Infrastructure Bill Proposes $100M in Grants for Us-Made Drones
New legislation to increase the use of U.S.-made drones in infrastructure projects has been proposed by U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) The legislation will be funded in competitive grants of $100 million to maximize the number of drones used during infrastructure inspections, maintenance, and construction activities.
According to Drone Dj, Blumenthal stresses that drone technology can be a valuable tool to help the country modernize its roads and bridges.
These grants are an important investment to ensure state and local inspection officials have the resources they need to keep our infrastructure and communities safe,” – Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator
Further, the bill would boost educational institutions in preparing the next generation of skilled drone technicians. Research universities, including the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, would also get access to grants to train drone operators.
Michael Robbins, chief advocacy officer at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), points out that the role of drones as indispensable tools for critical operations, including infrastructure inspections, will only grow as the technology advances further.