Meeting on unmanned aircraft use a success

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

 

 

OSU hosts unmanned aircraft workshop 

The OSU College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology recently hosted a workshop on the use of unmanned aircraft (UAV) to help emergency responders more quickly assess and effectively address wildfires and other disasters they may face.

“Wildfires remain one of the biggest tactical challenges to firefighters, since terrain and the extent of the fire is often unknown when emergency responders first arrive,” said Jamey Jacob, aerospace engineering professor. “Unmanned aircraft offer one promising solution to the problem but objective information is especially important now that so many system developers are entering the marketplace and fire management agencies are forced to make decisions.”

The workshop, which attracted over 100 participants from 55 agencies in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas, provided information on current and future UAV capabilities and operational requirements for emergency scenarios. Attendees also gained a working knowledge of potential systems, protocols and operational limits in the use of various unmanned aircraft systems in disaster scenarios with a focus on smaller systems.

Workshop instructors included Drs. Jacob and James Kidd with the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Dr. J.D. Carlson from Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. Instructors also addressed operating UAVs in the national airspace and provided tips for navigating the Federal Aviation Administration’s approval process. Representatives from the police department in Arlington, Texas, also shared their experiences with operating unmanned aircraft in an urban environment.

Response from the workshop was very positive and another one has been requested for firefighters and emergency managers in Texas. The event was organized by the OSU College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Outreach and Extension office.