Aerospace experts from education, business, and the military are in Augusta this week for the Seventh Annual Innovation Xchange. The one-day event is on Thursday, March 5.
Diane Johnston, Director of Innovation and Business Development at Augusta Regional Airport (AGS), told ABD the forum will focus on new aerospace technologies.
“We have panelists come from all over the world to present about some of the things that they’re doing, some of the technologies that they’re dealing with,” she said. “It allows people to get into the room and network and brainstorm together. It’s a way to get everybody to see what other groups are doing in the industry and see if there’s maybe some opportunities for collaboration or use.”
Although the umbrella topic this year is drones and advanced air mobility (AAM), Johnston said other types of technology will be explored.
“That would be electric aircraft, that would be drones, both for cargo and for emergency services, eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) type of aircraft that could do passenger transport at some point in time,” she explained.
Regulations restrict drones from being flown over a congested area, like downtown Augusta, but there will be displays of a number of drones.
Johnston said they will also be announcing a new partnership with Georgia Tech for a student summer camp.
“A two-week summer camp for students to build and fly drones so they develop a mission,” she said. “They design the drone, they build the drone, they test the drone to see how well that works out. Georgia Tech will be sending folks to Augusta Regional Airport to host these students at the Innovation Xchange.”
Events specifically focusing on drone technology, like the upcoming Innovation Xchange, look at real-world challenges and how technology can solve them. One is that drones fly at a much lower altitude than traditional aircraft.
“Typically, when you’re looking at weather in the industry, you’re talking about thousands of feet, but these new aircraft are going to be operating at much lower elevations,” said Johnston. “The weather down by the ground, you have temperature inversions and things like that that could really impact them. Start thinking about all the challenges before it’s here, and we’re having to deal with it on the fly.”
Speakers this year will be Benjamin Andrews of the Advanced Tech Development Center at Georgia Tech, David Nuckolls with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Troy Lorier from Savannah River National Lab, and CW5 Eugene (Tom) Marable, U.S. Army, National Guard.
Also giving presentations will be representatives from two companies sponsoring the Xchange, Kerry Bridges with Georgia Power, and Rohit Wariyar with SkyDrive, the company developing the air taxis expected in Augusta.
The Innovation Xchange is the brainchild of Skyworx. It is the aerospace business incubator and business resource owned by Augusta-Richmond County and based at AGS.
“It allows folks in the community, entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs, typically, but could be anybody that have has an idea, but maybe not a lot of money behind them and startups,” Johnston said. “Skyworx offered them an office space, an inexpensive place to develop their ideas and to collaborate with other people in the industry.”
This year’s Innovation Xchange is being held at the Hyatt House Augusta on Broad Street, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It is open to the public, but registration is required. Register at: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/skyworxinnovation/7th-annual-innovation-xchange
To learn more about Skyworx, visit: https://skyworxinnovation.com/
