A group made up of representatives of the University of North Dakota and a number of counties in northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota has been talking about unmanned aerial vehicles – specifically, about issues surrounding the use of UAVs.
That group is discussing how law enforcement and other agencies beyond the military can use the aircraft – and about privacy concerns.
"And that's where we get a sense of what the community will or will not accept," said UND Associate Vice President for Research Development and Compliance Barry Milavetz, who organized the group -- the first of its kind in the nation. "If you ask me where that line is, it's a gray area. But I have a pretty good idea of what is probably acceptable, and what probably isn't acceptable."
"The use of UAVs is only going to reach its potential if factors like privacy are addressed," said UND associate vice-president for Intellectual Property Commercialization and Economic Development Michael Moore. "If that is holding back use of UAVs, it needs to be examined, and the public needs to know that procedures, protocols and best practices are being followed. You don't want to fly these things willy-nilly."
Milavetz says he hopes the continued discussions will help head off any conflicts.
"Technology and science will go forward, whether we try to stop it or not," said Milavetz. "Some states may have legalized the shuuting down of the drones. But that's not a viable solution. To us, the idea is -- you try to manage it in a way that's appropriate, and in a way that people in the community are made to feel comfortable with it."
The Federal Aviation Administration is scheduled to announce six UAV test sites by the end of the year. Milavetz says he believes UND has made a strong case to be one of those sites.
