Yep, UF has been authorized for drone research. It’s for the wildlife, though.

http://www.wuft.org/news/2013/02/13/faa-authorizes-uf-for-drone-research/

From the article:

“The drones capture images of about one pixel per inch, a higher resolution compared to the one-pixel-per-foot images found on Google Earth, said Peter Ifju, a mechanical and aerospace engineering professor at UF.”

But it also says:

“The drones are being used for research, not for surveillance or as weaponry.”

I guess they don’t consider taking photos of wildlife as surveillance, but this is just the beginning. UF’s research is constantly expanding.