Unmanned Archives - �鶹��

DARS (Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services) 2022 Drone Camp

Kristyn Damadeo — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 14:49:41 +0000

The �鶹��’s GeoTEd-UAS program teamed up with the Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC [formerly Thomas Nelson CC]) in partnership with Virginia’s Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to conduct two drone camps focused on special needs students from area high schools in Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg/James City County. The camps explored career preparation and applications in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS [aka drones]). Students were taught important safety and regulatory practices for drone operators, as well as the basics of flying drones. Students even earned their FAA TRUST certificates for recreational flyers and received their own drone. During each camp, students flew small drones inside through an obstacle course, and larger drones outside on VPCC’s campus, and during a trip to Anderson Park in Newport News arranged by John Lesko (GIS/UAS Specialist, Newport News, VA). On the last day of each camp, students took a field trip to Nauticus (Norfolk, VA) to see the museum’s current drone exhibit, fly drones in their ‘Drone Zone,’ and crawl over the decks of the USS Wisconsin.

“This was a great experience for our students,” said Sherry Hildebrandt, HCS transition specialist. “Both camps helped students gain self-confidence while learning additional life and vocational skills.” VPCC Professor Julie Young said, “One of the students said ‘it was the best week of his life,’ and that was priceless!”

The post DARS (Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services) 2022 Drone Camp appeared first on �鶹��.

GeoTEd-UAS Internship Completion

Kristyn Damadeo — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 14:05:19 +0000

Six community college students and three community college faculty recently completed an intensive internship program conducting UAS research and flight testing. Led by VSGC and funded by the NSF, the GeoTEd-UAS Internship program was in partnership with Virginia Tech's site in the Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS), a multi-university NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center. In addition to tuition support for two classes, preparation for the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, travel funding, and operating supplies, students and faculty earned stipends for completing the internship. VSGC and GeoTEd-UAS team members served as project leaders and subject-matter experts.

The post GeoTEd-UAS Internship Completion appeared first on �鶹��.

Community College Faculty Learn to Operate UAS

Kristyn Damadeo — Thu, 17 May 2018 17:11:29 +0000

The GeoTEd-UAS Faculty Institute was hosted by Virginia Tech on May 20 – May 25. The Cohort of 20 faculty returned for a second year of UAS training. Attendees developed skills and knowledge in operating small UAS and learned how to analyze data to make decisions. Led by the GeoTEd-UAS team, the Institute is a unique experience for faculty where they gain extensive hands-on experience in flying manual and autonomous missions to support real-world projects. Click for the Institute agenda.

For more information about GeoTEd-UAS, visit the

The post Community College Faculty Learn to Operate UAS appeared first on �鶹��.