibility of overwater testing above the Gulf of Mexico
ξ add up to an attractive locale for developing new designs and new capabilities.�

ξ Now that the sites have been announced, the University will have six months to get the test site fully operational.
ξ In preparation for this, LSUASC opened the UAS Command and Control Center
ξ at the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center in October that will manage the 11 Texas test ranges.

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~ NASA Johnson Space Center

»NASA Johnson Space Center
ξ

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~ The University of Texas, Austin

»The University of Texas, Austin
ξ

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~ Texas State University

»Texas State University
ξ Use of small, autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in fisheries, wildlife, watershed management, and restoration practices
ξ instantaneous acquisition of high resolution multispectral digital aerial imagery ranging from 10 to 25 cm/pixel
ξ management of invasive plant species, mapping riparian and river habitats, bank erosion, precision agriculture
ξ radio tracking capabilities
ξ imagery can be used with image classification techniques and integrated in GIS
ξ to support a wide array of analysis and modeling of natural resource systems

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~ Cockrell School of Engineering

»Cockrell School of Engineering
ξ spoofing of UAVs

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~ UAS Test Center

»UAS Test Center

June 20, 2014 accepted bu FAA
ξ research to include wetlands preservation, storm research, UAS technologies and standards
ξ to use an AAAI RS-16 UAS. The RS-16 weighs approximately 85 pounds and has a wingspan of almost 13 feet.

ξ Texas A&M University � Corpus Christi plans to develop system safety requirements for UAS vehicles and operations
ξ with a goal of protocols and procedures for airworthiness testing
ξ from a mockup city for disaster-response training to the coasts and waters of the Gulf of Mexico
ξ The Lone Star UAS Center (LSUASC) is operated by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC)
ξ it plans to offer test ranges providing different geographies, temperatures, altitudes and
ξ environments from maritime to urban /Luis Cifuentes, vice president for research and commercialization/
ξ the focus will be on airworthiness testing and system safety requirements for UAS and operators
ξ in addition to Texas A&M, the team includes the University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute and
ξ Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio
ξ Disaster City in the northeast is a modular training facility that is being used to test unmanned air and ground vehicles
ξ for search and rescue in urban environments.
ξ Big Bend will allow testing at altitudes up to 18,000 ft. in airspace over a national park,
ξ to look at UAS applications such as resource monitoring and forestry
ξ the U.S. Army base at Fort Hood is also part of the range complex
ξ The Texas bid was bolstered by the availability of TAMUCC�s mission control center,
ξ which will centralize command and control (C2) of UAS testing at all the ranges across the state
ξ "we�ve spent a lot of time putting together the C2 center.
ξ It�s where all UAS activities will be monitored and controlled,� /Cifuentes/
ξ specifically designed for UAS operations, the center already is being used to control operations on the Padre range along the Gulf coast.
ξ �We�ve demonstrated we can take information off a UAS and beam it by satellite to the C2 center.
ξ We will do that with everybody down the road,�
ξ all the designated UAS test sites are now looking at how to raise capital to operate their ranges, as no FAA funding is available.
ξ �We have submitted a proposal to the Texas emerging technology fund and are looking at other potential sources of state funding,�
ξ attracting startup businesses in the UAS field is another part of the business case
ξ C2 center is on the second floor of the university�s business incubator,
ξ where there is space available for companies to move in.
ξ �Startups are interested in being at the nexus of UAS testing,�
ξ Building academic programs around UAS research and providing training in operating and
ξ maintaining unmanned aircraft at universities and community colleges are other potential revenue sources for the test-site partners.

REASON IT!

ξ a must state with less environmental issues to be solved - unlike in states such as California!
ξ oil industry, Gulf of Mexico oil exploration!
ξ command and control center is essential for network-centric operations!

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~ UAV Direct

»UAV Direct
ξ selling high performance, reliable, and easy-to-use small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) - Drone
ξ dealer of »DJI

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