Inside Unmanned Systems provides actionable business intelligence to decision-makers and influencers operating within the global UAS community. Features include analysis of key technologies, policy/regulatory developments and new product design.
Issue link: https://insideunmanned.epubxp.com/i/720234
39 unmanned systems inside August/September 2016 ugust/Septe August/September 2016 August/September 2016 be August/September 2016 0 August/September 2016 6 August/September 2016 ENGINEERING. PRACTICE. POLICY. "If you're collecting data, you need to be con- cerned about security," Bjerke said. Oklahoma State University Oklahoma State University's UAS program is offered at its Stillwater campus. The first school to focus on UAS engineering at the graduate level, OSU's program also offers en- gineering specialties to undergraduates and a pilot track with a UAS minor. Gary Ambrose, OSU's director of strategy and applied research at the Unmanned Systems Research Institute, said the school is currently "in the process of writing a new curriculum that accommodates non-pilots." Currently most of Oklahoma State's UAS students have their manned private pilot certificate, but it won't be a requirement going forward. The fixed-wing platforms that OK State will begin using in the spring of 2017 will all be Group 1, the smallest class of UAS. "We're thinking about using Skywalkers and Bixlers," Ambrose said. Whatever they choose to use, Oklahoma State is hoping to ramp up quickly. "Just internally, we are at a shortage of fixed- wing UAS operators," Ambrose told Inside Un- manned Systems. A recent research projected forced the school to "juggle pilots" because they only had five or six who were qualified to f ly. "That's why we're designing these courses—to generate more fixed-wing pilots." The new courses will incorporate a lot of simulator time, hands-on landing and takeoffs plus emergency procedures. There are still some kinks on the research side to be worked out; currently, Oklahoma State is assisting DOD with swarming-related research. Part 107 doesn't prohibit swarming, but requires one pilot per vehicle, which would make swarming fairly prohibitive. "We just need to clarify some of that within our Certificate of Authorization," Ambrose said. The program is growing. Many students in the manned pilot course "are starting to see the market grow for unmanned" and switch- ing tracks, Ambrose said. Many of them, those who are qualified to f ly, he said, are being pulled out of school to f ly missions for some of the university's partners, giving them valuable real-world experience before they graduate. PNT ResilieNce GPS Vulnerability Testing The threats are real. And increasing every day. if you are responsible for mission-critical PNT applications, let us help you evaluate your risk to jamming, spoofing, or any other threat. Our GPs/GNss simulation platform is the best way to harden GPs-based systems. Put us to the test. + 1 585.321.5800 spectracom.com