Advancing UAS Research Through National Collaboration

The Northern Plains UAS Test Site plays an active role in advancing unmanned aircraft systems research through its participation in Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE), the FAA's Center of Excellence for UAS.

ASSURE brings together leading universities, and more than 100 industry partners and government stakeholders to address the most critical challenges facing drone integration, including safety, risk, policy, and operational standards. As part of this consortium, NPUASTS contributes real-world operational expertise and testing capabilities that help translate research into practical application.

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Bridging Research and Real-World Operations

Through our partnership and collaboration with the University of North Dakota, NPUASTS supports ASSURE by providing a live operational environment where research can be validated through actual flight testing and data collection. This includes evaluating new technologies, supporting safety case development, and helping refine procedures that enable safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System.

As the executive arm, sanctioned by the federally designated FAA BEYOND program in collaboration with the state of North Dakota, we combine academic research with hands-on operational experience, and help ensure that ASSURE initiatives are grounded in real-world conditions, accelerating the path from concept to implementation. We contribute to:

  • Development of safety standards and best practices
  • Data-driven insights to inform FAA rulemaking
  • Validation of advanced operations, including BVLOS
  • Collaboration across government, academia, and industry
  • Lead participants for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) agencies