ADA, Ohio (WLIO) – Students at Ohio Northern University got hands-on experience with drone technology during the university’s annual “Drone Day” event.
After attending presentations and hearing from industry experts, students participated in indoor flight demonstrations due to the rain.
Held at ONU, the event gave students in construction management and related fields the chance to learn about drone usage and flight. After attending presentations and hearing from industry experts, students participated in indoor flight demonstrations due to the rain. Douglas Degan, an instructor in construction management at Ohio Northern, said the opportunity is rare and gives students a competitive edge as they work toward FAA drone certification.
"I knew in our region there were very limited opportunities for students to be able to learn about all the drone technology, and the implementation of drone technology," said Degen. "So within that, because drone certification is so prevalent and needed for all of the different mapping, prescription mapping opportunities, excavation quantities, whatever you're using it for - it's very data driven. So to be able to collect that data, upload it into computer systems, create plans, download it back down, is just saving thousands of dollars in regard to the whole surveying operations."
Students will be able to test their knowledge through an FAA exam, allowing them to become certified to professionally operate drones in their chosen careers.
"In our curriculum, we are learning all about the FAA exam, and so learning how to how to pass that, and there's an opportunity to get certified in the part 107, which is the the certification for professional drone use," said Mason Kruse, a junior at ONU. "I'm just hoping to get a broader knowledge of what drones can be used for in the field."
This marked the fourth year for Drone Day at ONU.
