EVENTS: Join us each Spring and Fall for our Chapter Symposiums and don’t miss our Networking receptions – Learn more via our monthly eNewsletter and on our website.

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2024 Holiday Networking Event at Evergreen Aviation & Aerospace Museum
Drone for the Holidays! Wednesday, December 18, 2024

​Jingle, jingle, jingle. It's time to Mix and mingle. 

Thanks to those who attended our holiday party. Attendees enjoyed great conversation, appetizers, and drinks, and then we heard from The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum CEO Scot Laney. A highlight was Scot's personal tour of the impressive collection of drones and advanced aircraft. We even had the privilege of sitting in the cockpit of an SR-71 Blackbird.

Sponsored by: 

 

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2024 4th Quarter Networking Event in Salem, Oregon
Wednesday, November 7, 2024

Sponsored by ​Sexton Corporation. Sexton builds custom underwater products for autonomous and other applications. Attendees also enjoyed seeing the B-17 Alliance Foundation building and the restoration of vintage WWII aircraft. Then, a visit to the Salem High School Career Technical Education Center (CTEC), which has 100 high school students enrolled in the program to learn drone assembly/repair and flight training. The school has an incredible teaching facility and flight simulators.

We ended the evening with drinks and appetizers while enjoying great networking conversations!
 

Thank you to our speakers & exhibitors.

 
 

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2024 Fall Symposium in Hood River!
October 1st, 2024

Starting with the VIP Reception the night before, attendees had the pleasure of meeting new colleagues and seeing old friends while enjoying appetizers and drinks.

The symposium provided many opportunities to continue conversations and network while hearing the latest from our innovative and informative speakers. The day ended with another networking reception party.

We want to thank the speakers for sharing their expertise and thank our event and annual sponsors for their support.

 

Thank you to Our Fall Symposium Sponsors


 

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2024 Spring Symposium in Hood River!
May 8-9th, 2024

Seeing so many of you at our Spring Symposium in Hood River was wonderful, and it was a pleasure having so many UAS students from Lane Community College attend.

Thanks to the team at DataBlanket, those at the VIP Reception could experience their fascinating ‘swarm’ demo and applications.

We want to thank the speakers for sharing their expertise, our event, and our annual sponsors for their support.

 

Thank you to Our Spring Symposium Sponsors


 

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2023 Holiday Networking Event at Oswego Lake Coutry Club
Drone for the Holidays! Wednesday, December 13, 2023

​Jingle, jingle, jingle. It's time to Mix and mingle. 

We celebrated the holidays with a networking event at the beautiful Oswego Lake Country Club. This was a unique opportunity to casually connect with new and existing colleagues in the uncrewed and robotics industry while enjoying appetizers and beverages. Cascade Chapter also welcomed the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) to join us at the member rate.

 

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2023 Fall Symposium A Great Success!

Held October 17th, at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront

On October 17th, attendees experienced a full day of presentations and networking opportunities with leading innovators in robotics, uncrewed, and air mobility systems. Some highlights included NASA enabling the efficiency and safety of Advanced Air Mobility through Data and Reasoning Fabric (DRF), how Zipline safely integrates into the National Airspace System (NAS), and their latest business applications.

We also heard from representatives of the Unmanned and Theater Undersea Warfare Systems, U.S. Navy; Washington State Department of Transportation; Freefly Systems; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, ARM Aerial Facility; Oregon Department of Aviation; Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Washington; Booz Allen Hamilton; and Open Ocean Robotics.

Thank you to Our Fall Symposium Sponsors

 

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2023 Networking Event at Insitu - Eagle Point Facility
May 25, 2023

​ Our May Networking event began with a tour of the Insitu facility, which left the attendees duly impressed, and then moved into a networking session while attendees enjoyed delicious Mediterranean themed appetizers.

A huge thank you to Insitu for the unique opportunity of seeing Insitu's factory floor and meeting with top-level executives while enjoying networking time with colleagues!

 

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2023 Spring Symposium A Great Success!
April 11, 2023

Thanks to all of you who attended our Symposium in Corvallis, at the OSU Alumni Center. A special thank you to our speakers and sponsors who made it a big success! A day filled with networking, extensive industry updates including Remote ID, certification programs, emergency services, and the latest from the Oregon Test Ranges. Keynote speakers and others shared their emerging technology for the last mile, the middle mile, and for a special sweet "tasty mile," the on-campus Starship Robots served us freshly baked cookies! 

We also want to congratulate the Raffle winners and thank all who generously donated to the Raffle to support Cascade Chapter and our STEM initiatives.

Thank you to Our Spring Symposium Sponsors

 

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2022 Combined AUVSI Cascade & GTA Event
September 28, 2022

We are Thrilled with the Success of Our Combined AUVSI & GTA Event on September 28th! Those Attending Heard the Latest from Technology-leading Organizations, Including:

• Dr. David Laning, Insitu - A Boeing Company

• Kevin Tucker and Eric Waters, Near Space Corporation/Tillamook Test Range

• Joe Gibbs, uAvionix

• Adam Huxtable, Displacement Dynamics

• Solomon Singer, Aviation UAS Program, Lane Aviation Academy, Lane CC

• Brian Prange, Hood Tech Mechanical

• Jon Damush, Iris Automation

The GTA Technology Showcase & Networking Reception were Kicked Off by Justin Pearce, VP of Engineering, Insitu, and Followed by Updates from Other Leading Technology Companies:

Overwatch Imaging | Innovative Composite Engineering | Cardinal IG Hood River | SIGMADESIGN | SightLine Applications, Inc. & Business Oregon

 

Thank You to Our 2022 AUVSI Cascade & GTA Event Sponsors

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2022 Spring Symposium Success
May 25-26, 2022

We hope you were able to join us for our Spring symposium in Walla Walla, WA. Attendees spent a day and a half networking and hearing from experts in air, land, and sea applications. From the latest in ocean USVs to BVLOS delivery UAVs to the advancements with robotics in agriculture and other industries, what is new with sensors, and the diverse use of uncrewed systems with first responders. The popular B2B Forum connected suppliers and vendors, and the evening networking party provided even more time to connect with colleagues.

Thank You to Our 2022 Spring Symposium Event Sponsors

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Drones & Droids: Autonomous Systems Deliver!
October 6-7, 2021 a Successful Event!

We hope you were able to join us for our Drones & Droids: Autonomous Systems Deliver! symposium in Bend! With over 100 attendees, it was exciting to get together after two years! Two full days filled with industry updates and emerging technology from 24 speakers and panelists, along with many networking opportunities, and to top it off, a tour of Volansi. The Keynote by Hannan Parvizian, CTO and Co-founder, Volansi kicked us off by sharing the vision for delivering anything, anywhere. We heard from various speakers about how they deliver the data, the profits, the reliability, the safety, and finally the fun! The B2B Forum connected suppliers and vendors, and the evening networking party hosted by Sierra-Olympic provided even more time to communicate with colleagues. 
 

Thank You to Our 2021 Fall Symposium Event Sponsors

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About AUVSI Cascade Video

About AUVSI Cascade, filmed during the 2019 Fall Symposium.
 View the recording.

 

November 19, 2020 - The Intersection of Surface and Aviation Autonomous, Connected and Electric Flight for the Future

Presented by: Steve Tibbitts, Chairman & CEO ZEVA AERO; Bruce Agnew, Cascadia Center/ACES NW Network; Scott O. Kuznicki, Programs Director, Discovery Institute; and moderated by Ric Stephens, Senior Aviation Planner / Remote Pilot, WHPacific Inc., an NV5 company. Sponsored by: Silicon Forest Electronics.
Information was presented on advances in EvTOL for the military and first responders leading to freight and air taxis. We also, heard about joint development of surface and airport charging and how an overlay of vertiports could be deployed - initially in central Puget Sound (with SeaTac and Tacoma's Freight House Square as leading vertiport candidates), and then the Cascadia Corridor. Electric aircraft can be deployed relatively soon around WA state! Missed our Electric Flight for the Future ... webinar?  View the recording.

 

October 22, 2020 - Marine Animal Research Using Drones While Minimizing Drone Disturbance on Marine Life

Presented by David Thirtyacre, Assistant Professor of the Practice, College of Aeronautics; Chair, Department of Flight.
We Learned how marine biologists study the effects of drones for search and rescue on marine animals without disruption. Considerations include the elements of the drone, such as noise, the software, and data needs. View David's video, or the recording to hear about this exciting initiative from David Thirtyacre, as they have teamed up with Skyward for this vital mission. Missed our Marine Animal Research Using Drones ... webinar?  View the recording.

 

September 24, 2020 - AUVSI Cascade Chapter Virtual Fall Symposium

Our 2020 Fall Symposium was virtual and continued to be an informative event. Leading the Way in UAS Technology, Markets, Policy, and Education. We had a unique opportunity to hear from unmanned vehicle leaders and users, and we learned what it is we need to know about the latest in UAS, Robotics, and AI – technology, education, challenges, and opportunities. We teamed up with the Gorge Tech Alliance for the Technology Showcase & Happy Hour on Wednesday evening.
We heard exciting updates from our industry experts including our KEYNOTE ... BRIAN WYNNE President & CEO of The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). We also heard from other technology leaders: Rita Castonguay-Hunt, Program Manager, ArgenTech Solutions, Inc. | The Future of Fire Monitoring; Patrick Sherman, Founder, Roswell Flight Test Crew | UTM: Where are We?; Vinay Rao, Co-founder/CEO, RocketML | Preparing Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Technology for the Demands of Autonomous World; David Fleckenstein, Director, WSDOT, Aviation Division | Washington State UAS Updat, and the UAS Test Range Panel: Tillamook UAS Test Range, Pendleton UAS Range; and FAST UAS Test Range were represented. Missed our Virtual Fall Symposium?  View the recording.
 

July 24, 2020 - Unmanned Systems in the U.S. Navy Webinar

Presented by REAR ADMIRAL JOHN A. OKON, Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy. Naval Oceanography, the Navy’s leader in unmanned systems, leverages unmanned technology to assess, analyze and predict the physical battlespace to ensure our Navy has the decisive advantage. Industry and academia are key partners for Naval Oceanography. Missed our Unmanned Systems in the U.S. Navy webinar?  View the recording.

 

June 26, 2020 - Flight Path for the Future of Mobility Webinar

We heard expanded discussion of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) with Jon Damush, Senior Director, New Business Ventures, Boeing NeXt. Jon is responsible for collaboration with third parties to advance Boeing’s future mobility initiatives, including oversight of the SkyGrid joint venture that is developing a software platform for the safe integration of unmanned and autonomous vehicles into the global airspace. His presentation describes how his division is building the ecosystem that will define the future of urban, regional, and global mobility. Missed our Flight Path for the Future of Mobility webinar?  View the recording.

 

May 22, 2020 - Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Webinar

Attendees of our Webinar heard our panel of experts share how Urban Air Mobility (UAM) will transform air transportation to move people and cargo to previously unserved markets. With excellent engagement from webinar attendees, we explored the challenges, benefits, and roadmap to developing the aircraft, infrastructure, and air traffic management needed to bring this new system to life and the impact of the vision and framework from NASA’s Advance Air Mobility National Campaign.
Our Moderator was Bruce Agnew, Director, Cascadia Center, Seattle, Co-chair, PNWER, Transportation Group, and Director, ACES NW Network. The panel included: Spencer Monheim, NASA Technical Lead, for the UAM National Campaign, Yolanka Wulff, J.D., Co-Executive Director, Community Air Mobility Initiative; Scott O. Kuznicki, Programs Director, Discovery Institute; Ric Stephens, Senior Aviation Planner, WHPacific Inc., an NV5 company/Instructor & Remote Pilot. Missed our Urban Air Mobility webinar?  View the recording.

 

April 24, 2020 - Remote Split Operations (RSO) Webinar

UVSI Cascade Chapter hosted our first monthly Webinar in April 2020 with David Thirtyacre, Assistant Professor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Host Patrick Sherman of Roswell Flight Test Crew and DroneResponders. David presented a very informative update about Remote Split Operations (RSO). RSO is a technique perfected by the military where UAS are maintained and launched/recovered from a different location other than the main GCS. Attendees also had the opportunity to network and reconnect with others in our industry. Missed our Remote Split Operations webinar?  View the recording.

 Subscribe to AUVSI Cascade.
 

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Symposiums

We hold two symposiums a year one in the Spring in Oregon State and the second in the Fall in Washington State.
 

2019 Fall & Spring Symposiums

Our 2019 Fall Symposium was held in Pendleton, Oregon, October 2nd-3rd, co-hosted by the Pendleton UAS Range. We heard from end-users and experts about UAS opportunities, challenges, and innovations. As one of the few FAA approved UAS Test Ranges, the Pendleton UAS Range is at the heart of where innovative companies are creating the future of UAS. The networking social was held the evening of October 2nd. This event is where “Let’r Buck” meets “Let’r Fly!” The city of Pendleton hosted free shuttle service and hotel discounts. The symposium was held at the Pendleton Convention Center next to the world-famous Pendleton Round-Up arena.

The 2019 Spring Symposium April 4th-5th was held at the Center Point Conference Center in Kent, Washington and hosted by the City of Kent. On Day One, our Keynote was Matt Hederstrom, CEO of Varley Group USA, followed by a half day of great speakers and a panel group. The evening Networking Social was held the 4th at Airways Brewery and Tap Room. On Day Two, our Keynote was Tracy Lamb, VP of Regulatory and Safety Affairs and Chief Pilot, AUVSI along with a full day of speakers and insightful breakout sessions.
 

2018 Fall & Spring Symposiums

Our 2018 Fall Symposium was held at Intel in Hillsboro, Oregon, September 26th-27th, and featured great innovators and leaders in the unmanned industry. We held our Third Annual STEM Benefit Dinner and were pleased to present a grant to the award-winning Glencoe HS Robotics team, Shockwave. Day Two featured an excellent line up of speakers that ran concurrent to the Part 107 Remote Pilot in Command preparedness workshop taught by award-winning drone educator, Patrick Sherman.

Our 2018 Spring Symposium was co-hosted with Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Washington, April 11th-12th. The event featured highly relevant unmanned systems speakers and demonstrations plus provided attendees with flight opportunities in Big Bend's Outdoor Netted UAS Lab, and presentations by state legislators and innovative companies around the Pacific NW and beyond.

Attendees also enjoyed valuable business-to-business and business-to-government networking opportunities. Thanks again to all our sponsors and hosts at Intel and Big Bend Community College!
 

Highlights of Other Cascade Chapter Activities

AUVSI Cascade's Community Outreach at the Oregon International Airshow Sept 28-30th AUVSI Cascade Chapter's Executive Director, Lori Brown hosted a community outreach booth at the Airshow this year to educate and excite attendees about the robotics and unmanned industries. Also included was information about how and where to safely fly your drone. Thanks go to Skyward, a Verizon Company, who supplied information about LAANC and to Pat Bening, Safety Officer for Near Space Corp and the Tillamook UAS Test Range for her assistance.