Statement of Brian Wynne, President and CEO of AUVSI on New Legislation in Support of Unmanned Systems Technology

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For Immediate Release – June 26, 2015

Contact:
 Tom McMahon, (571) 255-7786 or tmcmahon@auvsi.org

  

Arlington, VA – The following statement is by Brian Wynne, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), on two pieces of legislation introduced Thursday –  the Protecting Firefighters and Promoting Innovation Act, introduced by Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and the Future Transportation Research and Innovation for Prosperity (TRIP) Act, introduced by Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL):

 

“AUVSI values the efforts of Reps. Sinema and Lipinski to accelerate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System and general advancement of unmanned technology. The two pieces of legislation that each of them introduced underscore the many societal benefits of robotic technologies, from helping fight wildfires to improving our transportation system.

 

“AUVSI appreciates the leadership and initiative of Rep. Sinema’s efforts to establish a federal interagency working group to study how unmanned aircraft systems can better assist wildland firefighting, which affected over 3.5 million acres in the U.S. last year alone. Firefighting is a dangerous job that is critical to the protection of life and property, and incorporating UAS into the firefighting process will improve firefighter safety and decrease the potential for injuries and casualties.

 

“Many first responders are realizing the potential of UAS technologies — including applications that may support battling the more than 60,000 wildland fires in the U.S. each year. UAS provide enhanced, data-driven situational awareness and can assist with fire suppression, fire containment, civilian rescues, and fire prevention. This legislation is a critical step toward allowing UAS to be used as an essential tool in these all too common occurrences.

 

“AUVSI also applauds the efforts of Rep. Lipinski to establish a foundation for the widespread use of connected and intelligent vehicle technologies. A new generation of intelligent machines, including automated vehicles, will improve the safety of our transportation system, provide mobility to the elderly and disabled, and reduce cost and waste. Through collaborative research efforts, demonstration programs, and the development of standards and procedures, the Future TRIP Act will help develop a culture of innovation and accelerate the adoption of these transformative technologies.”

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The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) — the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics— represents more than 7,500 members from 60+ allied countries involved in the fields of government, industry and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets.