ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - A dedicated outdoor space for testing autonomous aerial vehicles has taken flight at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Researchers hosted a “demo day” on Wednesday, showing off the $800,000 four-story netted complex that’s known as “M-Air.” The facility can test drones in just about any kind of weather.
Outdoor drone flights on the campus must go through a formal university approval process due to safety concerns about interference with hospital helicopters and other aircraft. But flights inside the M-Air space are considered indoors and don’t require that level of approval.
Michigan is not the only university in the U.S. with an outdoor drone testing facility, but it is in keeping with the school’s desire to stay on the cutting edge of technology.
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