LOCAL NEWS

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's new netting structure promotes safety for drone test flights

Ashlee Burns
Corpus Christi Caller Times

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi on Tuesday unveiled a five-story netting structure that will allow drone-operating experts to test their devices safely at the Lone Star Unmanned Aircraft System Center's Flour Bluff headquarters.

Lone Star UAS features a new netting structure that is dedicated to research and drone flight testing during their open house on Tuesday April 12, 2021.

The $450,000 structure is made of 85-foot-by-85-foot framework surrounded by netting, covering more than 6,700 square feet and 322,000 cubic feet of airspace.

The structure provides safety away from pedestrians, roadway traffic and military aircrafts to test the airworthiness of drones as small as 18 square inches.

TAMU-CC president and CEO Kelly Miller said the structure will save the Lone Star UAS team time and money in travel that was previously required for testing. Unmanned air vehicle, or UAV, flights were not allowed before the structure was built because of the program's proximity to Naval Air Station-Corpus Christi.

"We are also envisioning this structure will be able to be utilized by local schools so we can help inspiring young minds in those STEM and art fields," Miller said during the unveiling. "We are even considering occasionally making this available to the community for recreational UAV practice and testing."

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Ashlee Burns covers trending and breaking news in South Texas. See our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe