Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Construction Nears Completion on Drone Lab at St. Mary's University in TX

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 09/29/20

St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX is nearing completion of new drone lab, which is on target to be done in October. The $600,000 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Lab is being built by the School of Science, Engineering and Technology.

<p>3D rendering of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Laboratory. Source: <a href="https://www.stmarytx.edu/">St. Mary's University</a></p>

The 1,734-square foot lab has a 25-foot ceiling and includes a flight area, an observation area and workstations. The expectation is that faculty will be able to include drones in their instruction and students will be able to participate in drone-related research for industry partners.

"This is an opportunity to add programming that will launch St. Mary’s graduates into a fast-growing emergent industry," said Winston Erevelles, dean of the School, in a press release. Erevelles said that the Federal Aviation Administration predicted that the U.S. registered commercial drone fleet would climb to between 442,000 and 1.6 million units in the next few years, "which will in turn create a few hundred thousand jobs."

According to Erevelles, the facility will serve as a multi-purpose operation, supporting a new UAS concentration under the B.S. in Engineering Science program that launched this fall and housing summer camps for high school students.

"Drone technology has been around for more than 50 years. However, it was exclusively used by the military and was not available to the private sector until recently," added Bahman Rezaie, a professor of electrical engineering, who has been an early proponent of drone research at the university. "The more drones become part of everyday business in all aspects of life, the more need for a workforce that is knowledgeable and capable of maintaining and designing a variety of drones."

Funding came from a $3 million Title V – Building Capacity for Excellence in STEM Education grant as well as support from the Albert & Margaret Alkek Foundation and the Union Pacific Foundation.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Moline-Coal Valley School District to Consolidate Two Schools into New Facility

    The Moline-Coal Valley School District in Moline, Ill., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff from two existing schools, according to local news. Robert Ontiveros Elementary School will serve as the new home for Lincoln-Irving Elementary School and Willard Elementary School.

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

  • Little Grand Market

    Designing for Belonging: Why Student Wellness Starts with Space

    From walkable site planning to flexible interiors, intentional design choices play a critical role in how students experience comfort, connection, and community.

  • Image courtesy of Kahler Slater

    UW–Madison Announces Completion of Morgridge Hall

    The University of Wisconsin–Madison recently announced that construction is complete on Morgridge Hall, a new academic building, according to a news release. The facility opened September 3 at the start of the fall semester, consolidating the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences into a single facility for the first time.