Watch the recorded lecture here.

Over the last decade, drone technology has advanced significantly, due in part to innovations in small mobile devices including cell phones, tablets, and other personal electronics. Drones are now smaller, faster, and less expensive, and this trend is likely to continue. Although the term “drones” has a negative connotation in many minds, the rapid increase in potential high-impact and game-changing, non-military applications has attracted significant attention from the average do-it-yourselfer to tech giants that see the technology as disruptive. Dr. Leang’s lecture will summarize the key emerging applications for consumer drones, including drone-assisted emergency response and environmental monitoring. It will highlight some of the challenges ahead and the impact that this technology has on society and the quality of life.

Kam K. Leang received B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah and his Ph.D. degree from the University of Washington. He is an Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Utah, where he joined in July 2014. He is also affiliated with the University of Utah Robotics Center. His research covers three main areas: (1) design and control of positioning systems for nanotechnology, (2) control and manufacturing of electroactive polymer actuators for soft robotics, and (3) design, motion planning, and control of unmanned autonomous systems with application in emergency response and environmental monitoring. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Defense, Dept. of Energy, NASA, and private industry.

The lecture is free and is open to the public. For more information contact Judy Jarrow at judy.jarrow@utah.edu .