Worldwide Campus Leads Drone Research, Passes Flight Milestone

a map that illustrates the number of drone flights the Worldwide Campus has conducted across the United States.
The above map illustrates the number of drone flights the Worldwide Campus has conducted across the United States.

Jun 17, 2021, 8:00 AM

Worldwide Campus researchers recently partnered with marine biologists at Starry Hill Observatory in Eatonville, Washington, to lead tests measuring the noise impacts of ten different drones on nearby wildlife.

This preliminary study was conducted to help marine biologists choose a drone that would allow them to observe endangered seals that may become entangled in fishing line. "Our research enabled organizations to develop guidelines for when and how drones can be used to monitor wildlife and other interests without adverse disruption," said Dr. David Thirtyacre, chair and chief pilot for the Department of Flight in the College of Aeronautics.

Watch this video to learn more.

In addition to conducting research, the Worldwide Campus has also exceeded 1,000 flight training hours for drone pilots.

Starting in 2018 with basic flight, the campus steadily expanded into advanced flight, remote-split operations, photogrammetry, commercial inspection, agriculture and certifying students in the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Trusted Operator Program (TOP). With the average flight of a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) being 15 minutes, the milestone represents over 4,000 individual flights for Embry-Riddle Worldwide.

Posted In: Uncrewed Systems

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