Unmanned Aircraft Systems

This course explores the history, designs, regulations, and economics of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). Students will explore common uses of sUAS's such as precision agriculture, public safety, communications, aerial filming, resource management, and research. Legal and environmental considerations will be discussed was well as the business opportunities and growth areas. The course will also examine future applications of sUAS operations, with an emphasis on commercial and public applications.

The course provides hand-on training in pre-flight, post-flight, pilot in command (PIC) responsibilities, spotter responsibilities, and hazard avoidance. Students will gain an understanding of spatial orientation and become proficient in basic sUAS operations such as ascent, descent, altitude hold, and directional change. Students will gain experience by demonstrating level flight, horizontal, vertical, circle, and figure-8 patterns. Numerous stage checks will be utilized to ensure student understanding and proficiency in basic operations and maneuvers.

This course gives students the knowledge needed to earn a Commercial UAS Certificate as outlined in Chapter 14 CFR Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Topics such as weather, airspace, on and off airport operations, emergency procedures and human factors will be explored in detail.

This course explores the use of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) in precision agriculture. Crop monitoring, crop scouting, yield assessments, weather damage, and precision crop spraying will be investigated. sUAS software and agricultural image processing will also be examined. Legal and environmental considerations will be reviewed as it pertains to safe and ethical use of sUAS in precision agriculture.

An internship is required of most AAS programs. This course is available to AA and AS students as well. The students combine course learning with practical, professional work experience in their chosen field of study. The employer does an evaluation of the work experience: The faculty advisor supervises the students; the students are required to complete a project assigned by the faculty advisor. A minimum of 40 hrs of work is required to earn one credit. A grade of S/U is given by the faculty.