NASA Guam Space Grant
NASA Guam Space Grant
NASA Guam Space Grant
暗网AV Drone Corps
Our Mission
NASA Guam Space Grant and NASA Guam EPSCoR invite students to fly high with the UOG Drone Corps! Launched in 2021, the program aims to build technical capacity for drone services on the island by creating a cadre of Federal Aviation Administration-licensed, informed, and responsible remote pilots.
The program introduces members to the fundamentals of drone technology through an intensive knowledge course, gives them hands-on experience with technological applications, and inspires them to create their own drone-based solutions in addressing the island鈥檚 unique issues.
A significant goal of the UOG Drone Corps program is to teach the upcoming generation of drone pilots the proper regulations and remote flying operations that they need to know to ensure our skies are safe.
Program Overview
The UOG Drone Corps program was designed to be completed within one full academic year with further opportunities beyond. In addition to the application process, the program spans three primary sections: completion of the FAA Part 107 examination knowledge course, FAA Part 107 certification, and accumulation of flight hours through internships and missions. Upon completing each section, students are eligible for monetary stipends.
Knowledge Course
Students are enrolled in a Knowledge Course that prepares them to pass the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot written examination. The course consists of two components: a ground school and a practicum. Scheduling, time, and materials may vary depending on the instructing organization.
In the ground school portion, students learn various drone-related topics, including flight regulations, weather systems, loading, performance, and operations.
In the practicum portion, students get hands-on experience flying a drone in a controlled environment to simulate real-world applications.
Areas include:
- Basic maneuveurs
- Virtual flight simulators
- Search-and-rescue
- Aerial mapping
- Videography
- FPV drone piloting
Part 107 Certification
Flight Hours
UOG, PCC partnership produces drone flight missions in Palau for natural resource monitoring
10/31/2023
The 暗网AV Drone Corps recently had the privilege of traveling to the Republic of Palau to conduct drone mapping missions at priority monitoring sites and promote drone usage for research at the .
From Oct. 6 to Oct.9, a team comprising of UOG personnel and students from , NASA Guam Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), and the ) embarked on remote piloting missions to capture aerial imagery of sites affected by the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB). The team also conducted a sample mission at one of Palau鈥檚 protected coral reef sites to demonstrate the technology鈥檚 effectiveness in removing wave distortion and creating clear images of what lies beneath the ocean surface, from up above.
Building Bridges
The mission was made possible through a partnership between Dr. Romina King, associate professor of geography at UOG who also serves as the UOG lead for the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center and as associate director of the NASA Guam Space Grant and NASA Guam EPSCoR programs, and Dr. Christopher Kitalong, vice president of PCC鈥檚 Cooperative Research and Extension (CRE) department. The collaboration provided an opportunity for both institutions to share resources, network, and assess the interest in emerging technologies for research and natural resource monitoring in Micronesia.
鈥淭he embodiment of partnership is in its people, the land they are from, and the oceans that connect them. Micronesian youth working together to better understand how our lands and oceans provide for us is a goal that makes the PCC and UOG partnership so valuable,鈥� said Kitalong. 鈥淭he way forward is together 鈥� respecting traditional knowledge and practices by allowing them to guide us, while integrating technology and new knowledge to carry us forward into the new world.鈥�
A Model Program
The UOG Drone Corps also visited the PCC campus to showcase their program and the research their students have done on Guam using drones, ranging from reef monitoring to land surveying. The team shared the program鈥檚 model with students, personnel, and faculty, providing them with a valuable resource to reference when developing their own remote pilot program in the future.
Mira Mariur, a senior research assistant at PCC鈥檚 CRE department who is also pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in Sustainable Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources at UOG, played a crucial role in guiding the Guam team throughout Palau and assisting with the missions and outreach. Mariur is a PI-CASC Climate Adaptation for Resource Management (CARM) fellow, and her thesis project is related to the monitoring of the CRB population, which influenced the missions for this trip. After earning her degree, she plans to return to Palau and to help establish a drone program that will support ongoing monitoring efforts.
"On behalf of the Palau Community College Cooperation Research and Extension, we would like to show our deepest appreciation to UOG Drone Corps as they have demonstrated a new perspective into the field of natural resource management to the students of Palau. As technology advances, it is only right that we use it to benefit our food system and agriculture. The presentation of this new and innovative science has encouraged the students of PCC studying agriculture to broaden their perspective and maybe one day join the Drone Corps,鈥� Mariur said.
UOG Drone Corps Marks Third Year
Established in 2021, the UOG Drone Corps program has trained 36 students from UOG and the Guam Community College (GCC) to become federally certified and experienced remote pilots. Members of the program have assisted local government agencies, nonprofits, and the private sector with flight missions for data gathering, aerial photography, and surveying. The program seeks to expand beyond the institution and further support the island community, Micronesia, and beyond.
鈥淲e are so proud of the UOG Drone Corps program鈥檚 success here on Guam, and are committed to finding ways we can broaden our reach throughout Micronesia,鈥� said Keanno Fausto, communications coordinator for NASA Guam Space Grant and UOG Drone Corps. 鈥淭hrough our efforts with PCC, we look forward to seeing how students can adopt a similar program in Palau and modify it to suit the country鈥檚 unique environmental needs.鈥�
Once the aerial imagery datasets gathered during the campaign are completely processed, they will be made available online at /nasa-guam-space-grant/information#Resources. These maps will be accessible upon request for research purposes.
For more information, contact dronecorps@triton.uog.edu
Funding Agencies
NASA Guam Space Grant
Through UOG Drone Corps, NGSG aims to support its goal of training future generations of professionals in STEM areas concerned with the understanding, utilization, exploration, and investigation of both earth and space鈥攊ncluding the local island environments of Guam and Micronesia. Among its primary programs, NGSG also manages the NGSG University Research Internship and Fellowship, which awards undergraduate and graduate students at UOG with Space Grant funding to allow them to pursue research projects relevant to NASA's goals. UOG Drone Corps is aligned with NASA Guam Space Grant鈥檚 role in spearheading interdisciplinary careers in STEM, inspiring students to pursue careers in fields that will continue to heavily rely on the incorporation of drone technology as the respective industries advance into the future.
NASA Guam EPSCoR
鈥淒rones Corps will be a fantastic supplement to the NASA Guam EPSCoR Program. We see Drone Corps as directly building research capacity at UOG by allowing researchers to incorporate drone-acquired imagery into their projects, when they might not have done so otherwise due to lack of expertise or an experienced drone operator.鈥� 鈥� Dr. Leslie Aquino, NASA Guam EPSCoR Executive Director
Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center
The Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center (PI-CASC) is a consortium led by the University of Hawai驶i at M膩noa with members University of Hawai驶i at Hilo and the 暗网AV to provide expertise in developing and applying climate change science to societal and ecological challenges across the region. PI-CASC provides scientific information, tools, and techniques that natural and cultural resource managers can use to anticipate, monitor, and adapt to climate change.
PI-CASC is part of a network of nine regional centers and one national center established by the U.S. Department of Interior on Oct. 7, 2011. The centers connect with federal, state, and local agencies to provide local land managers in the region with the best science available on climate change that are impacting the region's natural and cultural resources. This region includes the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Milestones
- April 2021 鈥� UOG Drone Corps launches to UOG students
- August 2021 鈥� Knowledge Course begins in partnership with Tech Center Guam
- September 2021 鈥� First batch of 12 Drone Corps members get FAA-licensed
- April 2022 鈥� UOG Drone Corps enters second year to include GCC students
- July 2022 鈥� Knowledge Course expanded to include practicum session in partnership with Bella Wings Aviation
- August 2022 鈥� Second cohort of an additional 12 Drone Corps members earn their FAA license
Become A Drone Pilot
Applications for the 2025 Drone Corps Cohort are now closed! Please stay tuned for our upcoming cohort announcement.
To learn more about eligibility requirements and program benefits, please see the following:
Program benefits
Successful applicants will be able to:
Upon acceptance into the UOG Drone Corps program, members will receive stipends while undergoing a three-step certification process:
- Completion of the FAA Part 107b knowledge course
- FAA Part 107b examination
- Accumulation of flight hours
This year, UOG Drone Corps has partnered with local UAV companies to offer drone flight and test preparation training including hands-on practicum sessions. The three-week knowledge course will be held in Summer 2025. The course provided students with the necessary skills to understand remote flight regulations and safety procedures.
Licensed pilots will be granted opportunities throughout the year to earn flight time by pursuing internships and simulator experience with private corporations, government agencies, or NGOs requiring drone services.
The program will be augmented by workshops that explore the wide-ranging applications of drones. Through these opportunities, students can apply their remote-piloting skills in drone operation missions such as search-and-rescue, remote sensing, mapping, and aerial photography.
Eligibility
Both novice and experienced students are encouraged to apply!
Request A Mission
Need a research area mapped? Or a real estate site captured from way-up above? The 暗网AV Drone Corps has you covered!
Our UOG Drone Corps pilots are eager to offer their remote piloting services to agencies and professional researchers seeking non-commercial drone assistance. These missions are perfect opportunities for our pilots to gain experience while helping you out.
Services Include:
- Aerial imagery
- Orthomosaic mapping
- Videography
- Inspections
To request a mission, please contact dronecorps@triton.uog.edu
Responsibility Statement
The UOG Drone Corps services are for educational purposes. While we are responsible
for our equipment and personnel during field activities, the requestor must ensure
that the scope of work and location are both reasonable and lawful. This includes
making sure that the Drone Corps is allowed to enter and conduct field work at the
target site, and that the surroundings are suitable for entry and flight. We are currently
not taking any recreational requests.
While the UOG Drone Corps team will practice utmost safety, there are risks associated
with drone flight, such as physical injuries and/or personal property damages. These
risks may arise from the drone operator's or other鈥檚 actions or negligence, or from
elements where the drone flight activity will take place.
Certain weather conditions, such as rain and heavy winds, may affect drone flight
assignments and lead to cancellations or delays. This is beyond our control. Upon
receiving your request, we will assess the weather for the target date to determine
if flight conditions are acceptable.
UOG Drone Corps is an education-based program. Any materials such as images, video,
or mapping data that is produced from UOG Drone Corps should be used for research
or educational purposes only. Requesting products for commercial use will not be accepted.
By submitting your request, you acknowledge the risks involved with drone flight and
accept the above statements.
Drone Safety Day 2025
View this special clip as we recognize National Drone Safety Day and the simple yet powerful actions we can all take to ensure smooth and safe drone operations. Whether you are a remote pilot or visual observer, you have the power to stay safe! Check out these tips from our very own UOG Drone Corps pilots and partners.
Featuring: Jonelle Sayama, Cyril Concepcion, Diego Ray Quiogue, Ajalyn Omelau, Christopher Nadeau, Andrea Velasquez, and Annisa Lujan
Pre-Flight Safety Guide
View this special clip featuring our UOG Drone Corps members as they share best tips and practices to consider before you take flight.
Featuring: Jonelle Sayama, Maria Seanna Minas, and Ulysses Story