Unmanned Aerial Vehicle The latest drone news
September 8, 2022 (Grand Forks)—The autonomous ecosystem in North Dakota is excited to announce the formation of the North Dakota Unmanned Autonomous Systems Council (NDUASC), a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and advocate for the UAS industry in North Dakota and to provide ongoing opportunities for networking, sharing, and community outreach.
The impetus for the Council came from meetings with legislators, who suggested a statewide council would be beneficial not only to those in the ecosystem, but those in government as well. “As a member of House Appropriations, I’ve been a supporter of the UAS industry from the beginning. It’s been exciting to watch it grow from just a few companies in Grand Forks to having an active presence across the state. With that growth, it’s valuable to have all the players in the autonomous industry communicating, sharing resources, and bringing a combined voice to the legislature,” said Representative Mike Nathe (R-Bismarck).
“We were approached on some potential legislation and it just made sense to us that the UAS industry would have a representative organization much like the Petroleum Council, Lignite Energy Council, TechND, etc. It can be hugely beneficial especially when it comes to advocacy,” said Representative Todd Porter (R-Mandan).
The Council’s official goal is to “form a diverse and inclusive statewide council in order to share information and best practices, communicate needs and goals, and advocate for the ND UAS industry before the legislature and state agencies.” The Council will also work closely with the ND UAS Test Site in Grand Forks.
The Council is currently filling out membership and finalizing Board positions, and intends to have their first official event during the upcoming ND UAS Summit in October. More information can be found at nduas.org.
