Alex Bloye, Director of NMC's Unmanned Systems program, brought a drone that can be used in connection with an agricultural spraying program.
How many college programs can offer students a 100% guarantee of a job upon completion? Alex Bloye says NMC's Unmanned Systems curriculum can do just that.
At NMC Boyle oversees a staff of 52 pilots, many of them colonels and generals. Working as MSU's "academic service provider," NMC offers students academy-type learning in small classes. After completing NMC's two-year program, students take two years of business education at Davenport University, ending up with a four-year bachelor's degree.
Currently there is a severe shortage of pilots, while at the same time there is a burgeoning need for unmanned systems. Not only are drones used in military operations, they also are being put to use in a variety of other areas, including:
- Agricultural operations
- Insurance and real estate
- Emergency management
- Industrial & infrastructure inspection
Future applications include air, land and sea robotics, as well as the development of more industry-specific applications. All of this should have a huge economic impact. Alex discussed the FCC's regulations on the operation of drones, noting that in some cases insurance companies have had to fill the void left by the absence of FCC regulations.
As was obvious from the many questions from the crowd, this was another timely topic for our weekly breakfast meeting.