Told in Their Own Words: UAS 6.0 Challenge Award by NIST PSCR

Demonstrated at: #FDIC25

The National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) has played an important role in advancing public safety communications research through programs at the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division in NIST's Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL).

The 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act legislation included The Public Safety Trust Fund for the design and implementation of the new network and called for NIST to utilize $300 million in support of the effort. Though the funding expired in 2022, NIST continues to fund internal research and prize challenges. Its series of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) research competitions has helped propel innovation in this nascent sector.

The latest challenge, the First Responder Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) Wireless Data Gatherer Challenge (UAS 6.0), concluded the week of #FDIC25. To celebrate the achievements of the top three teams, the PSCR staff recognized the winners on stage at the FDIC NextGen Fire Tech area in the Lucas Oil Stadium Experience.

The United First Responder Technology Coalition team took the $100,000 first-place prize. The second-place prize went to Team Engineering Dynamics, and the third place went to Team Flyt.

The value of the NIST PSCR challenge competitions was illustrated by Flock Technology's 2025 acquisition of Uniform Sierra, a prize winner from the 2022 First Responder UAS Indoor Challenge. Duncan Mulgrew's Purdue University team is now the aeronautical foundation of Flock's ambitious Drone as First Responder (DFR) strategy. The January acquisition comes following the 2024 purchase of Aerodome, a DFR command and control platform.

Thanks to NIST PSCR's team for hosting CritComm Insights at the Muscatatuck Training Center. And thanks to Terese Manley for taking the time to explain the NIST PSCR program objectives at FDIC.