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When Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University talks about uncrewed systems, the conversation no longer stops in the sky.

From the surface of the ocean to its depths, the university is expanding how students learn to operate, analyze and apply uncrewed technology, this time in the maritime domain.

David Thirtyacre, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the College of Aviation and chair of the Department of Flight at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide Campus, said the university is bringing uncrewed maritime systems into the classroom. The shift gives students the opportunity for hands-on experience operating uncrewed technology both above and below the waterline.

“The move into maritime robotic systems grew naturally out of Embry‑Riddle’s long-standing expertise in uncrewed aircraft systems,” Thirtyacre said.

Before introducing the technology into degree programs, faculty first immersed themselves in maritime platforms and operational workflows. That foundation paved the way for expanding coursework beyond theory and into practical, mission-ready skills.

Simulating the Real World

To support that firsthand learning, Embry‑Riddle developed its own simulation platform, Embry‑Riddle Uncrewed Pilot Training (ERUPT). Originally designed for aerial systems, the platform is expanding to include remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and other uncrewed maritime systems (UMS).

Through ERUPT, students plan missions, manipulate real data, build 3D models and analyze underwater anomalies. Students also complete thesis research projects and practice decision-making that mirrors professional operations. The focus has shifted from brief exposure to sustained, data-driven mission planning and execution using UMS.

“Students aren’t just seeing the technology,” Thirtyacre said. “They’re learning how to use it the way industry does.”

One of the most visible changes is during the two-day residency in Daytona Beach, where students complete flight check rides, but also operate uncrewed surface and underwater vehicles and work directly with industry-standard ROVs.

The model allows students to bridge classroom instruction with real-world operations, gaining confidence and experience that translates directly to the workforce.

Excursions Below the Surface 

Faculty research plays a key role in shaping student learning and expanding the university’s impact. Embry‑Riddle researchers collaborate on projects ranging from offshore inspections to search-and-rescue support, with insights feeding directly into coursework and publications.

“We’ve been doing a lot of surface and subsurface work over the past four years,” Thirtyacre said.

Dr. Joseph Cerreta, an associate professor and chief of standardization and training with nearly three decades of experience in uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), has played a critical role in the recent mission.

“That work includes collaborating with the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Labs, where we dove on sunken ships and located the Ferndale that sank in 1915,” Cerreta said. “We also partnered with Warren County Community College, using its ROVs and conducting dives on World War II plane wrecks in Hawaii on the 84th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.”

Step into the future of uncrewed systems — explore our UAS degree today

Industry Credentials

Embry‑Riddle is already a trained provider for the  (AUVSI) Trusted UAS Operator™ program. The university is now preparing to become a trained provider for maritime systems as well, further strengthening its industry credentials.

Through residencies, coursework, research and partnerships with institutions nationwide, Embry‑Riddle continues to expand its role in uncrewed maritime education, preparing students to operate where air, sea and technology intersect.