The Department of Transportation predicts a dramatic increase in the number of drones to be used across the country in the coming years. Drones will compete for airspace with helicopters, airplanes and other manned aircraft, a potentially dangerous mix. Enter Virginia Tech researchers, leaders in the field of drone traffic control research; VT’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership is one of seven FAA-designated Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Test Sites.

In this presentation offered with the Lifelong Learning Institute at Virginia Tech, Tombo Jones, director of MAAP, will discuss the VT research and explore the NASA model to integrate drones into the National Airspace. This model could be used in the future for passenger-carrying, fully-autonomous, unpiloted aircraft. Join us to hear about the latest advances in managing a whole new kind of traffic jam!