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North Dakota Vying for UAS Test Site


GeauxSioux

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Publications handicap ND’s chances among places vying for UAS test site

North Dakota appears to be one of the leading contenders in the race to land one of six national test sites to integrate unmanned aircraft into the national airspace.

An article, “How North Dakota plans to become the drone capital of America,” published this week on PopularScience.com, the online version of Popular Science magazine, lists the state as one of seven top contenders.

“North Dakota will probably get the bid, and it should,” wrote the author, Kelsey D. Atherton. “Testing drones in extreme winter conditions is important, and it’s best to do it where it’s very unlikely a mishap can actually hurt someone.”

082413.n.gfh.drones-graphis.jpg

Very good news for North Dakota and UND, although you wouldn't think so if you just read the Jamestown headline of the same piece.."N.D. test site chances hindered". They tried to change a word on the original headline make it original, but the same, but in this case handicap and hinder aren't the same thing. A little hint....maybe you should read it before changing the headline.

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Publications handicap ND’s chances among places vying for UAS test site

082413.n.gfh.drones-graphis.jpg

Very good news for North Dakota and UND, although you wouldn't think so if you just read the Jamestown headline of the same piece.."N.D. test site chances hindered". They tried to change a word on the original headline make it original, but the same, but in this case handicap and hinder aren't the same thing. A little hint....maybe you should read it before changing the headline.

Since Grand Forks AFB has Global Hawk drones good chance they will be a testing site, which would help keep Grand Forks AFB open. Most likely Alaska would be the main testing area for extreme winter testing on drones.

After looking at the map of areas that are being looked at for drone testing locations. Good chance NAS Pax River could be one, because that is where the X-47B is being tested by the Navy.

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Good for North Dakota/UND.

However, I'm not too sure it's good for our country, IMHO.

I agree with your humble opinion. Like most things, something good can be used or perverted into something bad.

I am hopeful that the good aspects and prospects of UAVs will find their home in North Dakota.

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  • 4 months later...

The government can already follow your online footprint and cell phone use. Now they can physically follow you too. Your freedom of privacy is pretty much gone.

They just aren't doing joyrides with these things and flying them around. Has it been said what they are monitoring/watching with the drones around here? Must that be disclosed? I've heard the gf county sherrif's dept has access to one and that one was used on that family in the standoff outside of Lakota but that's it.

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Good news for UND!

People have to remember that UASs are not all about killing terrorists and spying. There can be huge applications for scientific research and things like agriculture and border security as the article states. Having a better strategy on how to incorporate these into the airspace safely is important.

On the privacy front, it still takes a several team crew to get these things up and running. They aren't just going to be flying around tracking everybody, it would have to be a targeted effort, hopefully with laws written that include a significant reason to do so (manhunt, etc.). The paranoia on this seems to be over-the-top, like the NSA stuff (nobody is listening to your phone calls!). We need to encourage innovation and development, keeping the US at the forefront of this technology. :)

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  • 3 months later...

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