Video: MSU Unmanned Aircraft Systems

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STARKVILLE, Miss.(WCBI)–Mississippi State University is named the leader when it comes to Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Tuesday morning the Bryan Athletic Administration Building on the MSU campus in Starkville becomes the place to discuss excellence in the tons of uses for these modern aircraft.

It was a press conference where everyone in attendance learned just a little more about the partnership between the Office of Research and Economic Development, and the new FAA national Center for Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Educators and experts in the field of unmanned crafts join MSU faculty staff and the public as they learn and discuss numerous applications for the modern technology.

“Speed limits change. It was determined that it was safer. Then along came cruise control, well is that safe. And cruise control as kind of an example of where the technology is going with the autonomy,” said Robert Moorhead/MSU Director of Geo Systems Research.

“So generally what we do we set the platform up and we like to test the wind direction that’s generally the way you’ll fly a full scale manned aircraft, so the same applies to this scale as well,” said David Young/UAS Flight Coordinator.

Those minds at MSU are most interested in precision ag, where they are sometimes off the farm tractors and into the air. These craft help farmers at the onset of threats of insect pest infestations and diseases.

“They can find that eradicate it because of these UAS have very high resolutions, special resolutions. They can find those pests and eradicate them very quickly,” said Robert Moorhead.

“So what you do is, you set a grid within that polygon and the plane will track that line pretty accurately and come back home and land on it’s own,” said David Young.

And be mindful, these are high tech crafts that can easily be taken off auto pilot immediately if they need to be retrieved by it’s pilot.

And at harvest time these applications continue, giving maximum results.

“We are actually able to use thermal sensors to determine the dry down of the corn. Is it ready for harvest? And so that give them a much better ability to harvest the optimal time for where they are going to deliver that product to market. Better yield, better quality of product,” said Robert Moorhead.

“And I think research will be able to allow farmers allow owners, just allow the commercial population to really get accurate data that can also push their businesses forward. And its probably going to be more effective and a little more efficient,” said David Young.

For more information, contact USAF Maj. Gen. (Ret.) james Poss, the executive director of ASSURE FAA Center of Excellence for UAS at MSU, at jposs@hpc.msstate.edu or 228-688-6988. Or learn more about MSU-led ASSURE at www.ASSUREuas.org.