The School of Communications' annual event brought together nearly 160 registrants to explore artificial intelligence, agricultural applications and the expanding capabilities of drone technology.
Agricultural Drone Demonstrations The annual Elon Drone Day featured a demonstration by Preston Cave of PAC Aerial Applications, showcasing a large agricultural drone capable of carrying over 10 gallons of liquid. This aircraft is designed for various farming tasks, including crop spraying and fertilizer applications, highlighting how unmanned technology is revolutionizing field management. The demonstration was a key part of the event, illustrating the expanding capabilities and diverse uses of drone technology to approximately 160 registered attendees. Keynote on Trustworthy AI Sambit Bhattacharya, a professor of computer science at Fayetteville State University, delivered the keynote address titled 'Preflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us About Trustworthy AI.' He emphasized the crucial role of safety, rigorous testing, and human oversight in the responsible development of artificial intelligence. Drawing parallels with the aviation industry's culture of learning from failures, Bhattacharya advocated for robust frameworks for AI. He also acknowledged Elon's 'Human Wisdom for the Age of AI' initiative, stressing that human judgment remains essential for validating AI results and ensuring accountability. Diverse Applications and Live Demonstrations The event featured a panel discussion with Preston Cave, Maddy Gastler, and Seth Nagy, who explored various agricultural applications of drones, such as crop spraying, seeding, and multispectral imaging. Attendees were also treated to live demonstrations behind the Schar Center. These included high-speed drone piloting by James Stougaard of Raven Advisory, who used first-person-view (FPV) goggles to navigate from the drone's perspective, and an exciting drone soccer competition showcased by students from Asheboro City Schools, demonstrating both professional and recreational aspects of drone technology. Community Engagement and Collaboration Elon Drone Day, organized by Teaching Professor of Visual Communication Randy Piland in collaboration with the North Carolina chapter of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (NC AUVSI), served as a vital gathering for North Carolina's drone community. The event attracted a diverse group of participants, ranging from FAA-certified drone operators to students and newcomers from various universities and high schools. Piland highlighted that the event's strength lies in its ability to bring together individuals with varied levels of experience to share ideas and foster collaborative learning in the rapidly evolving field of drone technology.
Agricultural Drone Demonstrations
The annual Elon Drone Day featured a demonstration by Preston Cave of PAC Aerial Applications, showcasing a large agricultural drone capable of carrying over 10 gallons of liquid. This aircraft is designed for various farming tasks, including crop spraying and fertilizer applications, highlighting how unmanned technology is revolutionizing field management. The demonstration was a key part of the event, illustrating the expanding capabilities and diverse uses of drone technology to approximately 160 registered attendees.
Keynote on Trustworthy AI
Sambit Bhattacharya, a professor of computer science at Fayetteville State University, delivered the keynote address titled 'Preflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us About Trustworthy AI.' He emphasized the crucial role of safety, rigorous testing, and human oversight in the responsible development of artificial intelligence. Drawing parallels with the aviation industry's culture of learning from failures, Bhattacharya advocated for robust frameworks for AI. He also acknowledged Elon's 'Human Wisdom for the Age of AI' initiative, stressing that human judgment remains essential for validating AI results and ensuring accountability.
Diverse Applications and Live Demonstrations
The event featured a panel discussion with Preston Cave, Maddy Gastler, and Seth Nagy, who explored various agricultural applications of drones, such as crop spraying, seeding, and multispectral imaging. Attendees were also treated to live demonstrations behind the Schar Center. These included high-speed drone piloting by James Stougaard of Raven Advisory, who used first-person-view (FPV) goggles to navigate from the drone's perspective, and an exciting drone soccer competition showcased by students from Asheboro City Schools, demonstrating both professional and recreational aspects of drone technology.
Community Engagement and Collaboration
Elon Drone Day, organized by Teaching Professor of Visual Communication Randy Piland in collaboration with the North Carolina chapter of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (NC AUVSI), served as a vital gathering for North Carolina's drone community. The event attracted a diverse group of participants, ranging from FAA-certified drone operators to students and newcomers from various universities and high schools. Piland highlighted that the event's strength lies in its ability to bring together individuals with varied levels of experience to share ideas and foster collaborative learning in the rapidly evolving field of drone technology.
