Northern signs on with group research project for aerial drones
by Tim Leeds
Montana State University-Northern has joined a group of other institutions to create a research center to explore the use of unmanned aircraft.
“This project combines the unique talents and capabilities of different academic and research institutions to form an unequaled (unmanned aerial systems) Center of Excellence partnership, ” Greg Kegel, dean of Northern’s College of Technology, said Wednesday in a release about the agreement.
Representatives of Mississippi State University, Montana State University in Bozeman, and Rocky Mountain College in Billings joined Northern representatives in Bozeman Wednesday to sign the agreement to create the research center. 
Representatives of Montana’s U. S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester and U. S. Rep. Denny Rehberg also attended the ceremony, as did representatives of the Governor's Office of Economic Development and of the unmanned aerial systems, or drone aircraft, industry.
Mississippi State University, with programs in maritime and gulf coast research including meteorological research, will partner with Northern and the engineering program at MSU and the aviation programs in conducting research and training in the field.
Northern’s College of Technology will be in charge of administration and testing for the center.
Northern Chancellor Frank Trocki said in June that the region, with its wide variety of weather conditions and its large, relatively low-population geographic area, would be ideal for the center.
The program, in which companies including, Lockheed, and Northrop Grumman have expressed interest in being involved, could bring hundreds — or more — jobs to the region, Trocki said. 
The goal of the project over the next few months will be to add industry and other institutions to the partnership and launch the first drone in late summer of 2011, the release said. Great Falls, Havre, Lewistown and Glasgow are being considered as initial launching point locations.
Trocki said the drones have primarily been used in military applications, but one focus of the research could be on integrating them into civilian use. 
Ryan Zinke, co-director of the project, said Wednesday that Montana could be on the cutting edge of developing the unmanned aerial system industry.
“(Unmanned aerial systems) will transition from today’s military-centric role … to important civilian applications such as research, farming, and forest management, ” Zinke said in the release. “(The systems) are ideal tools for conducting a vast array activities that are currently done by more expensive methods such as satellite imagery or manned aircraft.
Montana has a unique opportunity to leverage our enormous airspace and be a hub of research, testing, and development in an emerging industry, ” Zinke added. “We are at the forefront of change in aviation technology with enormous potential to create the kinds of jobs we need in Montana. ”

Montana State University-Northern has joined a group of other institutions to create a research center to explore the use of unmanned aircraft.

“This project combines the unique talents and capabilities of different academic and research institutions to form an unequaled (unmanned aerial systems) Center of Excellence partnership, ” Greg Kegel, dean of Northern’s College of Technology, said Wednesday in a release about the agreement.

Representatives of Mississippi State University, Montana State University in Bozeman, and Rocky Mountain College in Billings joined Northern representatives in Bozeman Wednesday to sign the agreement to create the research center. 

Representatives of Montana’s U. S. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester and U. S. Rep. Denny Rehberg also attended the ceremony, as did representatives of the Governor's Office of Economic Development and of the unmanned aerial systems, or drone aircraft, industry.

Mississippi State University, with programs in maritime and gulf coast research including meteorological research, will partner with Northern and the engineering program at MSU and the aviation programs at Rocky Mountain College conducting research and training in the field.

Northern’s College of Technology will be in charge of administration and testing for the center.

Northern Chancellor Frank Trocki said in June that the region, with its wide variety of weather conditions and its large, relatively low-population geographic area, would be ideal for the center.

The program, in which companies including, Lockheed, and Northrop Grumman have expressed interest in being involved, could bring hundreds — or more — jobs to the region, Trocki said. 

The goal of the project over the next few months will be to add industry and other institutions to the partnership and launch the first drone in late summer of 2011, the release said. Great Falls, Havre, Lewistown and Glasgow are being considered as initial launching point locations.

Trocki said the drones have primarily been used in military applications, but one focus of the research could be on integrating them into civilian use. 

Ryan Zinke, co-director of the project, said Wednesday that Montana could be on the cutting edge of developing the unmanned aerial system industry.

“(Unmanned aerial systems) will transition from today’s military-centric role … to important civilian applications such as research, farming, and forest management, ” Zinke said in the release. “(The systems) are ideal tools for conducting a vast array activities that are currently done by more expensive methods such as satellite imagery or manned aircraft.

Montana has a unique opportunity to leverage our enormous airspace and be a hub of research, testing, and development in an emerging industry, ” Zinke added. “We are at the forefront of change in aviation technology with enormous potential to create the kinds of jobs we need in Montana. ”