Drone experts, major firms headed to UAS epicenter

By UAS Magazine Staff | July 21, 2016

The preliminary agenda for the 10th annual  UAS Summit & Expo, the Upper Midwest’s premier unmanned aircraft systems event, has been released. A decade after leading the effort to unite regional stakeholders with globally-linked UAS entities, the Red River Valley Research Corridor has partnered with UAS Magazine to continue offering what has become an industry must-attend event at the epicenter of the emerging U.S. UAS industry. Taking place August 22-24 in Grand Forks, ND, the agenda, focused on both small and large unmanned aircraft systems – features multiple presentations and original content on the expanding use of UAVs in the government sector and the overall commercialization of UAVs. The three-day event will explain and reveal the cutting-edge research, commercial operation successes and end-user opportunities present in the region and the greater U.S.. The event will unite commercial manufacturers and operators, researchers, payload providers, platform designers and multiple leaders spearheading UAS expansion.

“The agenda the program committee has assembled combines the perspective of regional UAS personnel with the regulatory, technical and business insight of national UAV entities, while offering attendees a glimpse into the commercial realities and major economic opportunities present in North Dakota that can be translated to the entire world,” says Luke Geiver, program director for the UAS Summit and editor of UAS Magazine.

The 2016 program will provide in-depth analysis and timely presentations from speakers focused on the following for both small and large unmanned aircraft systems. The 10th annual UAS Summit agenda will highlight the following:

 

•  5 major global UAS manufacturers ready to talk

•  High-level government officials (past and present) share policy plans, expectations

•  Big data experts on UAS

•  Updates from historic UAS projects

•  End-user and prospective client feedback

•  Test site input

•  107’s true impact explained

•  FAA

•  Why European UAS firms are coming to the U.S.

•  North Dakota’s UAS ecosystem described by key players

•  Running the world’s largest UAS aviation and business park

•  Drone delivery breakthroughs

•  The mood on the hill

•  UAS university updates

 

The Summit, taking place in what many have called the “Silicon Valley of Drones," offers the most open airspace in the country, vast tracts of farmland, infrastructure to test on and the nation’s first unmanned aircraft degree program. Because of all the activity in the region, both UAS Magazine and the Red River Valley Research Corridor believe having the conference in North Dakota is the best location for an event like this. The location provides an outstanding opportunity for companies and policymakers to connect in a state that fully supports and invests in the UAS industry.


“There is so much support for the unmanned aerial industry provided in North Dakota,” says Geiver. “Having a conference here provides the right environment for companies looking to do business, because of the collaborative involvement provided by the state, universities & colleges, city chambers, economic development groups and air force bases. Everyone in the region is onboard for supporting drone commercialization.”


The agenda can be viewed here: UAS Summit & Expo