Ep. 1: Cathy Cahill talks innovation in unmanned aircraft

Alaska Science Pod

Cathy Cahill directs the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute. Her fleet of vehicles encompasses those too intelligent to call “drones” to tiny aircraft fitting in one hand, to gas-powered, 16-foot dual-engine ships that may soon deliver snowmachine parts to rural Alaska villages. Alaskans like Cahill and her team are constantly innovating — now using unmanned aircraft to monitor whale populations and pipelines, and complete other jobs too dirty, dull or dangerous for human pilots. (40 minutes)