In an effort to establish Utah as a viable hub for the commercial use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), several organizations in the state have partnered to form the Mountain West Unmanned Systems Alliance (MWUSA).
The group comprises the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), the Utah Film Commission, Rocky Mountain Unmanned Systems, Utah Valley University, and several local film and video production companies.
MWUSA’s goal is to help coordinate high-end job growth, increased and enhanced research opportunities for higher education, and sustained economic impact for Utah. It will also support significant research, development, testing and training in the various disciplines associated with UAS in particular and unmanned systems in general.
“We want to make the state of Utah the example of responsible commercial use of unmanned aerial systems,” says Ryan Wood, marketing manager of Rocky Mountain Unmanned Systems and president of the MWUSA. “There are so many applications for these vehicles that can have an immediate impact on the local economy and public safety in general.”
GOED’s Marshall Wright, a MWUSA board member, says the alliance is currently reaching out to qualified local public agencies, educational instructions and private companies for membership opportunities.
