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Milne
Alumni March Newsletter Dear Milne Alumni and Supporters, In this issue: * Drones Take Flight in Page Hall Gym! * Sad News DRONES TAKE FLIGHT IN PAGE HALL GYM! "Drones take flight in a basement gymnasium in Albany. "In an old gymnasium at the University at Albany where the late Gov. Mario Cuomo once used to play basketball, Ian Jaffe put a small aerial drone through its paces, zipping through a series of illuminated gates. "Jaffe, a senior at the university, was among the inaugural pilots Wednesday using the school's new drone flight training center, where students and others can learn how to operate and control the tiny unmanned aircraft. "'This is such accessible technology,' said Jaffe, who had used a 3D printer to craft a plastic mounting plate for the drone that could be used to attach a camera or other equipment. 'This setup is about a hundred bucks.' "UAlbany hopes that the 1,700-square-foot training center will help launch Jaffe and others into the burgeoning world of drone technology, said Robert Griffin, dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity. "Up to now, the school had to conduct its hands-on drone training outside at the downtown campus on Western Avenue, which presented potential challenges with weather conditions and the presence of the Albany International Airport in Colonie with the resultant federal oversight. The new indoor training center is netted off, to protect against an errant drone striking an observer. "'Now, students can fly any season, in any weather,' said Griffin. The school also provides training for area police, firefighters and other first responders who are adopting the use of drones in their search and rescue missions. "Located in the basement of Page Hall, the new training center was once the home of the university basketball team until the 1960s, and had been largely vacant since. The floor still shows the markings for a basketball court. "Drones will be used for an increasing number of jobs in coming years, said Brandon Behlendorf, an assistant professor in the program. Recently, the Federal Aviation Administration estimates that professionals will buy 2.7 million drones a year by 2020, with hobbyists buying another 4.3 million. "The FAA projects that the number of licensed drone pilots, estimated at about 73,600 in 2017, will jump to more than 300,000 by 2022. Operators need federal licenses in order to run a drone-based business. "Sales have climbed quickly as prices have dropped and capabilities have grown. As recently as 2016, about 2.5 million drones were sold. "In addition to exposing students to hands-on creation and operation of drones, UAlbany has also developed courses in cooperation with Albany Law School to address legal, ethical and liability issues, said Behlendorf. That course is taught by law professor Robert Heverly. "During the last several years, drone mishaps have made headlines, including a recent incident where a mysterious drone operator kept buzzing London airports, forcing flights to be shut down. In 2015, a drone hit the state Capitol in Albany. "The Albany Times Union has depended on photos and video footage provided by drone operators to supplement its news coverage. "At UAlbany, students like Jaffe are able to design and fabricate drones using the school's new maker space program, which opened last fall, said professor Michael Leczinsky. "'This is part of the desktop revolution,' he said, as a nearby 3D printer made a plastic drone part. 'They can design it and create it all in the same afternoon.' Click here for the article and photos in the Albany Times Union. SAD NEWS Rudolph M. Schmidt, M.D., father of Klara SCHMIDT Weis, '59, Elli SCHMIDT Collins, '69, and Peg SCHMIDT, '71, passed away on February 16, 2019. Beatrice RAAB Greenberg, '41, passed away on February 28, 2019. Harvey A. DWIGHT, '47, passed away on March 8, 2019. Thanks to all of you for your interest in Milne Alumni activities. Judy (Koblintz) Madnick, '61 For contact information, see the Milne Alumni homepage: www.albany.edu/~milne/ |