IAAI has a long history of R&D into UAS incorporating studies into Drone and UAV technology. This began in 2540 B.E. (1997 A.D) when the Consortium of Aerospace Engineering (CASE) was incorporated with an MOU between 6 Academic Institutions through the support of the Ministry of Education.
2540 B.E. (1997 A.D) Consortium of Aerospace Engineering (CASE) MOU have been signed by
The purpose of CASE was to study different elements of Aerospace Engineering of which Drone technology development was one of the key focus areas. Joint project development initiatives were carried out and events to host UAV and Autonomous Aerial vehicles (AAV) have been showcased since its inception in till present day under the AAV-Challenge (AAVC) of which KMITL hosted the first INTERNATIONAL-Level AAVC in 2020 where international participants and invited foreign Keynote speakers were in attendance for the event. https://iaai.asia/aavc_GenInfo.html
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IAAI has recognized the lack of suitably qualified expertise in the advancing field of Unmanned systems and has started the initiative of proposing a Centre of Excellence for UAS R&D. The International Drone Technology Center (I-DTC) has been proposed to be a central focal point for intersecting domain expertise from multi-disciplinary faculties through a collaborative effort to jointly develop capabilities within KMITL. This allows the various faculties of Engineering, Architecture, Agriculture Technology, Information Technology, Medical and Business to leverage on the advancement into mapping, surveying, LIDAR, logistics and Air-Mobility research. Beyond the hardware focus, software and analysis platforms are being studied to develop Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms comprising Computer Vision techniques as well as accurate GIS and multi spectral Image analysis.
With the advent of Drone and UAV utilisation. It is envisioned that the unmanned airspace will require safety oversight and management similar to manned aviation. This new field of study is to be undertaken by IAAI in conjunction with the Drone Working Group in CAAT to further research into this space to assist in consultation to allow for safe operations over populated areas and amongst manned aircraft.
IAAI has established a long history of student interest and participation in Drone activities and this has been in the form of the Drone Club which has since 2021 been re-named the DroneTech Academy. MicroAcademy (MICA) has partnered IAAI through an MOU to provide minor programs and short courses for students and the public to develop their knowledge and application use of UAS technology in the industry. Information can be referred to this link.
IAAI growth development focus will be on the next era of Unmanned Technology development. The key areas will be in UTM, Unmanned Aircraft Mobility (UAM) and NASA’s initiatives into Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). R&D into these areas will allow KMITL to keep pace to global advancement into studies to help emerging aviation markets to safely develop an air transportation system that moves people and cargo between places previously not served or underserved by aviation – local, regional, intraregional, urban – using revolutionary new aircraft and technology.
