LIFT, the Department of Defense-supported national advanced manufacturing innovation institute, today announced a cutting-edge drone development initiative at its Puerto Rico facility, aimed at empowering the next generation of engineering talent while advancing critical drone technologies.
As part of this hands-on program, students from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, College of Mechanical Engineering, are designing, building, and testing an innovative lightweight drone attachment to address real-world challenges in customized environmental monitoring. The project demonstrates Puerto Rico’s growing role as a hub for advanced manufacturing and next-generation aerospace systems.
“This effort underscores LIFT’s commitment to strengthening the U.S. manufacturing and defense innovation base by investing in regional talent, driving innovative technologies, and fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government,” said Dr. Robert Shaner, Chief Education and Workforce Development Officer at LIFT. “Puerto Rico is uniquely positioned to serve as a national testbed for drone technologies and advanced materials that support both economic resilience and national security.”
The initiative, supported with funding from the from the Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program, overseen by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and in partnership with the Puerto Rico Drone Academy, supports mission-critical applications such as port security, supply chain visibility, and air quality monitoring. Through iterative prototyping, bench and flight testing, and targeted technical workshops, students are gaining hands-on experience in the full design-build-test lifecycle, using Arduino microcontrollers and 3D printing tools.