The ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì, Reno has launched ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Autonomous, a new program to manage and enhance ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site activities. The UAS Test Site service was created following ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì’s designation by the Federal Aviation Administration as one of seven states to serve as a center for the development and testing of unmanned autonomous vehicles and systems.
ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Autonomous will be responsive to opportunities statewide and will collaborate with projects developed through the ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì, Las Vegas and Desert Research Institute. The new alignment better incorporates UAS test activities with the aeronautical, autonomous vehicle and robotics research happening at the three research institutions of the ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì System of Higher Education, while continuing to also facilitate testing opportunities with business, industry and government agencies. Safety will remain a primary emphasis.
The transition of this service from the ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) to the University follows the announcement of the University being named to one of four teams selected for NASA’s University Leadership Initiative, a program to support NASA’s aeronautical research goals. The team brings together university and industry expertise, and includes Sierra ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Corporation as an industry partner. GOED helped facilitate development of the project proposal, and the further involvement of Resolute ISR, a Carson City-based manufacturer of the Resolute Eagle, an UAS platform.
“This is a culmination of the ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Governor’s Office of Economic Development’s work while functioning as ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site and with Resolute ISR,” said Kris Sanchez, GOED Deputy Director. “We’re very pleased that the ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì, Reno was included in this program and it’s a natural progression for it to be housed at the University.”
“With ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Autonomous we will continue and strengthen ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì’s national leadership role in autonomous testing,” said Brian Sandoval, UNR President. “This is an opportunity that builds on the technology applications happening at ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì’s research institutions, our commitment to collaboration and, of course, ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì’s unique geography.”
The ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Autonomous team envisions creating a beyond-visual-line-of-sight corridor for aerial and vehicular testing that extends from Reno to Las Vegas, a north to south connection extending roughly 500 miles.
“This is a great win for the ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Reno and creates new opportunities to advance all autonomous vehicles operations within the State of ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì,” said Blair Smith, the ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì UAS Test Site Operator who manages the ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Autonomous program. “This includes connecting Reno and Las Vegas with an autonomous vehicle –both land and air – corridor.”
ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Autonomous is part of UNR’s ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Center for Applied Research which opens access for business and industry to the institution’s leading-edge labs, equipment, expertise and services. Opened in 2015 and supported by the ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Knowledge Fund through GOED, the ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì Center for Applied Research has been part of securing more than $32.6 million in grants, contracts, gifts and agreements, and its affiliated companies have created more than 130 jobs.
For the NASA University Leadership Initiative project, UNR and SNC will work with the lead institution, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and team members Georgia Tech, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, North Carolina A&T State University and Lockheed Martin. The team’s proposal is designed to support NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility campaign and deliver trustworthy autonomy tools to help aircraft fly safely through complex airspace. In support of NASA’s goal to help students gain experience in robotics and aeronautics research, Resolute ISR will select four initial University engineering students as interns, with plans to add another four by year’s end.
Note: Gregory Bortolin, GOED director of communication, and Jane Tors, University research communications director, contributed to this story.
