{"id":16193,"date":"2020-08-10T12:20:05","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T12:20:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saj.pachecostudios.com?p=16193"},"modified":"2020-08-10T20:18:03","modified_gmt":"2020-08-10T20:18:03","slug":"u-s-transportation-secretary-elaine-l-chao-announces-3-3-million-in-seven-drone-grants-to-universities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/unmanned-systems\/u-s-transportation-secretary-elaine-l-chao-announces-3-3-million-in-seven-drone-grants-to-universities\/%20","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces $3.3 Million in Seven Drone Grants to Universities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding $3.3 million in research, education and training grants<\/a> to universities that comprise FAA\u2019s Air Transportation Center of Excellence (COE) for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese grants will help develop a greater array of\ninnovative strategies to more effectively deploy drones during emergency\nresponse situations,\u201d said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The FAA\u2019s COE program, authorized by Congress, is a\nlong-term, cost-sharing partnership between academia, industry, and government.\nThe program enables the FAA to work with center members and affiliates to\nconduct research in airspace and airport planning and design, environment and\naviation safety. The COE also allows the FAA to engage other\ntransportation-related activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are currently 1.65 million recreational and commercial\ndrones (PDF) in the active UAS fleet. That number is expected to grow to as\nhigh as 2.31 million by 2024 (PDF). The ASSURE grants are aimed at continuing\nthe safe and successful integration of drones into the nation\u2019s airspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said, \u201cCollaboration is\nhugely important as we work to safely integrate UAS into the aerospace system.\u201d\n\u201cThese important grants fund the research which allows us to learn and\nimplement the safety measures associated with UAS operations in the\nairspace.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alliance for System Safety of UAS through ASSURE Program\nManagement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This grant is for the ASSURE lead university to provide\noverall program management. This program management will include tracking of\nfinancial information for all core university project activities; reviewing and\nvetting of all project related documentation prior to submission to the FAA;\nhosting and facilitating all FAA-required meetings; and outreach to government,\nindustry, and academia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mississippi State University (MS)\u2013lead university\u201c\u2026\u201c\u2026\u201c\u2026\u201c\u2026..\n$1,290,410<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disaster Preparedness and Response (Phase I of II, as\ndirected by Congress)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This research will provide insight into the safe integration\nof UAS into the disaster preparedness and response areas. This research will\nlook at how UAS can aid in disaster preparedness and response to different\nnatural and human-made disasters. It will focus on procedures to coordinate\nwith the Department of Interior, the Department of Homeland Security, the\nFederal Emergency Management Agency, and other federal, local and state\norganizations to ensure proper coordination during those emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n