From artificial intelligence to agricultural applications, the School of Communications’ annual event will showcase how drone technology is evolving and reshaping industries.
Artificial intelligence is transforming how drones operate, and the upcoming 2026 鶹Ƶ Drone Day will examine what those advances mean for the future of unmanned aircraft systems.
The School of Communications will host its annual 鶹Ƶ Drone Day on Friday, Oct. 30, bringing together recreational and commercial pilots, industry professionals, educators and students for a day of presentations, demonstrations and networking in Turner Theater and Snow Family Grand Atrium. The free event, organized in partnership with the North Carolina chapter of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (NC AUVSI), is open to the public, but registration is required.
This year’s program will place a particular emphasis on AI, with Sambit Bhattacharya, a professor at Fayetteville State University, delivering the keynote address, “Preflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us 鶹Ƶ Trustworthy AI.”
Bhattacharya’s presentation will explore how the aviation industry’s emphasis on safety, testing and accountability can inform the development of trustworthy AI systems. Drawing on research from , he will examine how autonomous drones make decisions, the challenges of deploying AI in real-world environments, and the importance of ensuring that emerging technologies operate reliably.
Teaching Professor of Visual Communication Randy Piland, who organizes 鶹Ƶ Drone Day, said the keynote reflects both the growing role of artificial intelligence in drone technology and 鶹Ƶ’s broader efforts to encourage conversations about AI across academic disciplines.
“It’s been percolating in my mind for several months about how we can tie into 鶹Ƶ’s effort to broaden the AI arena or broaden the discussion of AI in programs that we have,” Piland said. “So many of the new autonomous drones rely on AI to make it work.”
That interest led Piland to Bhattacharya, whose research at Fayetteville State focuses on the application of artificial intelligence in unmanned aerial systems. Shortly after Bhattacharya accepted the invitation, Piland learned that to expand its work involving AI and unmanned aerial systems.
Beyond the keynote, the program will highlight the expanding applications of drone technology across several industries.
A panel featuring Preston Cave, Matt Solomon and Seth Nagy will examine the use of drones in agriculture, including crop spraying, seeding and multispectral imaging, which helps farmers assess crop conditions and make more informed decisions about their fields.
Other presentations will address low-cost, open-source drone mapping for disaster response, the use of unmanned aircraft to detect and manage invasive plant species in parks, and updates on drone flight planning and management technology.
The day will kick off with a drone soccer demonstration by Asheboro City Schools, as well as a vendor showcase. In the afternoon, attendees will take in flight demonstrations in the parking area behind Schar Center.
Established in 2021, 鶹Ƶ Drone Day has developed into an annual gathering for individuals interested in the evolving drone industry. The event welcomed a record 185 attendees, vendors and volunteers in 2025.
Piland said that despite the industry’s rapid evolution, the event’s original mission has remained unchanged.
“We want to provide an opportunity for local drone enthusiasts and professionals to come together to exchange knowledge and network, so that they can have an outlet to improve and find solutions to things they’re trying to do,” he said.
2026 鶹Ƶ Drone Day Program
8–8:45 AM
Vendor Setup
8:45 – 9:10 AM
Atrium Welcome & Vendor Show
Coffee and pastries (Provided by Blue Ridge Mountain Drone Education, WING & ELON AI)
Asheboro City Schools – Drone Soccer Demo
Wendy Graham (Center, Snow Atrium)
9:20 AM
Welcome by Associate Dean Tony Weaver (Turner Theatre)
9:25 AM
‘Preflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us 鶹Ƶ Trustworthy AI’ – Dr. Sambit Bhattacharya (Turner Theatre)
10:10 AM
Low-Cost, Open-Source Drone Mapping for Disaster Response in Resource-Constrained Settings – Michael Berryann, NCCU (Turner Theatre)
10:40 AM
Drones in Agriculture Panel – Preston Cave, Matt Solomon, Seth Nagy (Turner Theatre)
11:25 AM
Leveraging UAS for Invasive Species Detection and Treatment in Parks – Al Cire, Raptor Drone Services (Turner Theatre)
Noon
ALOFT | Drone Sense | Versaterm Update – Kevin Teen, Allen Yanow (Turner Theatre)
Lunch
Move to Schar Center Rear Parking for Lunch and Demos
Demos
Raven Advisory (Schar Center Parking)
Pac Aerial App (Schar Center Parking)
Wilstair Drone Eng Solutions (Schar Center Parking)
Vendors/Supporters
