WindShape Inc., together with Oklahoma State University (OSU) and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), have announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a partnership in the fields of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM).

UCAR is the manager of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

This collaboration aims to leverage each entity’s unique expertise to foster innovation and safety in drone integration into the U.S. National Airspace System and to enhance atmospheric research.

The MOU establishes a framework for mutual collaboration, aiming to share knowledge and resources in researching and developing comprehensive testing, inspection, certification and validation platforms for UAS and Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM). Among the envisioned cooperative activities are the sharing of research ideas, the identification of essential areas for UAS and AAM development, the build-out of an “artificial snow generation system” at the WindShape Testing, Inspection, Validation and Certification facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the enhancement of industry standards for safety and design innovation.

Unparalleled Expertise Coming Together
WindShape Inc. and its affiliate WindShape SA are known for their exceptional capability in reliability testing and the design and operation of digital wind facilities, offering an innovative alternative to traditional wind tunnels. OSU is distinguished for its expertise in UAS and AAM, as well as its pioneering research into mitigating hazardous weather effects like snow and icing on aircraft. NSF NCAR’s Research Applications Laboratory brings to the table its advanced snow-generation technology critical for testing aircraft deicing and anti-icing fluids, as well as four decades of experience with understanding aviation weather hazards and developing methods to mitigate avoidable impacts to the aviation industry.

A Commitment to Safety, Innovation, and Public Benefit
This collaboration not only signifies a shared commitment to advancing the safety and efficiency of unmanned aircraft integration into the airspace, but also to enhancing the understanding and mitigation of atmospheric phenomena that impact aviation and the environment.

Through this partnership, WindShape, OSU, and UCAR and NSF NCAR aim to contribute significantly to the public good by supporting science and technology development that benefits society at large.