Cramer-HorowitzHILLSBORO  (CSi)   Congressman Cramer praised the partnership between the State of North Dakota and Elbit Systems of America to advance the potential for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in commercial applications.

Cramer gave remarks at the Hillsboro Airport UAS Field Day today highlighting the research underway to use unmanned aircraft to collect digital images of the region’s cropland. The project is a partnership between North Dakota State University and Elbit Systems of America, the American branch of the electronics company based in Israel. Elbit manufactures the Hermes and Skylark UAS aircraft, and its President and CEO Raanan Horowitz spoke about the success of the project and its potential.

 

“I am pleased Elbit has chosen to partner with North Dakota on this data collection project that will advance UAS use in agriculture applications. As a longtime leader in agriculture and now an emerging international leader in UAS development, North Dakota is an ideal place to conduct these studies. Bringing global partnerships to the breadbasket of the world in the Red River Valley has the potential to find the solutions to feed a hungry world.”

 

Laura McCarten, regional president of Xcel Energy, spoke about another UAS research project underway this summer at the Hillsboro Airport. Xcel has partnered with the University of North Dakota to research UAS applications for utility infrastructure monitoring.

 

“While defense contracting and weapons systems are among the emerging fields in UAS development, agriculture crop management and utility infrastructure are other promising commercial applications,” Cramer said.

 

The Hillsboro Airport UAS Field Day was held in conjunction with the UAS Summit to be held Tuesday in Grand Forks, at which Cramer will also give remarks.