RG is correct. The projects that I consulted and flew, had to be flown in restricted airspace. Controlled military base. We were also required to have a recovery parachute. The parachutes purpose was not to save the aircraft, but to stop flight in case it flew out of control and restricted airspace and caused a threat to public/ risked capture. Lets just say the biggest I test flew, took a 16 ft chute to stop flight. If we needed to use it, we would have had a crash site covered with a parachute. Current laws MAY have exceptions. Texas A&M have experience in all sizes of UAS. Ask them. Trust me, Pattern, you guys are not the 1st to do things like this, save yourself some time/money/failure and ask for help from your fellow universities. This is not a football rivalry.

Brooks
Skirting on the edge of saying too much.