Mention drones and a variety of ideas float into people's minds. They might imagine unmanned armed military vehicles. Or the apparatus used to fly over Vermont's lush fall foliage to record videos that get posted on social media.
But there are also some innovative commercial uses of drones that allow companies to deliver emergency supplies, record the effects of a natural disaster, or assist utilities in the work they do.
We speak with Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, director of UVM's Spatial Analysis Laboratory, and Jon Budreski, co-founder of Air Shark, about the latest technology, regulations and uses of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles.
Videos: Below are examples that showcase some of UVM's work with unmanned aircraft systems.
- Examining defoliation in Waterville, VT (July 2016)
- Assessing storm damage in Plainfield, VT (July 2015)
Also on the program, in the early 1900s, a regiment of African-American military men called the Buffalo Soldiers were stationed at Fort Ethan Allen in Essex and Colchester. A new historical marker commemorates their role in America's war efforts. Curtiss Reed, executive director of the Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity shares their story.
Learn more about historic sites in Vermont.
Broadcast live on Monday, November 21, 2016 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
