Kansas State University - Salina

Kansas State Salinas drone program was the second in the country to offer a bachelor’s degree in unmanned aircraft systems. K-State provides their students with research opportunities and cutting edge technology, as well as actual flight training missions - approximately 100 completed each year. For Department of Defense related projects, the K-State has access to restricted airspace at the Smoky Hill Weapons Range as well as authorization to fly unmanned aircraft in the National Airspace System. Along with UAS education, the program also includes manned aviation, avionics, aircraft maintenance, math, physics, computer science and electrical engineering.

Requirements
Students are required to maintain a second class flight physical and obtain a private pilot license with an instrument rating in order to take the course. Without this cirtificate, students can not legally fly drones in the designated airspace. Also, the FAA will likely require a second class medical and the pilot/rating credential of those operating UAS in the national airspace system. Other universities only train their UAS students on simulators, but do not require a private pilots licensee.

Training
Kansas State actively covers all aspects of sUAS design, construction and field operations. Students perform autopilot integrations and receive training on the gamut of autopilots from open-source, commercial systems to those which are high-end and proprietary. They also receive training in field operations and study the design and construction of sUAS, including those which are fixed-wing, have multiple rotors and are of more conventional helicopter design. They are mostly focused on the civilian application of drone technology and are actively engaged in multiple research projects that explore and expand the potential of operating sUAS.

sUAS Systems
Kansas State has the second largest university fleet of operational sUAS, including two Aerosondes, two Penguins, an Aerion Labs Scout. They also operate a large number of fixed-wing, multi-rotor and helicopter aircraft, both commercial and designed and built in-house. K-State has a dedicated ground station that is housed in a large trailer and capable of full command and control of all sUAS in the fleet, including RTK (Satellite Assisted Navigation) capabilities. They maintain a well equipped lab and dedicated facility in which sUAS are designed, constructed and maintained. They also have computing resources to support our research activities in remote sensing, precision agriculture and infrastructure inspection techniques.

Media
K-States UAS program was featured on several television networks including PBS. Agricultural applications were one of the main focuses of the story.

Kansas State drone program by The Local Show

K-State UAS program promo