The Advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems Certificate program requires 9 credits of coursework that can be completed in as little as 12 months. All students have up to 3 years to complete the required 9 credits.
Three courses are required for the certificate program, and all of them may be applied towards the full Master of Science degree in Aviation and Aerospace Management.
Plan of Study Overview
| Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| AT 53400 - Advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems Flight Operations | 3 |
| AT 53500 - Unmanned Aerial Systems Data Acquisition, Processing, and Analysis | 3 |
| AT 53600 - Cybersecurity and Communication Networks for Unmanned Aerial Systems | 3 |
Course Descriptions
- AT 53400: As the Federal Airway Administration (FAA) integrates unmanned aerial system (UAS) into the national airspace, professional UAS operators require foundational knowledge of Part 107 operations, along with an understanding how to test and evaluate new capabilities for integration into their mission set. Students will begin the course by passing a Part 107 knowledge check prior to selecting a mission set that will be used for the remainder of the course. The student will select both rule-based systems that meet the requirements of the mission today and a machine learning enabled systems that could enhance the capability of the UAS to complete the mission. The final project for the course will be construction of a tailored test program to evaluate the additional machine learning enabled system in support of their selected mission governed by Part 107 operation.
- AT 53500: This course focuses students on the utilization of UAS as a remote sensing platform for and processing that data for analysis in a wide body of geospatial applications. Students will review basic data capture and processing techniques and effectively apply specific forms of UAS sensors to real-world applications.
- AT 53600: This course provides an introduction to the principles of cybersecurity and communication networks as applied to Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The course emphasizes hands-on experience with real-world tools and programming skills, enabling students to explain the structure and function of UAS communication networks, analyze potential cybersecurity threats, and utilize tools like ArduPilot SITL and DroneKit for simulation and testing.