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Air Force sees area as hub for UAV development

A proposed facility would develop and test systems for unmanned aerial vehicles.

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By John Nolan, Staff Writer 6:34 PM Saturday, August 29, 2009

DAYTON — The Air Force, corporate and business partners could be just months away from starting up a center that will develop and test next-generation systems to improve the ability of unmanned aerial vehicles to track and attack America’s enemies.

The University of Dayton, Air Force Research Laboratory and other partners hope the Center for UAV Exploitation will help the Dayton region become a premier location for developing and commercializing new technology for sensors and other payloads for the unmanned military aircraft. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base’s hunger to acquire new technology is the key.

“The environment will be one of rapid prototype development, which greatly benefits AFRL by being able to quickly evaluate novel design concepts and new technologies,” said Joe Sciabica, executive director of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson. “We have envisioned that the AFRL and the Dayton region would also benefit from having this high-powered work force for the Dayton area and promoting technology development for the Air Force.”

AFRL scientists and engineers are to work alongside counterparts from UD, Wright State University and defense contractors including BAE Systems, STAN Solutions, Defense Research Associates Inc., Co-Operative Engineering Services Inc., UltraCell Corp. and L-3 Communications Nova Engineering.

“It’s fun just to get into a room with some of these guys and watch the creative juices start flowing,” said Mark Bryner, director of technology transition at Defense Research Associates. The Beavercreek company will contribute three small UAVs to support the sensors testing.

As UAVs get smaller and more versatile, the researchers will be challenged to ensure that sensors and other onboard equipment will work together and won’t collectively weigh too much. Researchers also must ensure that the aircraft will have enough power to operate those systems, said Larrell Walters, director of the University of Dayton-led Institute for Development and Commercialization of Advanced Sensors Technology, the lead organization for the new center. Changing the electronic tracking and photography equipment aboard a UAV could affect wind drag and fuel consumption, he said.

The center could be operating in the first quarter of 2010, Walters said. It will co-locate with the related TecEdge Works facility at 105 Janney Road, Dayton.

Ohio’s Third Frontier Commission in May recommended $3 million in technology development funding for the center. In July, the State Controlling Board formally approved $500,000 of that amount as operating funds. The controlling board could decide on Sept. 14 to approve the remaining $2.5 million as capital funding to allow buying the center’s equipment for ensuring integration of UAV systems.

The state is requiring UD and its partners to provide $3 million in matching funds.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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