An Ohio junior college has hired United Technologies Corp.’s aerospace division to devise a compact aerial-drone setup for training emergency first-responders, farmers, energy explorers and others in its use.
Dayton’s Sinclair Community College issued UTC Aerospace Systems a contract to deliver two camera-equipped drones, a tablet-style ground station and data link.
Value of the contract wasn’t disclosed Monday.
“This electronic air vehicle fits in the trunk of a police car, can be airborne as soon as a need is identified, and operates in near silence,” said Deb Norris, Sinclair vice president.
The system provides a birds-eye view to police and other emergency-responders, and can be used for training in agriculture, natural-resource management and energy exploration.
Based in Charlotte, N.C., UTC Aerospace Systems is the result of Hartford-based UTC’s recent acquisition of former Goodrich Corp.
