OSU Engineers Investing In Future Of Drone Industry

Engineers at OSU are taking flight to support Oklahoma's economy. They hope that one day drones could be used to save people lives.

Thursday, a conference was held where they flew an aircraft in front of researchers interested in the future of the drone industry.

The all-day conference at OSU centered on commercial applications for drones; how they can be used in emergencies and support our economy in Oklahoma.

They aren't the toys you once found underneath your Christmas tree; these are the next generation of unmanned aircraft.

At Oklahoma State University, engineers like Ben Loh are hoping prototypes will one day be used by first responders on search and rescue missions.

"All those platforms have to be constantly flying. Go and look at every floor, go into the floor, do some observations and then decide. Hey if you find someone on the ground you can actually go towards the person," Loh said.

Loh said his design is unlike the drones used by hobbyists and filmmakers.

"Let's say, if you bump into something right, but for example with a quadcopter you bump something, you get the prop and you flip over, you're done. This one you set upright and you take off again," said Loh.

5/22/2014 Related Story: OSU Students Hope 'Flying, Rolling Orb' Will Help In Emergency Situations

He said once all the kinks are worked out the drone could be in the hands of fire departments for $5,000.

Oklahoma's Secretary for Science and Technology, Stephen McKeever, said OSU's program is attracting students and engineers to the drone industry.

"We want to be among the leaders. There are others, but we want to be up there with them," McKeever said.

James Grimsley said the aircraft could support existing industries that already thriving in Oklahoma.

"So we're seeing lots of other industries now come to look at this, so this is one of the first years that we've seen this happen, which is an indication that the industry is moving forward in a very, very, positive way," he said.

Staying in Oklahoma is a no-brainer for Loh and his team.

"I like the people here, I guess all the network that I have you know, why not? If I don't go to California or Texas I can just go vacation, but Oklahoma for 13 years has really changed my life. If not because of that I wouldn't have this, you know? I bleed orange that's for sure," he said.

Loh hopes to have his product on the market in about a year.