UND Aviation – Unmanned Aircraft Systems

UND Aviation specializes in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research, Education and Training acting as a conduit and resource for private industry, government, UAS researchers, and UND graduates who are fully prepared for a career in the past-paced and rapidly growing unmanned systems industry. In addition to research, education, and training, UND Aviation and our extensive list of partners provide a wide range of expertise to assist and promote the commercialization of new UAS-related products and services.

UAS Research Collaboration at UND

• UND Research Institute for Autonomous Systems (RIAS)
• John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences
  • Aviation, Atmospheric Sciences, Space Studies, Earth Systems Science & Policy
• UND Aerospace Foundation
• Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NP UAS TS)
• UND School of Engineering
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems Engineering Lab
  • Robotics and Intelligence Systems Lab
• UND Department of Psychology
  • Northern Plains Center for Behavioral Research

UAS Training and Expertise

• First four-year UAS Operations bachelor of science degree in the US
• Flight education in UAS and manned aircraft
  • Over 150 fixed-wing, rotorcraft, and unmanned aircraft, as well as simulators
• Specialized training and curriculum development
  • UAS crew training and certification
  • Human factors
  • Safety Management Systems
• Indoor UAS flight laboratory
• Predator Reaper Integrated Networked Computer Environment (PRINCE) simulator
• Predator Mission Aircrew Training System (PMATS) simulator
• UAS ScanEagle aircraft and simulators
• First Part 141 Pilot School to have FAA recognized Safety Management System - Active Conformance - SMSVP
• Over $20 million in research funding

UAS Research Initiatives

UND Aviation is providing world leadership in UAS research. Highlights include:

UND Aviation ASSURE Research Initiatives

• A.2 Small UAS Detect and Avoid Requirements for Beyond Visual Line of Site Operations
• A.7 UAS Human Factors Station Design Standards, Certification and Training
• A.10 Human Factors Consideration of UAS Procedures and Control Stations
• A.12 Performance Analysis of UAS Detection Technologies Operating in Airport Environments

 

Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM)

• Support Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NP UAS TS) in NASA testing of UTM concepts
• Conduct flight tests using ScanEagle simulator

 

Cooperative Airspace Techniques and Visualization (CATV)

• Increase airspace cooperativeness through installation of local sensors
• Evaluate DAA algorithms and visualization systems
• Develop a preliminary hazard assessment of the system
• Perform UAS-to-manned aircraft encounter flight tests

 

Enabling UAS BVLOS operations through a network infrastructure

• Develop, install, and validate a network infrastructure to support UAS operations
• Create a wide area network of surveillance, communications, and payload services between Grand Forks, ND and Fargo, ND
• Flight test Use Cases utilizing the network infrastructure

 

UAS Command and Control (C2) Systems for Beyond Visual Line of Sight Applications

• Partnership with Rockwell Collins
• Test prototype radios compliant with emerging FAA RTCA standards

 

Inspection of powerline components using UAS

• Partnership with regional utility companies
• Sensor assessment and precision flying under Part 107 using North Dakota business partners
• Demonstrate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations using NP UAS TS

UAS Partners and Relationships

Contact

701.777.2615
John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences
Department of Aviation
Robin Hall #333
4275 University Ave, Stop 9036
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9036

See details of our academic program .