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General Session

A Collaborative Workshop on the Future of Autonomy, AI, and UAS Communications

Thursday, December 11, 2025
9:20 AM - 10:20 AM CT
Location: Grand Ballroom

Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) are rapidly becoming vital tools in public safety, supporting missions that use real time air data to make better decisions on scene. Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations have already shown measurable improvements in response time and operational efficiency. Drones have proven they can fill communications gaps, provide dynamic mapping, and support operations while cutting responder risk in the toughest conditions. Yet, complex fire incidents still demand large, specialized teams to manage aerial operations. This interactive workshop explores how advances in autonomy, machine learning, and communications amongst drones are poised to transform UAS operations over the next decade. Presenters from government, academia, and fire departments will share current research, highlighting how future systems can better manage the uncertainty and complexity of firefighting. Participants will gain insight into emerging technologies and participate in discussions with researchers and agency leaders about current gaps in operational tasks to solve next generation autonomous aerial support.