Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Conducts First UAS Research Mission over Gulf of Mexico

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will conduct the first mission over the Gulf of Mexico with their unmanned aircraft from Monday, March 11 through Friday, March 15.

The unmanned aircraft will acquire data over the Gulf and South Texas ranchland as part of their search for new applications of unmanned aerial technology. During the mission, the University’s RS-16 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) will carry onboard a multi-spectral camera which will acquire images in the visible, infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV) frequency ranges. Among other applications, this data will be used in a study of algae distribution along the Texas coast by the University’s Center for Coastal Studies.  This is one of the many coastal and marine science applications for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology.

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The University missions will be flown in airspace certified by the FAA for unmanned aircraft operations at less than 3,000 feet near the Intracoastal Waterway, south of Baffin Bay. The certified air space also includes significant portions of the Padre Island National Seashore and Gulf of Mexico coastal waters where previous missions have been performed. RS-16 manufacturer American Aerospace Advisors Inc. (AAAI) will collaborate in various aspects of the aircraft’s operations, including ground-crew activities and the roles of mission commander and observer.

The missions come at a critical moment as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi leads a statewide effort to persuade the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to designate Texas as a test range for technologies that will allow large and small unmanned aircraft to operate safely in the national air space.

AAAI RS-16 (airframe manufactured by Arcturus, system integration by AAAI)

  • Wingspan:  12 feet 11 inches
  • Max take-off weight:  85 pounds
  • Max speed:  65 knots
  • Max payload weight:  25 pounds
  • Max endurance:  12-16 hours

The College of Science and Engineering offers cutting-edge programmes supported by award-winning faculty deeply-invested in education and the growth and continuation of knowledge from one generation to the next. As one of the leading institutions for coastal, marine, and environmental research, the College is committed to maintaining an academic environment in which students develop as dynamic professionals who will make significant contributions to society. The College is the academic home of faculty endowed by the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, one of the foremost leaders in the support and advancement of the long-term use and conservation of the world’s ninth largest body of water. The College also houses the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science, a center of geospatial research and coastal monitoring in the Gulf of Mexico and the Center for Coastal Studies, recognised internationally for research in harmful algae and their toxins. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi offers more than 60 of the most popular degree programmes in the state and has proudly provided a solid academic reputation, renowned faculty, and highly-rated degree programs since 1947.  The Island University has earned its spot as one of the top research institutions in Texas and supports two marine-oriented Ph.D. programmes.

Source: Press Release

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