msu named as center of excellence for uas (drones)

[donia]

http://gpsworld.com/faa-selects-mississ ... e-for-uas/

After a rigorous competition, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected a Mississippi State University team as the FAA’s Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (COE UAS). The COE will focus on research, education and training in areas critical to safe and successful integration of UAS into the nation’s airspace.

The team brings together 15 of the nation’s leading UAS and aviation universities that have a proven commitment to UAS research and development and the necessary resources to provide the matching contribution to the government’s investment.

“This world-class, public-private partnership will help us focus on the challenges and opportunities of this cutting-edge technology,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. The Department of Transportation oversees the FAA. “We expect this team will help us to educate and train a cadre of unmanned aircraft professionals well into the future.”

The COE research areas are expected to evolve over time, but initially will include:
•detect and avoid technology
•low-altitude operations safety
•control and communications
•spectrum management
•human factors
•compatibility with air traffic control operations
•training and certification of UAS pilots and other crew members, in addition to other areas.

“This team has the capabilities and resources to quickly get up and running to help the FAA address the demands of this challenging technology over the next decade,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.

The FAA expects the COE will be able to begin research by September 2015 and be fully operational and engaged in a robust research agenda by January 2016.

Congress appropriated $5 million for the five-year agreement with the COE, which will be matched one-for-one by the team members.

In addition to Mississippi State University, the other team members include: Drexel University; Embry Riddle Aeronautical University; Kansas State University; Kansas University; Montana State University; New Mexico State University; North Carolina State University; Oregon State University; University of Alabama, Huntsville; University of Alaska, Fairbanks; University of North Dakota; and Wichita State University.

The FAA will determine the relationship between the new COE and the six UAS sites the FAA announced last year once the new team develops detailed research plans. The FAA expects COE flight testing to occur at one or more of the existing test sites.

Congress mandated that the FAA establish the COE under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014. Like university think tank partnerships, the agency’s Centers of Excellence bring together the best minds in the nation to conduct research to educate, train and work with the FAA toward solutions for aviation-related challenges.

[eSJay]

In other words MSU Geek Squad brings National Championship to StarkVegas.
FTSUN

[stang67]

Yeah, most schools, including Auburn are way too cool for this stuff. It's certainly not like 100s of colleges are clamoring to establish such programs. No way.

Oh wait.
http://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_art ... school.htm

[eSJay]

no need for defensiveness. it was a positive comment ya big dummy.
we're a "cow college" too ya know.

[stang67]

Uh huh. I'd say the same thing in your position.

[eSJay]

well, maybe the FTSUN was not so positive.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Meanwhile, a parallel headline:

"After a rigorous competition, the United Homeland Militia has selected a Mississippi militia team, known as the Sharby Creek Militia, as the UHM's Epi-Center for Anti-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (A-UAS). The Sharby Creek Militia will focus on research, education and training in areas critical to safe and successful destruction of UAS as such aircraft invade the nation’s airspace, disturb the peace, violate the private airspace, property rights and privacy rights of lawful citizens, and generally annoy the piss out of most everyone not operating one.

The team brings together 15 of the nation’s leading sharpshooters and critical thinkers that have a proven commitment to A-UAS research and development and the necessary resources to deliver the firepower necessary to destroy these offending devices (aka "skycarp").

“This world-class, private partnership will help us to deliver the necessary pain and destruction to shut down the abusers of this cutting-edge technology,” said the leader of the Sharby Creek Militia, Code Name "Po Monkey Lounger". “We expect this team will help us to educate and train a cadre of anti-unmanned aircraft professionals well into the future.”

[jmh600]

^cool

[4dawgma]

"Goose, it's time to buzz the tower"

[donia]

"negative, ghostrider...the pattern is full...."

[mudsucker]

Y'all got drones and LSU has workers!