Oklahoma State University: OSU Institute Announces Military Partnership For Counter-UAS Research

Press release from Oklahoma State University:

2022-01-31

The Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI) at Oklahoma State University has announced
the formation of a DOD Counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) Center of Excellence
(COE).

The Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI) at Oklahoma State University has announced
the formation of a DOD Counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) Center of Excellence
(COE).

Created in partnership with the U.S. military and industry leaders, the center will
elevate USRI’s capacity to develop state-of-the-art technology and a highly-trained
workforce equipped to sustain growth well into the future.

Created in partnership with the U.S. military and industry leaders, the center will
elevate USRI’s capacity to develop state-of-the-art technology and a highly-trained
workforce equipped to sustain growth well into the future.

The newly formed center of excellence aims to provide a collaborative environment
to rapidly develop and test counter-UAS capabilities, and bolster the U.S. military’s
ability to attract a skilled, security-cleared workforce to develop and test this
technology. It will utilize resources across the state, working with industry and
federal agencies to coordinate and evaluate technology to ensure the U.S. retains
the lead in UAS and counter-UAS technology for the foreseeable future.

The newly formed center of excellence aims to provide a collaborative environment
to rapidly develop and test counter-UAS capabilities, and bolster the U.S. military’s
ability to attract a skilled, security-cleared workforce to develop and test this
technology. It will utilize resources across the state, working with industry and
federal agencies to coordinate and evaluate technology to ensure the U.S. retains
the lead in UAS and counter-UAS technology for the foreseeable future.

“With the funding I was able to secure in this year’s [National Defense Authorization
Act], Oklahoma State University has the great privilege to open the Counter UAS Center
of Excellence, which will support counter-UAS activities across our nation’s military,”
said U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, who has been instrumental in the formation of the COE.
“I am proud of all the work we’ve been able to accomplish together over the years
and I look forward to seeing how OSU will bring about great change with the Center
of Excellence.”

“With the funding I was able to secure in this year’s [National Defense Authorization
Act], Oklahoma State University has the great privilege to open the Counter UAS Center
of Excellence, which will support counter-UAS activities across our nation’s military,”
said U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, who has been instrumental in the formation of the COE.
“I am proud of all the work we’ve been able to accomplish together over the years
and I look forward to seeing how OSU will bring about great change with the Center
of Excellence.”

The center will have a formal grand opening in fall 2022. Although the center’s work
will be performed predominantly at the EXCELSIOR lab on OSU’s Stillwater campus, the
footprint of the center’s reach will extend to OSU’s facilities in Oklahoma City —
such as the Hamm Institute for American Energy at Oklahoma State University — and
to the U.S. Army facilities at Fort Sill. 

The center will have a formal grand opening in fall 2022. Although the center’s work
will be performed predominantly at the EXCELSIOR lab on OSU’s Stillwater campus, the
footprint of the center’s reach will extend to OSU’s facilities in Oklahoma City —
such as the Hamm Institute for American Energy at Oklahoma State University — and
to the U.S. Army facilities at Fort Sill. 

USRI, housed in OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, will provide
expertise on unmanned systems, autonomy, advanced materials and navigation solutions,
as well as potential workforce candidates that will now have extensive, hands-on experience
with systems and technologies developed through the COE.

USRI, housed in OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, will provide
expertise on unmanned systems, autonomy, advanced materials and navigation solutions,
as well as potential workforce candidates that will now have extensive, hands-on experience
with systems and technologies developed through the COE.

“This goes back to OSU’s land-grant mission to not only support the needs of the citizens
of the state, but to also assist both industry and other state and federal agencies,
as well,” said Dr. Jamey Jacob, USRI director and OSU professor. “As drone use expands,
the potential to use these systems for nefarious purposes also increases. This Center
of Excellence provides the capability to address the needs of the DoD at large by
providing cutting edge counter-UAS solutions, more specifically for the Army — its
training mission at Fort Sill and its counter-UAS training school — as well as provide
for the safety and well-being of the United States.”

“This goes back to OSU’s land-grant mission to not only support the needs of the citizens
of the state, but to also assist both industry and other state and federal agencies,
as well,” said Dr. Jamey Jacob, USRI director and OSU professor. “As drone use expands,
the potential to use these systems for nefarious purposes also increases. This Center
of Excellence provides the capability to address the needs of the DoD at large by
providing cutting edge counter-UAS solutions, more specifically for the Army — its
training mission at Fort Sill and its counter-UAS training school — as well as provide
for the safety and well-being of the United States.”

As the adoption of UAS technology becomes more common, the need for systems designed
to counter these technologies continues to grow. The COE will provide OSU and the
state of Oklahoma the opportunity to continue its growing leadership role in aerospace
and UAS research.

As the adoption of UAS technology becomes more common, the need for systems designed
to counter these technologies continues to grow. The COE will provide OSU and the
state of Oklahoma the opportunity to continue its growing leadership role in aerospace
and UAS research.

This press release was produced by Oklahoma State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.