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UDOT unveils mobile command centers to support drone operations across Utah
Summary
The Utah Department of Transportation showcased mobile command centers equipped with two workstations, LTE and Starlink connectivity and exterior monitors to support drone operations, testing and policy development, the agency said. The centers are intended for statewide deployment and industry support.
An agency official at the Utah Department of Transportation said the agency has deployed mobile command centers to support drone operations and industry testing across the state. The presenter described the demonstration as “first of its kind for us” and pointed to mobile units set up behind the speaker.
The command centers host two onboard workstations and provide internet access via LTE or Starlink, the presenter said. “You have access to internet through LTE or Starlink,” the presenter said, and the exterior monitors allow people who need to see live operations to view projects and drone feeds.
The presenter said the mobile units are intended to support both UDOT operations and private-sector projects. “We’re using them quite a bit on our roadways,” the presenter said, adding that consultants are using drones on UDOT projects and that operators were on site testing equipment and refining how they position devices and personnel.
Officials framed the centers as part of a partnership with another state agency to help inform how the state regulates and develops policies for aeronautics and advanced air mobility. The presenter described the initiative as a way to learn what the state will need and to help industry safely integrate the technology.
On the agency’s role, the presenter said, “What we’re doing is what we’ve always done. We try to be ahead of the curve and understand what the state needs, how we can move the traveling public, how we can keep Utah moving, and advanced air mobility and aeronautics is going to support that.”
The demonstration emphasized mobility and training: operators were testing equipment and working with staff to better understand operational limits and deployment best practices. The presenter said the units can travel anywhere in the state to support projects and to help industry use drones more effectively.
No formal regulatory action or funding vote was described during the demonstration. The presentation focused on capabilities, interagency partnership and testing; next steps or schedules for wider deployment were not specified.
