The Supercooled Water Experimental Arctic Tower creates calibrated icing conditions so researchers and students can study how ice buildup affects drone lift, control and performance. The Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute conducts drone icing research in a purpose-built ice tower. … [Read more...] about UAF Ice Tower Gives ACUASI a Controlled Testbed for Drone Icing Research
ACUASI
Alaska Drone Program Flies Blood Samples 1,000 Kilometers for Olympic Anti-Doping Agency
A Windracers ULTRA operated by the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration carried chilled human blood samples on an 8-hour, 47-minute round trip from Nenana, testing whether long-range drones can move biological samples without degrading them. Alaska's drone research program completed a 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) test flight carrying human blood samples for … [Read more...] about Alaska Drone Program Flies Blood Samples 1,000 Kilometers for Olympic Anti-Doping Agency
ACUASI Adds Heavy-Lift Drones for Cargo and Emergency Trials
New aircraft expand University of Alaska Fairbanks’ capabilities for long-range unmanned operations The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) has added two large-payload Windracers ULTRA drones to its fleet. The aircraft will be used for testing cargo delivery and emergency response operations across Alaska’s … [Read more...] about ACUASI Adds Heavy-Lift Drones for Cargo and Emergency Trials
Alaskan Drone Team Enters Active Volcano to Advance Safer Research Methods
University of Alaska Fairbanks mission tests remote gas sampling system at Costa Rica’s Poás volcano In early March, a team from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) used drones to collect gas samples from the crater of Poás volcano in Costa Rica. Their mission, led by research assistant professor Társilo Girona, aimed to make volcano research safer by testing a new method … [Read more...] about Alaskan Drone Team Enters Active Volcano to Advance Safer Research Methods
UAF Unveils New Icing Tower to Enhance Drone Safety in Arctic Conditions
Enhancing Drone Safety in Icy Conditions Images provided courtesy of UAF Geophysical Institute, used with permission. Photo credit: JR Ancheta. The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Geophysical Institute has introduced a groundbreaking icing tower designed to improve drone flight safety in icy weather. This innovative facility will play a crucial role in Alaska's efforts … [Read more...] about UAF Unveils New Icing Tower to Enhance Drone Safety in Arctic Conditions
