A Historic Agreement: Research Institutes Join Forces for Drone Applications in Energy and Mining

On the floor of Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas this afternoon, two leading drone research institutions, one from Canada and one from the U.S., agreed to collaborate on a Center of Excellence for drone applications in energy and mining.  The collaboration represents some of the best of industry partnerships, an international partnership that combines the strengths and resources of both parties to benefit the drone industry.

Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s Centre for Innovation and Research in Unmanned Systems sign historic agreement to form Center of Excellence for applications of unmanned systems in energy and mining

(Las Vegas, NV) – Delegates from all over the world joined the Commercial UAV Expo at the Westgate Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada this week to participate in the world’s leading commercial drone conference. Building on the May 2018 Alberta-Nevada MOU on technology collaboration and trade in unmanned systems, the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS) and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s (SAIT) Centre for Innovation and research in Unmanned Systems (CIRUS) chose this venue to sign a historic agreement to form a bilateral Center of Excellence for applications of unmanned systems in energy and mining.

“This is an exciting partnership that allows us to strengthen our international collaboration and build upon the May 2018 Alberta-Nevada Memorandum of Understand (MOU) with Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, ARIS’ UAV Group.  This also provides the opportunity to strengthen our research and development and operational deployment of technology in critical industrial areas such as the oil and gas and mining industries and create additional opportunities to help grow Nevada small businesses and attract international business to the State of Nevada,” said Chris Walach, Executive Director of the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems and the FAA-designated Nevada UAS Test Site.

“The partnership between NIAS and ARIS’ UAV Group at SAIT will lead to opportunities to further develop leading edge practices that will form industry norms in areas such as UTMs, Methane Detection, Gamma Radiation, Sensor Development and Applications to help move the industry forward.  Our teams bring together the ability to do work in both hot and cold climates for industry partners, governments, individual inventors, and entrepreneurs in this exciting area of science and engineering.” said Rick Tofani, Director of Applied Research and Innovation Services, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

About the partners:

About the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS)

The Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS) and FAA-designated Nevada Unmanned Aviation Test Site leads the growth of the Nevada Unmanned Aviation Systems (UAS) Industry through business teaming relationships, collaborating with primary research institutions on UAS research and development, and enhancing the Nevada UAS Industry knowledge base to attract new and permanent business and create jobs in the State of Nevada. Learn more at www.nias-uas.com.

About the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and the Centre for Innovation and Research in Unmanned Systems (CIRUS)

Established in 1916, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada is a global leader in applied education and offers 100+ career programs, 1,300+ continuing education courses and corporate training courses to more than 200 companies annually. As organizations across all sectors explore the applications and capabilities of unmanned systems, SAIT is supporting innovation and new technology development through its Centre for Innovation and Research in Unmanned Systems (CIRUS). Researchers with SAIT’s Applied Research and Innovation Services department, faculty from SAIT’s School of Construction, students and industry partners converge in this cross-disciplinary environment to address challenges, create efficiencies, develop and test new products and applications. Learn more at www.sait.ca/applied-research-and-innovation-services/research-areas-and-facilities