Partnerships boost drone research

Over the past several years, the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, known as MAAP, has collaborated with Wing, an offshoot of Google, to clear the way for the most advanced drone deliveries in the U.S. This collaboration is just one example of how Virginia Tech leads in the development of unmanned aircraft systems. The stories below outline some of the university's latest projects.

- - 02/05/2020 Testing shows drones can use autonomous technology to dodge other air traffic
    The absence of a reliable way for drones to detect and avoid other aircraft has blocked their more widespread use. A collaboration with NASA tested one promising solution.
- - 10/18/2019 Drone delivery launches in Southwest Virginia
    After three years of collaboration between Wing and the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, the first drone delivery service available to the public launched in Christiansburg.
- - 09/10/2019 Technology demo suggests how to keep drone traffic flowing smoothly
    As demand for drone use rises, how to safely coordinate traffic has become an increasingly urgent question. A week of tests pointed toward an answer.
- - 07/25/2019 One year in, the drone park creates new opportunities on campus
    The tallest drone park in the country has been used by aspiring pilots, experienced aviators, and innovative researchers, and hosted everyone from a Daisy Scout troop to a nationally ranked drone racing team.
- - 04/23/2019 Drone delivery in the U.S. clears a major hurdle
    After several years of research and testing with the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, drone-delivery company Wing has become the first to receive federal authorization for commercial deliveries.
- - 02/25/2019 Selection for drone traffic-management program reflects Virginia’s leadership in UAS integration
    After years of increasingly sophisticated research on systems to handle an anticipated influx of drone traffic, the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership will get the chance to help shepherd the technology toward implementation.
- - 11/15/2018 Drone integration moves forward, one industry standard at a time
    An international committee charged with developing consensus standards for unmanned aircraft met at Virginia Tech for the second year in a row.
- - 08/24/2018 The future of delivery
    A popsicle arrived in a Blacksburg backyard as part of the most advanced drone-delivery testing ever performed in the United States, conducted by Wing and the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership.
- - 05/09/2018 Virginia wins bid to participate in national drone program
    The winning teams will have the opportunity to conduct some of the most complex flight testing of unmanned aircraft ever undertaken in U.S. skies. The day-to-day operations of the program in Virginia will be managed by the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership.
- - 04/30/2018 At 85 feet, the net's the limit: Virginia Tech Drone Park officially open
    Once Virginia Tech President Tim Sands cut the ceremonial ribbon held aloft by a drone, the Virginia Tech Drone Park was officially open for business.
- - 09/29/2017 Project Wing’s James Ryan Burgess to keynote autonomy conference
    Burgess co-leads the group whose drones delivered burritos on campus last fall. His keynote speech will explore how autonomous systems can earn the public's trust.
- - 06/07/2017 Virginia Tech, Project Wing, and partners team up with NASA on unmanned traffic management
    Tests coordinated by the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership help lay the groundwork for a future when large numbers of unmanned aircraft share airspace safely and efficiently.