The University of North Texas officially opened its outdoor netted drone test facility in the spring of 2024 at Discovery Park.

 

 
Outside view of the facility

Largest in Texas

With a sprawling 36,000 square feet, the facility is the largest of its kind in Texas and one of the largest nationally. It stands 85 feet tall, 120 feet long and 300 feet wide, allowing for the flight of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) while remaining compliant with Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
Close view of a drone with another one behind

Multi-Purpose Testing

Drone facility users can analyze UAV technology, examining how specific maneuvers impact performance, exploring safety measures like collision avoidance and testing communication between UAVs and stationary receivers on the ground or autonomous ground vehicles. Given the facility’s large size, researchers can test signal strength from multiple angles, heights and distances.