North Texas University Helping With Drone Testing

A North Texas university is one of six programs in the country helping the Federal Aviation Administration design rules regulating how drones and other unmanned aircraft can share airspace with airplanes and other manned flying machines.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the University of Texas at Arlington has been granted an FAA certificate of authorization allowing researchers to fly unmanned aircraft on the property surrounding its research institute, up to an altitude of 400 feet.

The university will be focusing on how to equip flying machines with technology that prevents them from running into each other as well as any obstruction on the ground, such as a building or a person.

The FAA’s goal is to complete its work on unmanned aircraft rules by 2015.