Unmanned aircraft leaders: State programs growing

• October 26, 2011
  
  

  Unmanned aircraft leaders: State programs growing

  By Silas Allen
  CNHI News Service
  10/26/2011
  Stillwater, Oklahoma — Oklahoma is particularly well placed to become a leader in the field of unmanned aerial vehicle development, Oklahoma’s top science official said.
  Stephen McKeever, Oklahoma’s secretary of science and technology, spoke Tuesday at a summit of leaders in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles. During the conference, McKeever said a number of factors have already made Oklahoma a leader in the field.
  “Very often, as you know, we have to play catch-up with other states,” he said. “But not so in this industry.”
  The conference was the third meeting of the Unmanned Systems Alliance of Oklahoma, the state chapter of the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. The organization held its meeting Tuesday at Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater.
  The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to unmanned aerial systems. The association includes more than 7,000 members worldwide representing government, industry and academia.
  Unmanned aerial vehicles are aircraft operated by a pilot on the ground. The Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Company B, 45th Brigade Special Troops Battalion operates the RQ-7B Shadow, a type of unmanned aircraft. The unit is deployed to Afghanistan with the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
  Although unmanned aircraft have largely been limited to military uses in the past, McKeever said developers will find other nonmilitary applications for the technology in the future.
  For example, McKeever said, the vehicles could be useful in disaster scenarios. Such vehicles could help emergency workers respond to wildfires or Hurricane Katrina-type situations, he said.
  One of those unique factors is access to a certain type of airspace in Oklahoma, McKeever said. Airspace that is classified as restricted is valuable, he said, because it allows developers to test vehicles without special certification from the Federal Aviation Administration.
  Generally, McKeever said, restricted airspace is controlled by the military. However, he said, the Unmanned Systems Alliance of Oklahoma has an agreement with officials at Fort Sill that gives testers access to the restricted airspace above the installation when it doesn’t interfere with military operations.
  Officials at the base have shown interest in flying manned aircraft in the same airspace and at the same time as unmanned vehicles, McKeever said. Operating the two types of vehicles together would more closely replicate the way such vehicles might be used in a combat setting, he said.
  Oklahoma also has the advantage of having many unmanned aerial vehicle facilities statewide, he said. Those facilities include research centers in Stillwater, a flight center near Lawton and University Multispectral Laboratories in Ponca City. Rather than being centered in Oklahoma City or Tulsa, McKeever said, the industry has a statewide presence.
  McKeever said there’s reason to believe the industry is poised to grow in Oklahoma. Gov. Mary Fallin has been supportive of the industry’s expansion, and has been one of its chief promoters, he said. The industry also has sparked interest in young professionals in the same way that the space program did in the 1960s and 1970s.
  “This, we are finding, is a subject that energizes young people,” he said.

  Unmanned aircraft leaders: State programs growingBy Silas AllenCNHI News Service10/26/2011 Stillwater, Oklahoma — Oklahoma is particularly well placed to become a leader in the field of unmanned aerial vehicle development, Oklahoma’s top science official said.Stephen McKeever, Oklahoma’s secretary of science and technology, spoke Tuesday at a summit of leaders in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles. During the conference, McKeever said a number of factors have already made Oklahoma a leader in the field.“Very often, as you know, we have to play catch-up with other states,” he said. “But not so in this industry.”The conference was the third meeting of the Unmanned Systems Alliance of Oklahoma, the state chapter of the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. The organization held its meeting Tuesday at Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater.The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to unmanned aerial systems. The association includes more than 7,000 members worldwide representing government, industry and academia.Unmanned aerial vehicles are aircraft operated by a pilot on the ground. The Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Company B, 45th Brigade Special Troops Battalion operates the RQ-7B Shadow, a type of unmanned aircraft. The unit is deployed to Afghanistan with the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.Although unmanned aircraft have largely been limited to military uses in the past, McKeever said developers will find other nonmilitary applications for the technology in the future.For example, McKeever said, the vehicles could be useful in disaster scenarios. Such vehicles could help emergency workers respond to wildfires or Hurricane Katrina-type situations, he said.One of those unique factors is access to a certain type of airspace in Oklahoma, McKeever said. Airspace that is classified as restricted is valuable, he said, because it allows developers to test vehicles without special certification from the Federal Aviation Administration.Generally, McKeever said, restricted airspace is controlled by the military. However, he said, the Unmanned Systems Alliance of Oklahoma has an agreement with officials at Fort Sill that gives testers access to the restricted airspace above the installation when it doesn’t interfere with military operations.Officials at the base have shown interest in flying manned aircraft in the same airspace and at the same time as unmanned vehicles, McKeever said. Operating the two types of vehicles together would more closely replicate the way such vehicles might be used in a combat setting, he said.Oklahoma also has the advantage of having many unmanned aerial vehicle facilities statewide, he said. Those facilities include research centers in Stillwater, a flight center near Lawton and University Multispectral Laboratories in Ponca City. Rather than being centered in Oklahoma City or Tulsa, McKeever said, the industry has a statewide presence.McKeever said there’s reason to believe the industry is poised to grow in Oklahoma. Gov. Mary Fallin has been supportive of the industry’s expansion, and has been one of its chief promoters, he said. The industry also has sparked interest in young professionals in the same way that the space program did in the 1960s and 1970s.“This, we are finding, is a subject that energizes young people,” he said.

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