Advanced Air Mobility Modern Flying News

NASA Picks 3 Universities to Lead Autonomous Flight Research

Florida Institute of Technology, University of Colorado at Boulder, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will lead efforts to study autonomous systems.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 05:00 PM ET

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NASA-backed research is helping prepare for a future where drones, remotely piloted cargo aircraft, and electric air taxis fly alongside conventional aircraft. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA is investing up to $20 million in three university-led teams through its University Leadership Initiative (ULI) to address key challenges in autonomous flight.
The research, involving institutions like Florida Tech and Embry-Riddle, will focus on developing autonomous safety systems, communication networks for airspace, and self-diagnostic capabilities for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft.
This initiative is part of NASA's broader strategy to integrate future autonomous and AAM vehicles, such as self-flying taxis and eVTOLs, into the national airspace, complementing other projects and industry partnerships.

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NASA on Tuesday announced it has teamed up with three university-led teams to tackle pressing challenges in autonomous flight as part of the space agency’s University Leadership Initiative (ULI).

The teams—led by the Florida Institute of Technology, University of Colorado at Boulder, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—will study autonomous safety systems, communication networks for autonomous airspace, and self-diagnostic systems for advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.