SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA | January 29, 2026 — The UAS Center at SBD today announced the launch of a new standards-based unmanned systems testing and evaluation facility at San Bernardino International Airport, aligned with test methods developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The facility strengthens Southern California’s role as a national hub for standards-based drone and mobile robotics testing, public safety innovation, and workforce development.
The facility is established through a formal Memorandum of Understanding between the UAS Center at SBD and the Engineering Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including the Intelligent Systems Division. Under this collaboration, the UAS Center at SBD will implement and validate standardized test methods used to objectively evaluate the performance of aerial unmanned aircraft systems, uncrewed ground vehicles, aquatic remotely operated vehicles, and remote operator proficiency across a range of operational scenarios.
“Standardized test methods provide a critical foundation for repeatable, data-driven evaluation of unmanned systems,” said Kimberly Benson, Administrator of the UAS Center at SBD. “By bringing this capability to San Bernardino International Airport, we are helping industry, government agencies, and emergency responders assess readiness, improve safety, and accelerate the responsible adoption of advanced autonomous technologies.”
The facility is integrated with the Norton Test Range, a secure, purpose-built testing environment located on the former Norton Air Force Base. The range supports controlled flight operations, sensor and payload evaluation, and scenario-based trials conducted near active airport infrastructure, allowing testing to occur in conditions representative of real-world operations.
Dave Krause, co-owner of Influential Drones and a partner of the UAS Center at SBD, will serve as both Test Manager for NIST-aligned activities and Range Manager for the Norton Test Range. In this role, Krause provides centralized oversight and responsibility for test planning and execution across all standards-based activities conducted at the range. This governance structure supports consistent application of NIST Standardized Test Methods, clear accountability for safety policy, effective control of operational risk, and documented oversight and traceability, consistent with Safety Management System best practices and regulatory expectations.
“By applying nationally recognized standardized test methods in operational environments, we are helping translate research-grade standards into practical tools that operators, agencies, and manufacturers can use with confidence,” Krause said. “This work supports credible performance comparisons and a clearer pathway from testing to operational readiness.”
NIST Standardized Test Methods are internationally recognized and designed to be reproducible across testing locations, enabling consistent benchmarking of critical capabilities such as sensing, maneuvering, payload operation, and operator proficiency over time and across platforms.
Through this collaboration, the UAS Center at SBD will conduct validation exercises, integrate standardized test methods into training and evaluation programs, and contribute anonymized performance data to support the continued advancement of national and international unmanned systems standards. The facility will serve a broad range of users, including public safety agencies, infrastructure operators, manufacturers and system integrators, government and regulatory stakeholders, technology developers, and research institutions. Testing conducted at the facility supports standards development, validation, and benchmarking and may inform regulatory, certification, and operational authorization pathways; however, use of the facility itself does not constitute regulatory approval or certification.
“The launch of this facility reinforces our commitment to advancing safer communities, workforce development, and technology readiness,” Benson added. “It positions San Bernardino as a leading location for standards-based unmanned systems testing in the United States.”
About the UAS Center at SBD
Established in 2020 under the Inland Valley Development Agency, the UAS Center at SBD operates at San Bernardino International Airport and serves as a hub for unmanned aircraft systems testing, training, evaluation, and policy support. The Center works with public and private sector partners to advance autonomous technologies that enhance public safety, infrastructure resilience, and economic development.
Media Contact:
Amber Casarez
Marketing Manager
UAS Center at SBD
(909) 382-4100 x132
acasarez@nullsbdairport.com