UAV Training Workshop at Cho Lab: Exploring the Skies with Cutting-Edge Technology

Date: 06/06/2025

" On the first day, Cho Lab members were introduced to UAV Assembly and Flight Operations. Participants learned to assemble and pilot the Freefly Alta X, a powerful industrial drone designed for heavy-lift aerial imaging and mapping. Members also practiced using high-end sensors, including YellowScan Mapper+ LiDAR and Medusa Gamma Sensors.

On the second day, the focus shifted to data processing and analysis. Members worked through the full pipeline of processing sensor data collected during flights over the Texas State Meadow Center. This included cleaning and aligning raw sensor data, generating digital elevation models, and visualizing terrain and radiation intensity. While the process was initially challenging, participants showed great progress and confidence by the end of the session. To conclude the training, Cho Lab members conducted their first solo UAV missions, flying over the Meadow Center, collecting new data, and applying their newly acquired skills independently.

In a meeting following the training, Dr. Eunsang Cho shared his enthusiasm and vision for the future, stating that he looks forward to more research projects that leverage the advanced capabilities of UAVs and sensors. The training has opened up new possibilities for innovative field-based research at Cho Lab.

This training would not have been possible without the generous support of Frontier Precision and their instructor, Austin, whose clarity and hands-on guidance were instrumental in making the event a success.

Thank you to everyone who participated—we look forward to applying these skills to future fieldwork and research initiatives!