UAVs – TheMinotVoice.com

Air taxis? A spaceport? Utah is making moves — and spending millions — for a futuristic vision

by: MinotVoice | April 5, 2025

The future of flight isn’t coming—it just landed in Utah. With a new partnership between air taxi innovator BETA Technologies and aerospace group 47G, the state is laying the groundwork for electric aircraft, high-speed deliveries, and even a potential spaceport. It’s bold, ambitious, and timed with an eye toward the 2034 Olympics. But beyond the

Read & Share sourced from: Utah News Dispatch

With deeper federal integration, commercial drone prospects appear unlimited

by: MinotVoice | February 26, 2025

North Dakota is poised to take a major leap in drone technology. With an $11 million investment, the state will integrate its unmanned aerial system with the FAA, vastly expanding commercial drone operations beyond visual line of sight. This move could transform industries like agriculture, energy, and emergency response, making North Dakota a national leader

Read & Share sourced from: North Dakota News Cooperative

North Dakota House sends bill to expand drone infrastructure to governor

by: MinotVoice | February 21, 2025

North Dakota is moving fast to stake its claim in the future of drone technology. Lawmakers have approved an expansion of the Vantis system, a beyond-line-of-sight drone network that could set the stage for a national model. With an emergency clause attached, the bill takes effect as soon as Governor Kelly Armstrong signs it—critical timing,

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

State-of-the-art drone technology flies into KMOT Ag Expo

by: MinotVoice | January 30, 2025

In the evolving world of agriculture, drones are becoming essential tools for farmers, streamlining tasks and enhancing efficiency. At the KMOT Ag Show, a new 3-foot drone from Tenacity Ag, based in Minnesota, showcases just how far this technology has come. Capable of covering 60 acres in an hour, these drones not only spray crops

Read & Share sourced from: KMOT

ND launching a state-wide network for UAS

by: Josh Wolsky | May 3, 2019

One outcome of the legislative session was funding for a statewide network that would allow drones to operate beyond line of site. And while a recent federal initiative opened similar doors in the Eastern part of the state, Todd McDonald with Prairie Public has details on the state initiative.

Read & Share sourced from: Prairie Public News

Minot’s Hobbyist Model Airplane and UAS Pilots Find Growing Interest

by: Josh Wolsky | August 7, 2017

There’s little doubt that the UAS industry is growing and full of potential, but where do people in the business get there start? In all likelihood, it’s on their own, through a friend, or perhaps through a grassroots group of like-minded enthusiasts. And it turns out, Minot has just such a community.

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

Africa is now the world’s testing ground for commercial drones

by: Josh Wolsky | June 24, 2017

North Dakota likes to think of itself as a leader in UAS investment. And in the U.S., we are. But on a global scale, strict U.S. regulations are dampening the industries ability to advance at the pace dictated by commercial demands and technical ability. In Africa, regulatory burdens aren’t a problem there we’re seeing drones

Read & Share sourced from: Quartz

Grand Forks: Drone test site sees sharp growth in flights

by: Josh Wolsky | November 20, 2016

Growth in the unmanned aerial systems (UAS/UAV/Drones) industry is skyrocketing, and Grand Forks is working to position their community as the premier testing location in the country because of its unique intersection of private, government (Air Force), and educational opportunities.

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Peanut butter drone strikes could save North America’s most endangered animal

by: Josh Wolsky | October 25, 2016

When it comes to the UAV industry, the sky is literally the limit. And not very far away, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is using drones to drop vaccine-laced food pellets on a critically endangered population of black-footed ferrets.

Read & Share sourced from: Star Tribune

North Dakotan trade mission to Israel first of its kind

by: Josh Wolsky | February 13, 2016

North Dakota officials were in Isreal and Egypt recently making inroads for the state’s agriculture and technology products. Of note was meeting on a joint project between an Israeli company and North Dakota UAS interests focused on agriculture.

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Grand Forks Air Force Base Well Positioned for UAV Mission

by: Josh Wolsky | February 10, 2016

It wasn’t that many years ago that the future of the Grand Forks Air Force Base was in question, but with the rise of the unmanned aerial system industry (UAS, UAV), the base is now positioned better than ever. And the industry is driving new education opportunities as well private sector investment in the community.

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Farmers take flight

by: Josh Wolsky | January 21, 2016

Christmas was a very merry season for drone makers and farmers. A report from Minneapolis-based Sentera, an imaging company that provides equipment for photographing fields, suggests as many as 45,000 new pilots will be in the fields this year.

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Police in North Dakota Can Now use Drones Armed with Tasers

by: Josh Wolsky | August 27, 2015

North Dakota is now the first state in the country with a law on the books that allows police to equip drones with “less than lethal” weapons. Editorial Warning: this article is decidedly against the use of drones for this purpose and without more oversight.

Read & Share sourced from: The Daily Beast

Fargo’s Drone Focus Conference Showcases Latest Drone Tech

by: Josh Wolsky | June 8, 2015

The technology behind Unmanned Aerial Vehicles is quickly becoming the foundation of a lucrative business sector and both Fargo and Grand Forks are working to establish themselves as business-friendly homes for the start-up community. The title image is courtesy of EmergingPrairie.com.

Read & Share sourced from: EmergingPrairie.com

Grand Forks: Unmanned Aerial System Development Firm Moving into Grand Sky

by: Josh Wolsky | May 6, 2015

The Grand Forks technology park that’s been developed in conjunction with the Grand Forks AFB and UND is attracting tenants. The Grand Sky technology park is still in its early days, but all signs are pointing to a major victory for the Grand Forks community.

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

NASA Tests Aircraft That Hovers like a Helicopter, and Flies like a Plane

by: Josh Wolsky | May 5, 2015

NASA has successfully tested an unmanned aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter, but flies like a fixed wing airplane. Watch the video below.

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