The North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program recently partnered with RDO and Wingtra on an advanced drone mapping and research project in the Wahpeton-Breckenridge area.

Over the past several weeks, NDSCS students and faculty worked alongside industry partners to test the capabilities of the WingtraRAY drone platform and evaluate how the aircraft and its specialized camera systems collect and process mapping data. The project gave students hands-on experience with some of the most advanced drone technology currently being used in the industry.

With support from the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, the flights were conducted with full Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization. The approval allows operations up to 6,000 feet above ground level (AGL) and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) within a 10-mile radius of the Wahpeton airport. The FAA authorization will remain active for the next two years, creating opportunities for future drone testing, research, and advanced flight operations in the region.

Wingtra, a Switzerland-based drone technology company, supported the project and may be involved in future research and testing opportunities with NDSCS and industry partners.

“This project gave our students an opportunity to work directly with cutting-edge technology that very few people have access to,” said Seth Simonson, UAS Lead Instructor. “The experience they gained operating advanced equipment and analyzing real-world mapping data will help prepare them for careers in the growing UAS industry.”

Learn more about the NDSCS UAS program at NDSCS.edu/UAS.