Columbia to be the site of cutting edge drone research testing facility

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

Large military unmanned stealth drone airplane

Airdate: Thursday, July 28, 2022

The often spectacular views we see from drones, drones being used in warfare or flying inexpensive drones ourselves are how most of us have become familiar with unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. Drones are already used in agriculture, by utilities to check lines and law enforcement. However, there’s potential for drones to be used for many more purposes.

That’s what the DR1 Group is working on. The non-profit organization promotes the use of drone technology for unmanned flights.

DR1 group has plans to open a facility in Columbia, Lancaster County within the next two years – anchoring a business park on land that used to be an airstrip. The organization hopes to attract like-minded technology businesses and enterprises that could collaborate in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

Todd Kishpaugh, a board member and one of the founders of DR1 Group said on Thursday’s Smart Talk the Columbia facility will research and develop applications for drones that include using unmanned aircraft to deliver packages, such as prescription medications, and make medical emergency landings. Kishpaugh indicated some 10 years down the road or maybe longer, piloted drones and eventually unmanned drones could taxi passengers from one place to the next.

Kishpaugh pointed out that Columbia is a good location for a drone research facility since it isn’t close to big airports but is near transportation hubs.