NE North Dakota News

The University of North Dakota (UND) recently hosted the fourth annual UAV Technology USA Conference, a prominent event focused on Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). The conference took place from February 2-3 in Arlington, Virginia, and was organized by the London-based SAE Media Group. UND President Andrew Armacost chaired the event, which included participation from all branches of the U.S. military, allied nation military officers, researchers, and industry members worldwide.

President Armacost facilitated discussions aimed at highlighting the growing role of UAS in national airspace and military operations. He encouraged attendees to engage with each other, suggesting that new connections could lead to problem-solving collaborations. “You don’t know where the next connection...will come from,” he said.

Armacost expressed gratitude to the organizers for their efforts and emphasized the importance of progress in UAS technology. “It’s always a great experience to hear and to mark the progress that’s being made in this important work,” he stated.

Nearly 20 speakers addressed various topics over two days, including communications technology advancements and counter-drone applications in warfare. To ease tensions among participants, Armacost shared a personal anecdote about winning a car on "The Price is Right" in 2018.

Lt. Col. Christopher Hill of the U.S. Air Force discussed global operations involving MQ-9 Reaper drones. “Our bottom line up front here is that the MQ-9 is operating worldwide,” he noted.

Other key presentations included Lt. Col. Marcus Anthony's update on airspace integration for MQ-9 operations; Anthony Susainathan's insights into high-altitude intelligence vehicles; and Capt. Dennis Monagle's development of autonomous systems for naval use.

Armacost moderated Q&A sessions following each presentation, fostering dialogue between speakers and attendees from both industry and military sectors.

UND has hosted this conference due to its ongoing work related to aerospace education and national security research initiatives on campus. High-profile figures like retired Gen. Lori Robinson have visited UND, underscoring its influence in these fields.

Additionally, UND collaborates with regional partners such as Northern Plains UAS Test Site and Grand Sky business park while engaging in nonmilitary projects like delivering medical supplies with Indigenous communities.

“A lot of really cool things are happening at UND that you might not be aware of,” Armacost remarked during his address at the event.