The Texas A&M University project seeks to address the current and emerging Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) safety and use needs of industry, government, and the public through research and education that enhances workforce development. It investigates novel fixed-wing and novel rotorcraft design, smart structures, cybersecure air vehicles, validation & verification of autonomous systems, and sensor integration and fusion. Unique facilities are the 2,000 acre RELLIS Integrated Proving Ground of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Lone Star Test Site, and the Disaster City training and test facility used by federal and state agencies for emergency and disaster response.
The goal is the creation of a strong and sustainable site that conducts projects facilitating the development of high quality engineering researchers: both faculty and students. These researchers are responsive to conducting both basic research and applied research in Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) by advancing the state-of-the-practice, in addition to the state-of-the-technical-art. The projects will contribute to cross-disciplinary challenges, and have strong integrated systems aspects (design, structures, intelligent payloads, sensors, and control), in addition to unique operational aspects (such as disturbance rejecting vertical flight).
Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) are a transformative technology that impact research, education, and everyday life. The investigators team directly with earth scientists, agriculture scientists, and geo scientists on research that is expected to be impactful on these important areas. The team will continue current outreach to underrepresented groups in the State of Texas, PK-12 students, and the historically strong involvement of undergraduate students on the research team. The team has excellent federal experience with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), House and Senate aviation committees, and national academies service that has helped shape not only technology but policy and regulations.
For the duration of the project a repository will store applied research and collaborative experimental data products from C-UAS projects, consisting of flight data, video data, simulation codes and data, air vehicle design software, structural design software, autonomy and controls software, and all project reports and publications. All software will have clear instructions for installing and downloading and configuring for use. Flight logs will be stored in spreadsheet or professional flight log electronic format and made available to the C-UAS team as well as Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and university authorities. The single Center-wide repository is used. https://c-uas.org/.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
