DURANT, Okla. (KXII) - The Choctaw Nation received a visit from the head of NASA Friday morning to talk about the tribe's use of drones in the past couple of years.

Nearly two years ago the Choctaw Nation was chosen by the federal government as just one of ten locations in the country where drones could be tested in a variety of ways that are currently illegal elsewhere.

Those projects included things that would benefit agriculture, such as feeding animals and setting traps.

"The things that we say are dull, dirty, dangerous, and difficult. Those are the things robots and drones and automation are good for," said James Grimsley, Executive Director of Advanced Technology Initiatives for the Choctaw Nation.

NASA Administrator and former Oklahoma Congressman Jim Bridenstine stopped by the Choctaw Nation Friday morning.

He's particularly interested in the drone program and hopes NASA can learn from the Choctaws.

"They initially want to use it for moving medical supplies and equipment and even organs. Sometimes organs don't make it from point A to point B when there's an emergency and they don't make it because it takes it too long to get there. Well what we can do is put them on a vehicle that can get there in a matter of minutes," said Bridenstine.

Grimsley says in the past year, they used drones after the tornados that hit Bryan County in the Spring.

"We were able to help some of the homeowners with their insurance claims because we were able to get them data with video and photographs and things they could use for their claims," said Grimsley.

There are even more goals in mind.

"Search and rescue capabilities that are being developed here, capabilities for infrastructure inspection when you think about pipelines and power lines," said Bridenstine.

"We're going to open up more opportunities for the tribe, more opportunities for our region, so we're excited. There's a lot of good things on the horizon," said Grimsley.

The rest is here:

Head of NASA visits the Choctaw Nation - KXII-TV