Dedrone and the University of North Dakota to Advance Counterdrone and Airspace Safety Research

Dedrone, the market and technology leader in airspace security, announced today a partnership with the University of North Dakota (UND) unmanned aerial systems (UAS) education program. The installment of Dedrone’s UAS detection technology will improve safety and security for UND’s current UAS flights, and expand opportunities for research and training in the university’s Counter UAS and data driven curriculum.

“Safe and reliable airspace includes security systems to help detect and track non-cooperative aircraft,” shares Paul Snyder, Assistant Chair and Director of UND’s UAS Program. “At UND, unmanned aircraft are a daily part of our flight operations and curriculum, and it is a natural step to bring Dedrone into our curriculum as we continue to lead the effort to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace system.”

UND will install Dedrone’s radio frequency sensors, the RF-100 and RF-300, into a mobile counter-UAS (cUAS) truck to detect and track aircraft within designed areas where UAS flights are being conducted. The sensors will detect and track information including the flightpath and location of the pilot. Data collected will be incorporated into the curriculum of over 200 of UND’s UAS-related majors and minors and be used a foundation for related research. “Students will have first-hand access to Dedrone technology to understand the intersection of airspace security and technology, and the importance of risk mitigation for UAS operations.” says Chief UAS Pilot, Amanda Brandt.

“Dedrone is proud to be aligned with UND’s accomplished aviation and UAS program,” shares Joerg Lamprecht, CEO and co-founder of Dedrone. “UND understands the risks drones pose to their operations and are providing our future airspace leaders a hands-on experience to learn about drone detection and cUAS systems.”

About Dedrone

Dedrone is the market and technology leader in airspace security. The Dedrone platform combines hardware sensors and machine-learning software, providing early warning, classification of, and mitigation against all drone threats. Based in San Francisco, Dedrone was founded in 2014 and is backed by investors including Felicis Ventures, Menlo Ventures, and John Chambers, Chairman Emeritus of Cisco Systems and Founder of JC2 Ventures.

About UND Aerospace

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018, UND Aerospace offers the most technologically advanced Unmanned Aerial System flight training complex of any public university, and was the first to establish an undergraduate major in unmanned aircraft systems operations. It owns and operates a fleet of more than 150 aircraft and flight training devices, and provides pilot and UAS operator and sensor training to nearly 2,000 students from 12 different countries amassing approximately 150,000 flight hours per year.