Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) have significantly evolved in recent years, with a broad range of applications, including military, commercial, and recreational uses. For the U.S. to remain a leader in this field, deeper knowledge of UAS systems and a well-trained workforce are essential. Advanced UAS capable of navigating and operating in harsher and more complex environments are expected to have a significant impact on the U.S. economy and infrastructure resilience. This REU Site emphasizes research on sensors for navigation and control to ensure accurate positioning; development of deployable systems; testing drone battery performance under extreme conditions; UAS-based gas leak detection and airborne particulate monitoring; and developing computational tools to identify potential weaknesses and failure points in UAS platforms. Furthermore, the program aims to prepare participants to become future leaders in the rapidly growing UAS industry and to contribute to knowledge development with considerations of societal well-being. The site offers hands-on research experiences that support the development of a skilled UAS workforce. To achieve this goal, the REU Site provides mentoring and training in a supportive, engaging, and challenging learning environment where students develop both technical and professional skills needed for success in engineering and research careers. To encourage a workforce with new and innovative ideas, we will recruit a broad group of students with a