Drones at SDSU

Researchers at San Diego State University (SDSU) and San Diego State University Research Foundation (SDSURF) are required to comply with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and university policy while conducting research for SDSU or SDSURF. The FAA has guidelines and regulations regarding drones or other Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). More information about these regulations and the FAA’s guidelines, are available under the Resources tab.

What Counts as Unmanned Aerial Systems or Drones

Examples of UAS or drones include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPV), Unmanned Aircraft (UA), Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), Remote helicopters (including quadcopters, hexacopters, octocopters, etc.). UAS includes the unmanned aircraft and associated elements, including communication links and components that control the unmanned aircraft, required for the pilot-in-command to operate the UAS safely and efficiently.

Purchasing a Drone

To initiate a UAS purchase review, please contact the appropriate department depending on whether you will be using stateside or SDSU Research Foundation funds for the purchase.

• SDSU Research Foundation Procurement Department: [email protected]
• Stateside SDSU Procurement Office: Service Now Request to Stateside Procure to Pay Team (Requires SDSU Single Sign-On)
• SDSU FAA Drone Committee: [email protected] 

Apply to Use a Drone or UAS

In order to ensure compliance with the FAA’s regulations, researchers at SDSU and SDSURF are required to submit an application regarding their drone or other UAS use to the SDSU FAA Drone Committee. The FAA Drone Committee application, which can be found on the How to Apply tab and on InfoReady, is required for all faculty and staff using drones or UAS in their research at SDSU or SDSURF. A new application must be filled out per research project using drones.