Virginia, New Jersey and Maryland to collaborate on drone testing

RICHMOND, Va. — Universities in Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey were among those selected Monday to collaborate on developing test sites for drones, a technology one U.S. senator compared to the development of the cellphone.

Virginia was among six states named by federal officials as research sites offering diverse climates, geographic features and air traffic environments. The research will help guide the Federal Aviation Administration as it works to introduce commercial versions of the unmanned aircraft into busy U.S. airspace.