Their official name is “unmanned aerial vehicle,” but you probably know them better as drones and Jackson’s Mill airstrip will be buzzing with them this week as West Virginia University and the U.S. Army Research Lab bring together top private and public sector researchers and engineers to demonstrate and discuss the latest advancements in the technology.
More than a dozen UAV and sensor-related companies will be sending technical representatives from around the U.S. to demonstrate their products during the first-ever WVU UAV Week, an invitation-only exhibition at the 3,300-foot-long Louis Bennett Airfield.
UAVs, essentially airplanes without pilots, offer a variety of advantages over traditional aircraft. They can be deployed without endangering pilots and are less expensive to operate than traditional aircraft because they can be much smaller.
WVU is currently conducting research and development on hybrid-projectiles – a new class of UAV called micro-aerial vehicles. The new technology will allow soldiers to launch micro UAVs using existing gun systems from 40 mm to 155 mm. The unique low-cost projectiles will have the capability to look and behave like standard ammunition, or transform into a UAV that can be guided to the target.
Much of that work originated as a result of funding made possible by former Congressman Alan B. Mollohan who built upon WVU’s experience working on U.S. Department of Defense projects with the Army’s Armament Research Development and Engineering Center.
After three initial days of tests and briefings, ATLAS Demonstration Day – where manufacturers spend a day showcasing the latest UAV projects and technologies – will take place Thursday, July 28. WVU engineers, researchers, and regional defense industry leaders will see state-of-the-art tube-launched and small tactical UAV flight demonstrations throughout the week as part of the event.
More than 10 leading UAV companies and organizations are expected to demonstrate their products during WVU UAV Week.
Mridul Gautam, WVU associate vice president for research and economic development, has been a key leader in the University’s Department of Defense research efforts. He said the interdisciplinary UAV work supports the defense of the U.S. and enhances the overall WVU research enterprise.
WVU UAV Week is designed to foster synergistic activities among academia and industry in an effort to share ideas and develop new technologies to enhance defense capabilities.
The event is hosted by the WVU Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
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CONTACT: Scott Gillespie; WVU Research Corp.
304.293.0804; scott.gillespie@mail.wvu.edu
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