Autonomous Nation is a full-day conference bringing together policymakers from the local, state, and national levels with industry entrepreneurs and innovators to help make our region the most autonomous-friendly area in the country. The conference will focus on the autonomous industry and the impact it can have across our region, solving issues such as workforce shortages, inefficiencies, and technology gaps. Take a look at photos from last year’s Autonomous Nation!
This event was formerly known as Drone Focus.
What to Expect:
- Access to policymakers: One of North Dakota’s competitive advantages is our access to policymakers. We will be inviting local and state lawmakers and are looking at bringing in federal lawmakers as well.
- Relevant Content: Throughout the event, you will find that our content is woven together in a narrative focused on building the infrastructure, policies, software, hardware, and tools for the autonomous nation of the future.
- Real-time Demonstrations: We will work with industry to bring some of the latest autonomous equipment to demonstrate during the event.
Audience:
Policymakers at the local, state, and national levels, economic developers, and industry are interested in reaching policymakers.
Questions?
If you are interested in getting involved, email or call Andrew Jason (AndrewJ@EmergingPrairie.com | 218-556-2922).
2022 SCHEDULE
Autonomous Nation Conference
Microsoft Commons Building – See Eventbrite for Microsoft’s COVID-19 Guidelines
Registration + Coffee
Artist
-
Yvette Reyes – Owner at FM Aerial & Movement Arts
Welcome
Autonomous Nation Speaker Series
- David Cook – President, North Dakota State University
- Darshan “Dash” Divakaran – Senior Manager, Strategic Innovation & Partnerships, AFWERX, United States Air Force
Panel: The Next 10 Years of UAS in ND
- Moderator: Trevor Woods – Executive Director, Northern Plains UAS Test Site
- Dr. Mark Askelson – Executive Director, Research Institute for Autonomous Systems (RIAS)
- Michael Fridolfs – Site Director Grand Sky, Northrop Grumman
- Frank Matus – Director, ATC and Digital Aviation Segment, Americas, Thales
- Joerg Schamun – CEO, Airial Robotics
Break
Department of Transportation Fireside Chat
- Ginny Crowson – Director, Connected and Automated Vehicles, Minnesota Department of Transportation
- Bill Panos – Director, North Dakota Department of Transportation
Panel: Xcel Energy: Corporate Innovator
- Moderator: Josh Riedy – Founder and CEO, Airtonomy
- Amanda Nelson – Senior Change Management Consultant, Xcel Energy
- Tom Stegge – UAS Program Manager, Xcel Energy
- Joseph Verbout – Electrical Engineer, Xcel Energy
- Nick Zaccardi – CTO, Airtonomy
Autonomous Nation Speaker Series
- Gene Avakyan – CEO and Co-founder, Edison Aerospace
Break
Autonomous Nation Speaker Series
- Doug Jensen – President, Bismarck State College
Keynote
- U.S. Senator John Hoeven
Autonomous Nation Speaker Series
- George Rumford – Acting Director, Test Resource Management Center, U.S. Department of Defense
- Terri Zimmerman – CEO, Packet Digital + Botlink
- Joel Kaczynski – RDO Equipment
Panel: Grower Voices
- Moderator: Mark Watne – President, North Dakota Farmers Union
- Vanessa Kummer – Grower
- Sarah Lovas – Grower
- Ryan Olson – Grower
Lunch
Transit from Microsoft Fargo Campus to Grand Farm Hub Site
- A shuttle will leave the Microsoft Campus for the Grand Farm Hub Site at 1:30 pm. The shuttle will be running between the two locations until 6:00 pm.
Autonomous Demonstrations (This portion of the conference is free and open to the public)
Grand Farm Hub Site – 2549 124th Ave. S, Horace, ND
- Airial Robotics – Demonstrating Airial Robotics drone
- BWR Innovations – Demonstrating a hydrogen microgrid
- North Dakota Department of Transportation – Demonstrating an autonomous truck
- North Dakota State University, Dr. Paolo Flores – Demonstrating Earthsense UGS and soil probes
- North Dakota State University, Dr. Xin (Rex) Sun – Demonstrating weedbot
- RDO Equipment
- Tekniam – Demonstrating device to amplify wifi on the Grand Farm Hub Site
- University of North Dakota Research Institute for Autonomous Systems (RIAS) – Demonstrating UND RADAR Truck and drone flights
- Vigilant Aerospace – Demonstrating software with UAS and manned airplane
Social Hour
Grand Farm Hub Site – 2549 124th Ave. S, Horace, ND
2022 SPEAKERS
Dr. Mark Askelson
Associate Vice President for Research: National Security
University of North Dakota
Gene Avakyan
CEO and Co-founder
Edison Aerospace
Gray Byers
Business Development
Airtonomy
Dr. David Cook
President
North Dakota State University
Ginny Crowson
Director, Connected and Automated Vehicles
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Darshan “Dash” Divakaran
Senior Manager, Strategic Innovation & Partnerships
AFWERX, United States Air Force
Jeff Decoux
Chairman
Autonomy Institute
Dr. Paulo Flores
Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
North Dakota State University
Michael Fridolfs
Site Director Grand Sky
Northrop Grumman
Sen. John Hoeven
United States Senator
North Dakota
Dr. Doug Jensen
President
Bismarck State College
Joel Kaczynski
Product Specialist Manager
RDO
Vanessa Kummer
Grower
North Dakota
Sarah Lovas
Grower
North Dakota
Frank Matus
Director, ATC and Digital Aviation Segment, Americas
Thales
Amanda Nelson
Senior Change Management Consultant
Xcel Energy
Bill Panos
Director
North Dakota Department of Transportation
Zach Peterson
Director of Business Development
Vigilant Aerospace Systems
Josh Riedy
Founder and CEO
Airtonomy
George Rumford
Acting Director, Test Resource Management Center
U.S. Department of Defense
Joerg Schamun
CEO
Airial Robotics
Adam Spelhaug
Grower
North Dakota
Tom Stegge
UAS Program Manager
Xcel Energy
Dr. Xin (Rex) Sun
Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
North Dakota State University
Joseph Verbout
Electrical Engineer
Xcel Energy
Mark Watne
President
North Dakota Farmers Union
Trevor Woods
Executive Director
Northern Plains UAS Test Site
Terri Zimmerman
CEO
Packet Digital + Botlink
-
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;">Host Your Event at Grand Farm!</span></h2> <div id="panel-21-1-0-1" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor" style="text-align: center;" data-index="2"> <div class="so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base"> <div class="siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget"> <p><span style="color: #ffffff;">Interested in using the test site as a venue for your upcoming event? Get in touch with us, and we'll make it happen.</span></p> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div id="panel-21-1-0-2" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-button panel-last-child" data-index="3"> <div class="so-widget-sow-button so-widget-sow-button-flat-1b7aed942284"> <div class="ow-button-base ow-button-align-center" style="text-align: center;"></div> </div> </div>
