By Payton Tholstrup

Photo courtesy of Cloud County Community College

Cloud County Community College’s Renewable Energy Department recently received a donation of two drones from the North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC).

The Skydio X10 drones will be utilized in Cloud’s Drone Technology program.

Monte Poersch, Renewable Energy Department Chair, said, “This is a significant donation and upgrade for our drone fleet. These drones give us cutting-edge technology to be used for infrastructure inspections, public safety, and emergency management.”

NCRPC was awarded a FY 2022 US Department of Transportation SMART Grant for a project called SMART Counties in Kansas.

According to a press release from the college, “the project aimed to leverage innovative aviation technology to prototype the use of drone technology for transportation asset monitoring in concert with a GIS-based platform that integrates local infrastructure assets.”

The overall goal of the project was to provide data monitoring of asset conditions and inform technical solutions for rural infrastructure management.

 The SMART project was launched at the request of local governments to advance information gathering technology. The project also aimed to demonstrate practical application in inspecting the road and bridge network, as well as enhance workforce development for UAS in rural areas.

The Skydio X10 drones have advanced AI-driven technology and include high-resolution visible light and thermal cameras. They were designed to meet the needs of public safety, defense, energy, and construction.

“The hardware capability of these drones, combined with the sensors and software using photogrammetry, thermal imaging, and 3D scanning capabilities, creates unparalleled training opportunities to develop the future workforce,” Poersch said.