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The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, or CRADA, with Conoco Phillips Company to evaluate unmanned aircraft system, or UAS, capabilities, benefits, risks and technical limitations of operating UAS from land and/or off a Coast Guard Cutter in a maritime environment.

The Coast Guard will conduct flight testing and evaluation of UASs under a wide variety of simulated but realistic and relevant real-world maritime operational scenarios, such as ice operations, marine environmental monitoring, marine safety, search and rescue and potentially other Coast Guard mission sets.

While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with Conoco Phillips Company, the Coast Guard solicits public comment on the possible nature of, and participation of, other parties in the proposed CRADA.

The Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration for similar CRADAs.

Comments must be submitted on or before April 20, 2015.

View the Federal Register notice for full details.

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