Agenda

Take this time to learn more about how to make the most of the virtual platform. Review the agenda, schedule your day, schedule your meetings with attendees and watch some how-to videos. Jump in and get started!

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Walk the trade show floor. Visit all the sponsors and exibitors to set up your one-on-one meetings.

Brian Wynne is president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics. AUVSI represents more than 7,500 members from more than 60 countries involved in the fields of government, industry and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets.

Wynne brings in-depth experience in transportation and technology applications gained through leadership roles with industry associations and public-private partnerships. Prior to joining AUVSI in January 2015, he was president and CEO of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), the trade association promoting battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell electric drive technologies and infrastructure.

Kick off the Tech Forum with a session of Quick Pitches featuring the hottest available technologies today with applications in a variety of UAS markets.

Marc Towers with Oklahoma State University's Riata Center for Entrepreneurship and Manager of Cowboy Technology Angels will provide some valuable wisdom and insight that is destined to prime the pump for the always-popular Pitch Session, featuring the hottest available technologies today with applications in a variety of UAS markets.

From raw tech, to startups, to the revenue generators, your next investment or big opportunity could be a pitch away.

Hosted by Kraettli Epperson, CEO, Vigilant Aerospace Systems, Inc.

As the Department of Defense continues to adapt smaller, nimbler – and cheaper - UAS systems into their arsenal, defense contractors, both large and small, are now tapping into these newer technologies. By relying on their past success in developing large UAV platforms for the Pentagon, defense companies are now trying to parlay that experience into more business with Uncle Sam as the federal government tries new ways of tapping into the rapidly evolving commercial technology sector.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly become a game changer for the unmanned aerial systems industry as more sophisticated UAVs are now performing many problem-solving roles that were once only reserved for humans. One area AI is making an impact in is weather research, in particular the development of AI software and AI-enabled UAVs that are helping weather researchers make more accurate forecasts.

There is arguably no other sector in the U.S. that is currently utilizing commercial drones more than law enforcement/public safety.

More and more law enforcement or public safety agencies and organizations are realizing the potential of using drones to enhance their mission. From firefighting to search and rescue, drones are increasingly becoming indispensable tools for public safety personnel in their daily mission of saving and protecting lives.

Find out how these everyday heroes are utilizing this technology and what is involved with developing a successful UAS program.

As the UAS industry keeps evolving, the technologies and production processes needed to keep pace with the increased demand for even more sophisticated and reliable devices is forcing drone makers to explore other manufacturing options. In this session, hear from various manufacturing experts who will share what has worked for their companies and how they are adapting to changes dictated by the marketplace and from federal regulators.

Hosted by Jamey Jacob, Director, Unmanned Systems Research Institute, Oklahoma State University and Dr. Phillip Chilson, Professor, University of Oklahoma, School of Meteorology

NASA has selected a OSU/OU team a University Leadership Initiative Award in support of the agency’s aeronautics research goals. Unlike other NASA-funded research programs in which the agency specifies the project goals, universities are asked to come up with a compelling investigation, so long as that technical challenge addresses one of the strategic research thrusts of NASA. Another key goal of ULI is for the student researchers involved to gain experience in leading a multidisciplinary team made up of partners from other universities and industry, especially representing those who traditionally have not applied their skills to aviation problems. The team will look for ways to improve real-time weather forecasting of low-level winds and turbulence in both rural and urban environments with an eye to improving safety for Unmanned Aircraft Systems flying in AAM operations. Vigilant Aerospace Systems and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma will also be supporting activities on the award, along with other out-of-state entities.

Join us for a lightly facilitated conversation and networking opportunity with companies who are actively recruiting interns and early career professionals. Learn what skills these leading autonomous systems companies are looking for in the next gen workforce. Co-hosted by Elizabeth Pillar-Little, PhD, Research Scientist, Oklahoma University and Sallie Traxler, Director, Entrepreneurial Services, Development Capital Networks and the DronePort Network.

Walk the trade show floor. Visit all the sponsors and exibitors to set up your one-on-one meetings.

Joe Morra is the Director for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Office’s, Safety & Integration Division. This division is a conduit for UAS initiatives serving as a liaison and facilitator for safety risk management, enabling operational approvals, education / outreach / support, standards efforts and special programs between responsible organizations both within the FAA and to external stakeholders.

Before joining the UAS Integration Office, Mr. Morra was a General Aviation Operations Inspector for the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) in Teterboro, New Jersey and, more recently, served as a Subject Matter Expert in the Flight Standards Headquarters General Aviation and Commercial Division. Prior to working for the FAA, Mr. Morra owned and managed flight training and other small businesses for over 10 years.

Mr. Morra is a flight instructor and maintains his airline transport pilot (ATP) Certificate.

Remote Identification will play a vital role in identifying and grounding unauthorized unmanned aircraft flights in restricted areas, but many details are yet to be decided. What is Remote ID and what does it entail? What is its current status and how long will it take to be implemented?

Experts in industry and government will do a deep dive into this controversial policy and how it could impact our nation from an industry perspective as well as a safety and security perspective.

Industries across the board are seeing the value of unmanned aerial systems and how they can be incorporated into their business models. Noting how this emerging technology can be game changers by helping them become more efficient and save lives, many utilities companies are embracing UAS and using them in ways that may not have been possible or realized just a decade ago.

Learn how some of the top utility companies in the region are embracing this technology and how drone manufacturers are stepping up to design and develop unmanned platforms and equipment specifically suited for these sectors.

The U.S. Department of Transportation in 2017 brought together 10 state, local and tribal governments together with various private sector companies as part of its Integration Pilot Program (IPP) to test and evaluate the safe integration of unmanned aerial vehicles into the national airspace system.

Although the IPP will be ending soon, the research and testing conducted by the nine remaining IPP awardees has already made a tremendous impact on the future of the UAS industry.

Find out from several of the nine remaining IPP awardees what is next for them and the UAS industry as they and their peers begin the transition away from the IPP.

Many of the devices, tools and materials we use inside our homes and see around our communities were originally developed in many of the federal labs and research centers scattered across the U.S.

The Federal Lab Consortium helps these facilities, as well as their scientists and researchers, to more quickly transfer those technologies into the marketplace.

In this session, you will hear from several federal agencies whose research efforts have led to the development of more advanced technologies and materials currently being used in the UAS space.

From coast to coast and border to border, states are ramping up their efforts to possibly cash in on the economic smorgasbord that is the UAS industry in order to create jobs and boost their local economies. Several forward-looking states have already been actively searching out the latest innovations in the UAS space to create unique and far-reaching programs that will help catapult them into the forefront of this nascent technology.

Hear from various officials who will share how capitalizing on UAS is bringing job growth and recognition to their respective states.