Elon Drone Day to explore AI, emerging drone applications on Friday, Oct. 30

From artificial intelligence to agricultural applications, the School of Communications’ annual event will showcase how drone technology is evolving and reshaping industries.

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Artificial intelligence is transforming how drones operate, and the upcoming 2026 Elon Drone Day will examine what those advances mean for the future of unmanned aircraft systems.

The School of Communications will host its annual Elon Drone Day on Friday, Oct. 30, bringing together recreational and commercial pilots, industry professionals, educators and students for a day of presentations, demonstrations and networking in Turner Theater and Snow Family Grand Atrium. The free event, organized in partnership with the North Carolina chapter of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (NC AUVSI), is open to the public, but registration is required.

This year’s program will place a particular emphasis on AI, with Sambit Bhattacharya, a professor at Fayetteville State University, delivering the keynote address, “Preflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us About Trustworthy AI.”

Bhattacharya’s presentation will explore how the aviation industry’s emphasis on safety, testing and accountability can inform the development of trustworthy AI systems. Drawing on research from Fayetteville State’s Intelligent Systems Lab, he will examine how autonomous drones make decisions, the challenges of deploying AI in real-world environments, and the importance of ensuring that emerging technologies operate reliably.