Photo: UA College of Engineering
The fourth annual Arkansas Drone/Unmanned Aircraft Systems Summit is set for March 12-13, with events in Fayetteville and in Little Rock.
The event will include drone experts covering topics such as Federal Aviation Administration compliance, homeland security regulations, how drones can aid in research and the role of drones in emergency response.
Sessions will be divided between the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences in Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service in Little Rock. Sessions in Fayetteville will be simulcast live to the location in Little Rock, and Little Rock sessions will be simulcast to the Fayetteville site.
While drones were originally used in military applications, they have become useful tools in many other industries.
Dan Sui, vice chancellor for research and innovation, said unmanned aircraft play an increasingly important role in business development.
“Drone technology is a developing movement being manifest in different platforms, infiltrating all aspects of business, in particular,” he said. “It is becoming an integral part of the supply chain structure. This results in huge implications for Arkansas business in multiple sectors. It is important for Arkansans to consider not only how products and services are being transported — by air, by land, or by water, but also what they are being used for.”
The annual summit provides a unique gathering of expertise in multiple applicants, said Richard Ham, associate director of the Master of Science in Operations Management and Engineering Management programs.
“There are not many events in the nation where you can find cutting-edge information presented by recognized experts in academe, agriculture, law enforcement, aviation and industry,” said Ham. “As the state’s land-grant university, we are chartered to serve the citizens of Arkansas and improve their lives, and this summit is a way to do that by distilling the information we teach on campus in our foundations, cyber security and remote sensing courses, and in new courses emerging around the state.”
There is no cost to attend, but registration is required at operations-management.uark.edu/uas. Space is limited.
