Mines UAS Team Showcases Drone Technology at Black Hills Defense & Industry Symposium

South Dakota Mines students Zack Holloway and Isaac Adsit showcased emerging drone technology and its implications for national security during the annual Black Hills Defense & Industry Symposium.

The event brought together leaders from academia, research, industry, the military and the Black Hills community to discuss the importance of defense investment in western South Dakota and explore solutions that strengthen both national security and regional economic development.

Holloway, a senior computer engineering major, and Adsit, a sophomore computer engineering major, spoke on the growing role of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in domestic defense, highlighting how rapidly advancing, commercially available drone technology is creating new challenges for detection and response.

Using a simulated military base environment, Camp Rocker, the students demonstrated how low-cost drones, some available for less than $1,000, can operate at high speeds and low altitudes, often evading traditional detection systems such as radar and radio frequency monitoring.

The presentation also explored the concept of “dark drones,” systems designed to minimize or eliminate detectable signals. These drones can be preprogrammed to operate autonomously, follow precise routes, and complete missions without emitting traceable communications, significantly reducing response time for defenders.

“One of the critical things I hope you take away is that in this space of the modern drone warfare, the biggest risk isn't the technology that we understand, it is the one that we never tested, never heard of, or never thought to test,” Hollway said.

Their work at South Dakota Mines focuses on identifying gaps in current defense systems and developing more adaptive strategies through ongoing research, senior design projects, and collaboration with defense partners.

“There is no finish line when it comes to drone defense,” Adsit said. “It’s about asking better questions, building better understanding, and continuously evolving our approach.”

The demonstration highlighted the critical role of student research in addressing modern defense challenges and underscored the importance of collaboration between higher education and industry in preparing for emerging threats.