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18 May 2023
Chris Fravel talks to photographer, videographer, and podcaster <a href="https://billy-kyle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Billy Kyle</a> at Xponential 2023 in Denver, Colorado.&nbsp;
<h5>Watch the Interview!</h5>
<iframe style="width: 667px; height: 375px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VJc5nAlbsYQ" width="667" height="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Interviews at Xponential 2023: Billy Kyle

16 May 2023
By Michael Molenda, TDC Editor
The Droning Company's roving reporters Chris Fravel and Elle recorded an astounding 37 interviews with the exhibitors at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.auvsi.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AUVSI</a> Xponential 2023 in Denver, Colorado.
The duo's broad, comprehensive reporting at this important drone convention means The Droning Company readers can dig deep into the strategies, future plans, and critical knowledge dumps from companies such as Draganfly, Autel, BRINC, Honeywell, Iris Automation, NASA, and others. In addition, we met with the FAA, the Pilot Institute, and other drone experts to collect essential data for experienced pilots, aspiring beginners, and technology geeks.
Spinning through our Xponential 2023 YouTube Playlist is like taking a crash course in most all the knowledge you need to succeed.
And while you're absorbing tons of cool content from the big show, please don't forget to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiPevjKgtVfwXU2w9ODsrlQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SUBSCRIBE</a> to The Droning Company YouTube channel.
We are also preparing additional articles on the gear, technology, and companies that attended Xponential 2023, so keep checking <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Droning Company</a> website for updates.
<h5>CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW to Run the Xponential 2023 Playlist!</h5>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg5vwgmp-5F4fFDjXQiqml41c5FJUDw6T" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/LGUPE27y4WoqfkOrN0YeozknwbKUeliWz4ytQsU9.png" alt="" width="292" height="428" /></a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg5vwgmp-5F4fFDjXQiqml41c5FJUDw6T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg5vwgmp-5F4fFDjXQiqml41c5FJUDw6T</a>
&nbsp;

Watch Comprehensive Coverage of AUVSI Xponential 2023!

25 April 2023
Autonomy is radically transforming the future of the drone industry.
Every year, drones are tested for more commercial applications, from structural inspections to package delivery. Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capabilities are redefining where and how they can operate. Public safety missions, including search and rescue, wildfire response, and disaster recovery, are benefiting from new technology for navigation and situational awareness.
This May, an industry-leading trade show and conference provides the chance to see and understand all of these technologies and more.
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.xponential.org/xponential2023/public/enter.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">XPONENTIAL</a> is a four-day gathering of pilots, engineers, business leaders, end-users, and innovators working in aviation, uncrewed systems, and robotics.
From May 8-11, attendees will converge in Denver to learn from one another and collaborate on a shared plan for the future of autonomy.
The program is designed to address the most pressing issues facing this community:
<ul>
<li>What are the implications of advancements in autonomy for drone professionals?</li>
<li>How can pilots, technology leaders, and regulators collaborate to accelerate deployment while maintaining safety?</li>
<li>What are the biggest professional and business opportunities in the next 5 years?</li>
</ul>
Every year, XPONENTIAL draws 8,000+ experts from more than 20 complementary industries.
It is known around the world as the most important event for autonomous technology.
As one 2022 attendee put it, &ldquo;If you want to be on the cutting edge of the UAV industry, attending XPONENTIAL is a must.&rdquo;
<h5>Explore Aviation Education</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/sBESBd2CmUEdv9vccRBfOalJ6tETCv1ZwjVUMITi.jpg" alt="" width="701" height="467" />
XPONENTIAL&rsquo;s <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.xponential.org/xponential2023/Public/Content.aspx?ID=4228&amp;sortMenu=103002" target="_blank" rel="noopener">educational programming</a> includes high-level keynotes and technical Breakout Sessions to inform your work and help you learn from professionals in the drone industry and vertical sectors.
The first day of the event, Monday, features more immersive workshops than ever before, on topics ranging from autonomous flight standards to flight simulators.
Throughout the week, pick from a wide variety of talks that interest you, or commit to a curated experience focused on themes like Public Safety or Operationalizing Autonomy.
Finally, sit it on Spotlight Sessions to gain situational awareness about the cross-cutting trends shaping safety, ethics, and security.
<h5>See The Latest Drone Technology</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/rW3P0od3YeLnIhlrwbLJtcj10lffZO0wIfPQQhUs.jpg" alt="" width="635" height="423" />
The <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.xponential.org/xponential2023/Public/Content.aspx?ID=4227&amp;sortMenu=102000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">XPO Hall</a> features hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest breakthroughs and solutions. In 2023, they include a variety of names in drones, components, and software, including: Ascent AeroSystems, Airial Robotics, BRINC Drones, DroneUp, Draganfly, Easy Aerial, Iris Automation, Near Earth Autonomy, Percepto, Skydio, Sony, and Volatus Aerospace.
<h5>Learn More</h5>
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XPONENTIAL 2023 launches in Denver May 8

Expos

18 January 2023
Colorado-based <a href="https://www.p3techconsulting.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">P3 Tech Consulting LLC</a> announces its second annual <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.xponential.org/xponential2023/Public/Content.aspx?ID=4273" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Law-Tech Connect Workshop</a>, co-located with <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.auvsi.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2023</a>, on Monday, May 8, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado.
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.xponential.org/xponential2023/public/Content.aspx?ID=4078" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register Now</a></h2>
P3 Tech is a veteran and woman owned business founded and led by Dawn Zoldi (Colonel, USAF Retired), a licensed attorney and globally renowned, emerging-tech-industry expert. Her experience includes 28 years of service to the U.S. Air Force as a Judge Advocate (military lawyer), Associate General Counsel, and U.S. Air Force Academy leader. She now regularly contributes industry content in the form of articles for major publications, and as the host of several podcasts. Her <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.auvsi.org/dawn-drones-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dawn of Drones podcast now airs on AUVSI channels</a>.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/KwqQJAPU8PwqsAtE0Wk0vUZIegd7O6kDkMyYKCdQ.jpg" alt="" width="336" height="336" />
Dawn Zoldi
P3 Tech&rsquo;s alliance with AUVSI includes producing a top-tier techno-legal educational event, the Law-Tech Connect Workshop, which debuted at last year&rsquo;s XPONENTIAL. The world&rsquo;s premier event for uncrewed systems and autonomy, AUVSI expects XPONENTIAL 2023 to attract record numbers of industry participants to collaborate on the most pressing issues from a cross-domain, cross-sector, cross-industry, and cross-functional perspective.
This co-located event is one of XPONENTIAL&rsquo;s immersive workshops aimed at providing training and in-depth insights and solutions on targeted, uncrewed tech topics. This dynamic one-day educational event provides one-of-a-kind legal, regulatory, and policy knowledge relating to uncrewed systems, autonomy, and advanced air mobility. For attorneys, the workshop will qualify (anticipated 8 Colorado CLE credits, self-certifiable, and transferable to other jurisdictions) as an accredited Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program .
<h5 style="text-align: left;"><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.p3drones.net/1.html">Click to Watch Video on Drone Law &amp; Regulations Update</a></h5>
But make no mistake, this workshop is not just for attorneys.
The <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.xponential.org/xponential2022/Public/Content.aspx?ID=3981" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agenda</a> covers a broad range of topics ranging from updates in the laws surrounding multidomain uncrewed commercial and military operations, AAM infrastructure, counter-drone, public-private partnerships, intellectual property, privacy, and more.
The event&rsquo;s <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.xponential.org/xponential2023/Public/Sessions.aspx?SuperTrackId=&amp;TrackId=409&amp;AssociationId=&amp;DateId=&amp;FormatId=&amp;DurationId=&amp;SpeakerId=&amp;AbilityLevelId=&amp;SessionTypeId=&amp;SubExpoId=&amp;Keyword=&amp;&amp;SearchEvent=&amp;View=Sessions&amp;id=4064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speaker line up</a> includes experts from across commercial industry, government, and academia. The faculty includes the Federal Aviation Administration&rsquo;s &ldquo;Drone Guy&rdquo; Kevin Morris, Vic Moss (Drone Service Provider&rsquo;s Alliance), Maj Gen (USAF Ret.) James Poss, Cameron Chell CEO of Draganfly and Lori DeMatteis, CRO of MatrixSpace discussing the industry&rsquo;s hottest issues, side-by-side with the top legal minds. On deck: Lisa Ellman (Hogan &amp; Lovells), Sean Pribyl (Holland &amp; Knight), Belinda Nixon (Perkins Coie), Jennifer Richter (Akin Gump), Mary-Caitlin Ray (Crowell Moring), and Grant Guillot (DroneUp), to name a few.
AUVSI Director of Industry Education, Keely Griffith, said, &ldquo;This year&rsquo;s XPONENTIAL focuses on building the blueprint of autonomy. We cannot do that without the right laws, regulations, and policies in place. We are thrilled to partner again with P3 Tech, especially after the success of last year&rsquo;s inaugural Law-Tech Connect. This workshop offers all attendees a unique deep dive into the technologies and related legal issues that will propel the industry forward.&rdquo;
The event is sponsored by Draganfly (Gold), Holland &amp; Knight (Silver), Perkins Coie (Bronze), Crowell Moring (Bronze), and multiple Friends of Law-Tech Connect. Carahsoft, MatrixSpace, Titan Aviation and Greenberg Traurig LLP are each individually sponsoring unique Scholars Programs to support participation from across a diverse group of academic faculty, students and industry leaders.
This year&rsquo;s reduced-price registration fee covers the program, all meals, a three-day XPO Hall pass (a $100+ value) and a pre-event networking event on Sunday May 7. Attorneys will also receive proof of CLE attendance. Early bird rates are available ($249) through April 15. Add-ons include the VIP Influencer reception. Registrants also have the ability to purchase Zoldi&rsquo;s drone law text book from the Unmanned Safety Institute at cost, using a special promotional code.
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.xponential.org/xponential2023/public/Content.aspx?ID=4078" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register Now</a></h2>
<h5>About P3 Tech Consulting</h5>
<a href="https://www.p3techconsulting.com/">P3 Tech Consulting LLC</a> is a U.S. company that connects people who have a passion for advanced technology platforms with full spectrum policy-relevant information to propel their companies and to do global good. Its services include consulting, branding, content creation and education on tech legal &amp; policy issues in emerging technologies, with an emphasis on UAS and AAM.
<h5>About AUVSI</h5>
The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics, represents corporations and professionals from more than 60 countries involved in industry, government and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets.
&nbsp;

P3 Tech Consulting Presents 2nd Annual Law-Tech Connect Workshop

28 November 2022
By Corey Schubert, USDroneFest Board of Directors
The fourth-annual <a href="https://www.usdronefest.com/arizona/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AZDroneFest Film Festival &amp; UAS Expo </a>recently featured some of the world&rsquo;s best aerial films, FPV drone racing, and exhibitors showcasing the latest in commercial drone applications. The free Drone Expo and Family Fun event took place on October 22, 2022, at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.
Kids and adults alike enjoyed flight demonstrations of drones of all sizes and spoke to a wide variety of exhibitors from across the Southwest. Some of the best films made with drones competed across eight categories, and winning films for each category were screened and announced throughout the day. This year, 12 films were selected from more than 30 entries from seven different countries.
The Director&rsquo;s Choice Award was also given to a filmmaker who shows great potential as a way of encouraging and acknowledging an up-and-coming talent.
Filmmakers ranged from professional cinematographers to video enthusiasts. With a wide variety of categories, pilots of all levels can participate in the film festival and compete for the well-recognized AZDroneFest Trophy.
The judging panel is made of aerial cinematographers from around the world, with a wide range of expertise. Some of them have been judging the films since the launch of AZDroneFest in 2019.
&ldquo;The difference between a good film and a great film is often in the very small details,&rdquo; says Chris Tinard, director of AzDroneFest. &ldquo;Our judges are all dedicated and passionate about aerial cinematography, and every year they have the very hard job of evaluating each film, looking for those small details that make the difference.&rdquo;
AZDroneFest is an International film festival and UAS Expo designed to educate, promote, cultivate and celebrate the art of aerial cinematography in Arizona. The film festival is dedicated to recognizing the world&rsquo;s best in aerial cinematography in multiple categories.
Attached to the film festival is an education expo with industry panel discussions, keynote speakers, and workshops for commercial drone pilots, drone enthusiasts, and aerial cinematographers to attend for an affordable fee.
&ldquo;We believe there are great benefits in bringing together drone pilots from all different applications. From hobbyists, drone racers, cinematographers and commercial pilots, we can all learn something from each other and be inspired by the many ways drones are being used,&rdquo; says Tinard. &ldquo;We wanted to not only showcase the best in aerial cinematography but also create a family-friendly environment where kids and adults alike could experience flying drones, and see how drones are being used in different aspects of everyday life. We&rsquo;re also excited about the many ways this event allows us to celebrate local and worldwide talent in aerial cinematography, and to hopefully inspire the next generation of drone pilots.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I was really impressed with the entire event,&rdquo; said festival attendee Tim Daugherty. &ldquo;I was thrilled to have an entry nominated, and it was genuinely inspiring to see the other films. Many of them were fantastic.&rdquo;
<h5 class="p1">AZDroneFest 2022 Highlights</h5>
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Drone demos were provided by some of the best aerial cinematographers in the state, including Flying Robot, ReelBros, and Rekt Drones. The Casa Grande Police Department, and Regional Fire &amp; Rescue Department also demonstrated how they use drones to help save lives.
Other exhibitors included Spright, the drone division of aerial medical service provider Air Methods, who had an impressive long-distance medical delivery drone on display. GreenDrone AZ and the Arizona Geographic Information Council brought in their drones, including fixed-wing drones used to gather data of large areas. Aerial Armored demonstrated some of its software capability in drone traffic monitoring. A handful of pilots from the new Major League Drone Racing were also on hand to display their FPV flying skills. Pilot Institute was the delight of the expo with their robot dog.
&ldquo;The event was great as usual, family friendly and it&rsquo;s only going to get bigger and better,&rdquo; said attendee Chris Tangey. &ldquo;The AZDroneFest team are very much pros and make sure they cover a variety of drone subjects, not just film/photography.&rdquo;
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/5DZDCoI9R4tPfg4RdHTBBSYsPAx6oUmmqDFLhNsB.png" alt="" width="669" height="476" />
This year, AZDroneFest was hosted by the Grand Canyon University's Department of Digital Film. Winners included:
<h5 class="p1">Best of Arizona</h5>
Through the Season by Chris and Jessica Foncannon. This category honors the best submission of a single film or compilation either featuring Arizona, or from an Arizona filmmaker.
<h5 class="p1">Best Narrative</h5>
FDNY 9/11 Rescue 4 Appreciation Video by Tyler Healey.
<h5 class="p1">Best Landscape</h5>
A Different Perspective by Marcus M&ouml;ller.
<h5 class="p1">Best Showreel</h5>
Hope by Jun Pyo Hong.
<h5 class="p1">Best FPV</h5>
Old Town Scottsdale FPV One Take by Tyler Healey.
<h5 class="p1">Best First Responders</h5>
24/7 by Robert Smith. This award honors a single film or compilation of clips used in any first responders' project, such as training or inspection.
<h5 class="p1">Best Photography</h5>
Infinite by Maria Davis.
<h5 class="p1">Best New Pilot</h5>
Awakening by Enrique Alexander Gracia Herrera. This award celebrates a talented new up-and-coming drone pilot with no more than one year of flying and filming experience.
<h5 class="p1">Best Industrial</h5>
Drone Marketing Pros&mdash;ICI&mdash;Cooper&rsquo;s Hawk Restaurants and Winery by Todd and Jennette Hofmann. This award highlights a single film or compilation of clips used in construction, inspection or other industrial projects.
All winning films can be viewed on <a href="https://www.usdronefest.com/arizona/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AZDroneFest.com</a>
Keynote speaker Mignonne Hollis from Aerospace Arizona talked about the future of drones and the economic impact of the drone industry in Arizona. Breakout sessions included a focus on the ways drones are used in everyday life. Experts from GreenDrone AZ discussed how drones help protect our environment, and speakers from Pilot Institute and Aerial Armor highlighted FAA regulations and safety. Pros from Rekt Drones, Flying Robot, and Major League Drone Racing introduced the different types of FPV drones and how they can be used to race and film unique footage.
Representatives from Reel Bros, the Arizona Production Association, and professional pilot Jeremiah Davis, gave tips on how to work as a drone pilot on large film sets and discussed the film industry's future in Arizona. With new state incentives for the film industry, the state of Arizona is positioning itself to attract more large productions out of Hollywood, increasing the demand of qualified film professionals. AZDroneFest will continue to partner with professional associations and experts to provide information and networking opportunities for pilots to expand their skill sets. A panel of first responders gave a presentation on the ways drones are being used in emergency situations.
The event&rsquo;s organizers are already considering ways to further enhance the experience for attendees at next year&rsquo;s event, and are working in partnership with Aerospace Arizona to continue to bring high-quality content and bring together the many different aspects of the drone industry. In the future, AZDroneFest would like to partner with organizations to award a scholarship for a student interested in professional filming with drones, or potentially establishing a mentoring program.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/2VpamxPqQ4iNwrKqd44Nn4xUYWgxQAJU6wqyW5FN.png" alt="" width="658" height="436" />
The 2023 AZDroneFest will take place in October 2023 at Grand Canyon University. Call for entries will open in June of 2023, and is a great opportunity for content creators to showcase their work to an international audience.
AZDroneFest is presented by <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="http://www.AZDroneFest.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USDroneFest</a>, Inc. a not for profit 501(c)3 organization.

AZDroneFest Film festival & Expo

10 October 2022
Hosted by <a href="https://www.dji.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DJI</a> and held at the <a href="https://mirage.mgmresorts.com/en.html?ecid=GMB_MI_HO" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mirage Hotel &amp; Casino</a>, Las Vegas, October 10-12, the <a href="https://www.djiairworks.us/2022/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AirWorks 2022</a> conference highlights all of the biggest changes, advancements, and innovations currently going on in the droning industry.
To peek at the 2022 conference agenda, <a href="https://www.djiairworks.us/2022/agenda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CLICK HERE</a>.
This year, industrial tracks to be covered at the show include
&bull; AEC &amp; SURVEYING
&bull; ENERGY
&bull; AGRICULTURE
&bull; PUBLIC SAFETY
&bull; INFRASTRUCTURE
&bull; DRONE INNOVATION
<h5>WATCH THE DRONING COMPANY'S CHRIS FRAVEL INTERVIEW DJI ABOUT AIRWORKS 2022</h5>
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Scheduled speakers at DJI AirWorks 2022 include&nbsp;Adam Welsh (Head of Global Policy), Grant Hosticka (Head of Enterprise Solution Engineering, North America), Kyle Miller (Solutions Engineer), DJI; Andrew Schroeder (Co-Founder), WeRobotics; Sally French (Founder) and Cheryl La Manna (Manager), The Drone Girl; Jonathan Beal (President), Kyle Williams (Vice President), and Doug Seirup (Sergeant at Arms, Law Enforcement Drone Association; &nbsp;Jackie Dujmovic (Founder and CEO), Hover UAV; Gemma Alcock (CEO), SkyBound Rescuer; and many, many more!
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/rxu4KH5s41oZld5LkA1PrQP9oGnge66OkRNjzVLG.jpg" alt="" width="691" height="576" />
<div class="atom-fullname attendee-name">The current exhibitor field now boasts Agroscout LTD (Booth #329), Airdata UAV, Inc (#209), All Mobile Video, Inc. (#207), ANGELSWING, Inc. (#219), CENTUM research &amp; technology (#323), Dongguan Flyfire Technology Co., Ltd (#205), DroneDeploy, Inc. (#104), DroneSense Inc. (#204), FlytBase Inc (#325), Go Professional Cases Inc (#211), Guangzhou Chengzhi Intelligent Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. (#200), LinkedAll Products Inc (#308), Loveland Innovation (#314), Propeller Aero, Inc (#213), RIIS Inc (#318), SBG Systems (#321), SHENZHEN JLIDRONE TECH CO. (#310), Shenzhen SHARE UAV Technology Co., Ltd (#100), SkyeBrowse Inc. (#111), SPH Engineering, SIA (#307), Sulmora S.A (#309), SZ Soarability Technology (#110), Terrasolid Ltd (#313), Virtual Surveyor NV (#3060, and Wuhan Arover Technology Col. LTD. (#312).</div>
<div class="atom-fullname attendee-name">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="atom-fullname attendee-name">In addition to numerous networking, educational, and business opportunities, DJI AirWorks 2022 will also offer the very first public demonstration of the <a href="https://www.dji.com/dock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DJI Dock</a>.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/GUkLhyYDFkvOyOPCqXhOTevPvIPLYi9VC67CRX3t.png" alt="" width="695" height="264" />
</div>
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DJI AirWorks 2022: The Deep Dive into the Droning Industry

9 September 2022
By Chris &ldquo;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxOTa4LLKjx-qMsF0V9ong">The Drone Geek</a>&rdquo; Fravel
The third and final day of the Commercial UAV Expo at Caesar&rsquo;s Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada was a fantastic wind-down to an eventful and engaging event. We walked the exhibition hall once last time for 2022 and shared some enriching dialogue with a number of people from some of the most interesting unmanned aerial companies in the world.
The first conversation was with our new friends over at <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://dronedeliverycanada.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drone Delivery Canada </a>(see above photo). The drone they had on display was maybe two steps away from being a full-fledged helicopter (unofficial speculation). According to Drone Delivery Canada CEO, Steve Magirias, the drone was designed and developed by the company, who wanted to see an unmanned aerial platform capable of delivering large payloads to businesses and consumers alike. The drone is gas-powered and capable of carrying up to 400lbs (180kg) of goods and supplies. To say <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://dronedeliverycanada.com/videos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this was the most impressive drone</a> (in terms of sheer size and payload capabilities) at the show would not be a stretch in the least.
After chatting with Drone Delivery Canada for a while, we made our way over to the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://electronics.sony.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sony Electronics</a> exhibit where the multimedia tech giant was featuring their <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://electronics.sony.com/airpeak" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Airpeak drone system</a>. During our time investigating the Airpeak drone, we spoke with Gabriel Johnson, the senior product marketing manager for mobile communications and the Airpeak drones at Sony. He gave us a complete tour of the Sony Airpeak including a new product they&rsquo;ll be coming out with in the near future that allows Airpeak users to <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://electronics.sony.com/more/airpeak/accessories/p/lbphs1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charge multiple batteries</a> at once and store them when they are not in use along with a variety of other accessories. Gabriel also told us that while the Sony Airpeak is currently only compatible with the gimbal that holds the Sony Alpha series of cameras, they are looking to develop solutions that would allow the Airpeak to host payloads that are thermal and LiDar capable in the future. He also indicated that there will be an updated version of the Airpeak batteries that will see a 30% increase in flight time for the Airpeak. As one of the leading commercial/enterprise aerial imaging platforms, the Sony Airpeak
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/83efpHsBcgGlqAW50TTrrTxL3VDVdkbs6WVY8WIt.png" alt="" width="699" height="520" />
Sony Airpeak
Next we made our way over to the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://brincdrones.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brinc Drones</a> exhibit where we met Brett Kanda and his team to talk about the inspiration for their tactical drone, the LEMUR S. According to Kanda and his team, the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://brincdrones.com/lemur-drone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LEMUR S</a> by Brinc Drones was designed in response to the Mandalay Bay shooting that occurred in 2017. The LEMUR S is an impressive piece of tactical equipment with a 31-minute flight time and 10-hour perch time. That means the drone can be reliably flown for 31 minutes and can even be landed to be on standby or tactically landed to provide up to 10 hours of audio and video surveillance while perched. It also has a glass-breaking apparatus that allows for tactical breaching of windows and glass doors without the threat of escalating armed stand-offs via the use of tactical explosives or charges. It can even open partially ajar doors and be used as a battering ram. The design purpose of this drone is simple: keep people safe without sacrificing reliable intel.
A conversation we had that was not directly related to drone technology, but I felt just as important as anything hardware or software related there was our conversation with Rob Oldroyd from the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.moreton.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moreton &amp; Company insurance brokerage</a>. Our conversation revolved around the importance of having liability and hull insurance on unmanned aircraft and the benefits of having a financial safety net in the event of a catastrophic failure or accident involving your drone(s). Moreton &amp; Company provides insurance solutions for all forms of aviation and is actively working with multiple unmanned agencies and pilots to provide the best coverage possible.
One of our must-visit exhibition booths was at none other than the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.faa.gov/uas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal Aviation Administration&rsquo;s (FAA)</a>. During our conversation with Kevin Morris, the FAA&rsquo;s &ldquo;drone guy,&rdquo; he covered the newly implemented <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.faasafety.gov/login/Default.aspx?dest=gslac/ALC/course_content.aspx?enroll=true%26cID=677" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Part 107 recurrent knowledge online course</a> requirements, the recreational flyers&rsquo; mandatory <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers/knowledge_test_updates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TRUST certification</a>, and the upcoming deadlines for <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/remote_id" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remote identification</a>. One thing pilots at all levels should note is that the first deadline is coming up this month for drone manufacturers to begin producing drones that will be compliant with the remote ID requirements. It won&rsquo;t be until September of 2023 that remote pilots will be required to broadcast a remote identification while flying.
Perhaps one of the most eye-catching exhibits in terms of interesting tech came in the form of <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://shop.leica-geosystems.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leica Geosystems</a>. We spoke with Bryan Baker and Beshoy Daoud from Leica about their BLK portfolio of products and how they can be used in real-world applications. The Leica booth had the most incredible and futuristic-looking pieces of technology including a LiDar drone capable of reliable, fully-autonomous flight functions and a robotic quadraped that was not dissimilar to my dog back in Pennsylvania. Leica&rsquo;s mission is to provide a complete suite of geomeasurement solutions ranging from ground to aerial that work together in a cohesive ecosystem. Their BLK series of geosystem tools does exactly that.
Another drone with huge &ldquo;curbside appeal&rdquo; was from <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://quantum3d.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quantum3D</a>. The drone was exceptionally large in scale and had a matte finish that made it look like something a military might use for reconnaissance. After speaking with Quantum3D chief executive officer/chief financial officer, Murat Kose, and director of business development, Erol Aydin, we discovered that was precisely what it was designed to do. The technology behind the Quantum3D drone comes from a necessity to defend borders and identify threats to national security via illegal entry from outside interests. The technology can also be adapted and applied in search and rescue and emergency response efforts.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/dMa5WRmPjlEUT3OQXYZlCMZzumzSStxzbtNUpFiA.jpg" alt="" width="722" height="541" />
Quantum3D booth.
On day three we visited another educational facility embracing drone technology by developing a track within their curriculum specifically targeted at drone pilots in the form of <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://erau.edu/lp/uas-2?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_term=uas&amp;utm_campaign=google%20search%20cpc%20uas%202022&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwyOuYBhCGARIsAIdGQRObAR-ndWTtY6fiYiH4CYgzeapu8-aTzhxrW7OnyUPGprEhwssP6nMaAnaaEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University</a>. An interview with Ron Garriga, who is the director of business development and professional education at Embry-Riddle, revealed a lot about the institution&rsquo;s goals for helping those interested in commercial remote piloting achieve their goals. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers students comprehensive autonomous aircraft instruction that spans every avenue of the field. Whether their interest lies in developing software, managing business, manufacturing and engineering, piloting or managing UAS air traffic from the ground, Embry-Riddle provides their students the tools and instruction necessary to understand every facet of unmanned aircraft systems.
One stand that caught our eye with drone-related technology (not necessarily drone technology itself) was the company known as <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://fruitychutes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fruity Chutes</a>. A family owned and operated business, Fruity Chutes is a drone safety solution with a complete customization option for commercial drones that works by deploying a parachute when a drone experiences a catastrophic failure and is no longer able to sustain reliable flight. This aerospace recovery product was talked about in detail by company communications specialist, Janice Engelgau as well as her father and Fruity Chutes CEO, Gene Engelgau. The father-daughter duo shared that the parachutes are used for all types of rocketry, unmanned air vehicles (UAV) parachutes, multirotor and multicopter parachutes, drone parachutes, RC aircraft parachutes, and balloon research and are made from materials sourced in the United States and manufactured in the United States as well.
We wrapped up our time at the Expo by talking with Carl Berndtson about the work that went into the planning and executing the event. After talking with Carl, he introduced us to UAV Expo board member, Jeremiah Karpowicz who gave us his take on the show and plans for the future. The Commercial UAV Expo is a platform for networking and awareness within the commercial drone industry. It&rsquo;s an opportunity for professionals within the industry to make valuable connections and companies to spread awareness about their products and services in hopes to further advance the initiatives of the drone industry and the application of drone technology in the real world. As with anything, the board is working toward constantly growing the event to include more vendors, more guests, and more enrichment throughout the duration of the exhibition.
Along with our interview from days one and two, we will have these conversations and more for you <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiPevjKgtVfwXU2w9ODsrlQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on our YouTube channel</a> within the coming days so you can learn more about these companies and the drone technology platforms they offer. The 2022 Commercial UAV Expo was an absolute blast for everyone who attended from The Droning Company. We look forward to being there again, bigger and better than ever.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

FRAVEL’S FOOTNOTE: Commercial UAV Expo Day Three 

8 September 2022
By Chris &ldquo;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxOTa4LLKjx-qMsF0V9ong" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Drone Geek</a>&rdquo; Fravel
Day two of the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.expouav.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commercial UAV Expo</a> at Caesar&rsquo;s Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada was arguably more action-packed than day one for The Droning Company, as we worked to see as much as we could in the exhibition hall, and speak to as many people in the industry as possible. We made the absolute most of our time, talking to folks from all corners of the industry from drone manufacturers to insurance brokers.
The day started off strong as we visited our friends at <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.autelrobotics.com/">Autel Robotics</a> booth to talk a little bit about the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.autelrobotics.com/productdetail/dragonfish-series-drones.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dragonfish drone</a> and its potential applications with Autel&rsquo;s Global Vice President of Technology &amp; Training, Jon McBride. We discussed all manner of applications for this impressive piece of enterprise drone technology including search and rescue, long range data collection, intelligent flight systems, flight application interface, after-sale training and support, and more.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/jMJ9kl9Nmn4JT4wKtK9L5AKblTjoZkkMz5PZigaz.jpg" alt="" width="698" height="381" />
Autel
The <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.autelrobotics.com/productdetail/dragonfish-series-drones.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autel Dragonfish series&rsquo;</a> unique tilt-rotor design simplifies operation while maximizing performance and efficiency. The Dragonfish is mission-ready right out of the box and includes powerful AI tracking capabilities and a multitude of modular payload options. McBride and his team pride themselves on not only providing drone technology that is trusted and reliable, but also service after the sale that ensures Dragonfish owners understand how to safely and effectively operate their drone as well as how to process the data collected by it. On display at the Autel booth was also a variety of other enterprise and prosumer options from the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.autelrobotics.com/productdetail/evo-ii-enterprise-drones.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autel EVO II series</a>.
A little later on as we walked the exhibition hall floor, we ran into familiar faces from the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="http://www.warren.edu/drones/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Warren County Community College</a>. The college&rsquo;s president, Will Austin, took some time to tell us a bit about the WCCC&rsquo;s remote aviation program and how it is assisting those looking to get into commercial drone piloting. Warren County Community College is based in Washington, New Jersey, but serves aspiring remote pilots across the world via their online learning platform. Dr. Austin shared information about the college&rsquo;s program and how BVLOS waivers from the FAA have empowered the college to offer hands-on drone pilot training via remote digital interface. A student can fly a drone remotely from the comfort of their home or learning environment of choice and are still able to be monitored by certified instructors at the college who can intervene in the flight at any moment. Warren County Community College is a licensed and accredited college dedicated to the advancement of UxS education. Fully certified as an AUVSI TOP Level 3 Training Provider, an ASTM Certified Training Center, and a member of the FAA CTI program; Warren holds certificates of waiver for Flight Over People and Beyond Visual Line of Sight. Warren offers certificates and a degree in UxS Systems.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/2liBgnfP6yOB8U5ZDoS1EMlpa1GLJZLxrJ54bdq9.jpg" alt="" width="637" height="477" />
Warren County Community College&nbsp;
Just down the aisle from WCCC we found the fine folks at <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.dji.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DJI</a> displaying their <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.dji.com/matrice-30?site=brandsite&amp;from=nav" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matrice 30 and Matrice 30T</a> drones, as well as some of their consumer products such as the brand new <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.dji.com/avata?site=brandsite&amp;from=nav" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DJI Avata</a> cinewhoop drone. We spoke with Wayne Baker, DJI&rsquo;s director of public safety integration, about just how powerful the Matrice 30 models are and how they have helped first responders around the world safely execute surveillance and information gathering missions to better provide assistance during emergency situations. The Matrice 30 has three sensors built into its camera that include a wide-angle &frac12;&rdquo; CMOS sensor capable of 12MP images; a &frac12;&rdquo; CMOS zoom sensor with 5-16x optical zoom and up to 200x hybrid zoom; and a laser rangefinder. The Matrice 30T offers all of those solutions plus a thermal imaging sensor with resolution up to 640x512 at 30fps. According to Baker, these camera platforms on the DJI Matrice models make it the ideal tool for first responders in emergency situations.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/5zdfCAmBjmtAn2oFKlFEys0gkP7B5kLCyO3vCrB6.png" alt="" width="656" height="298" />
DJI Avata
We also spoke with DJI communications manager, Arianne Burrell, and learned a bit about the company&rsquo;s upcoming event, <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.djiairworks.us/2022/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DJI AirWorks</a>, which will take place at <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://mirage.mgmresorts.com/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Mirage</a> in Las Vegas, Nevada next month from October 10-12. While Burrell could not share all of the fine details on the event or what will be presented by the company, she did promise that it would be a very informative event with plenty of intrigue opportunities to captivate attendees.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/XnqQHhosClOwXOJuPb8N06p1Ku8Czuz7NpdLMjTv.jpg" alt="" width="681" height="367" />
DJI Booth
While we were on that side of the exhibition hall, we stopped over to the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://frontierprecision.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frontier Precision Unmanned</a> booth and spoke with UAS business development director, Wyatt Robbins about the company and its role within the drone industry. Frontier Precision Unmanned acts as a distributor for top-line drone and aerial imaging products including from companies such as Ascent Aerosystems, Autel, Delair, DJI, Freefly, Parrot, YellowScan, and more. Robbins shared that the company&rsquo;s goal is to always offer the very best products with the very best after-sale support and training. They make it their mission to ensure their customers not only purchase the correct product for their company, but that they also receive support and training that helps them to use the products to their full potential. Frontier Precision offered a demonstration of the Freefly Alta platform paired with YellowScan&rsquo;s Voyager LiDar system on day one which you can read about here.
After talking with <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.p3techconsulting.com/dawn-of-drones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dawn Zoldi</a> earlier in the day, we were excited to learn where the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://womenanddrones.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Women and Drones</a> booth was located and made time to stop by to see them. During our time we spoke to several representatives from Women and Drones including their CEO, Sharon Rossmark. We also had the opportunity to interview ambassador Desiree Ekstein about the organization. Both Rossmark and Ekstein talked about the importance of representation for both women and minority communities within the drone space and their goal of creating more balance in the representation. Women make up a significant portion of drone pilots from both a hobbyist and commercial perspective, but are often not granted the opportunities of their male counterparts, making it difficult to advance their careers within the remote piloting space. Women and Drones offer a variety of services and opportunities to female drone pilots including a coffee hour hosted by Ekstein that invites drone pilots of all genders and ethnicities to attend and one keynote speaker per hour to discuss their journey within the drone industry.
We wound down the day by visiting our friends at <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://draganfly.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Draganfly</a> who had two extremely impressive UAV platforms displayed at their booth in the form of their <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://draganfly.com/heavy-lift/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Heavy Lift</a> drone and the new <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://draganfly.com/commander-3-xl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commander 3 XL</a>. We spoke with COO of Draganfly, Paul Mullen about the company and, more specifically, the Commander 3 XL drone. Mullen discussed the company&rsquo;s initiative to integrate pilots of varying experience into their ecosystem by continuing to scale a variety of their drones to different sizes and capabilities while maintaining a consistent pilot interface. The thought behind this is to establish familiarity with pilots just getting into the enterprise drone space by offering smaller, more affordable solutions that utilize their piloting software in the hopes that it better prepares them for flight as they invest in larger and more capable drone platforms. Draganfly also offers after-sale training and support to further enhance the learning experience for its customers. An example of scalable technology from Draganfly is the Commander 3 XL. It is capable of carrying multiple types of payloads including a variety of cameras, thermal sensors, LiDar systems, and more. At the expo they had a Sony Alpha camera attached to a gimbal loaded onto the display model. The Commander 3 XL has some incredible specs including a 24-mile flight range, a top speed of 45mph, and a total flight time of 50-minutes (depending on payload), but what I was most impressed with was the weight. This very imposing drone weighs just south of 29lbs, which means it can carry up to a 26lbs payload and still stay under the 55lbs weight threshold for UAVs. That combined with the ability to handle extreme conditions such as heat, cold, and strong winds was absolutely mind-blowing to think about.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/LOxs4FLZcoRFAFvX1KAv4fY41P3IjFLRTBz34kOA.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="388" />
Draganfly
Along with our interview from day one, we will have these conversations and more for you <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiPevjKgtVfwXU2w9ODsrlQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on our YouTube channel</a> within the coming days so you can learn more about these companies and the drone technology platforms they offer. Check back with us tomorrow for our day three recap as we close out the 2022 Commercial UAV Expo and say goodbye for now until 2023&rsquo;s expo!
&nbsp;

Fravel's Footnote: Commercial UAV Expo Day Two

Above photo courtesy UAVExpo Facebook page.
8 September 2022
The 2022 <a href="https://www.expouav.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commercial UAV Expo</a> at Ceasars Forum, Las Vegas, is a smash hit!&nbsp;
The eighth annual drone convention has logged more than 230 exhibitors&mdash;exhibit space was sold out, in fact&mdash;as well as 4,000 drone-obsessed attendees representing 24 countries.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/vQ7TwVN0S3sWAsRdv9HP5lwwcEgUBYDDZKSrPDbw.jpg" alt="" width="686" height="633" />
But today is the last day to check out all of the cool tech at the show.
Don't risk missing a thing! Click the link below for a comprehensive exhibitor list, and make sure you see all the goodies you want to!
<h4 style="text-align: center;"><a style="background-color: #ba372a; color: #ffffff;" href="https://s23.a2zinc.net/clients/diversified/expouav2022/Public/Exhibitors.aspx?ID=3277&amp;sortMenu=104000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For Full Exhibitor List &bull; Click Here</a></h4>

Last Chance to See New Tech at Commercial UAV Expo!

7 September 2022
By Chris &ldquo;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQxOTa4LLKjx-qMsF0V9ong">The Drone Geek</a>&rdquo; Fravel
This week the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.expouav.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commercial UAV Expo</a> is taking place at Caesar&rsquo;s Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event kicked-off on September 6, with a stacked line-up of demonstrations, professional networking, commercial vendor booths, and tons of information about new drone technology in development for the near-future.
The day started out in the Nevada desert as a handful of companies demonstrated some of their latest drone solutions. Despite experiencing Nevada&rsquo;s hottest day on record, scores of people hopped a shuttle bus to the demonstration field to see what these companies had to offer first-hand. The companies demonstrating their technology included:
<a href="https://ascentaerosystems.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ascent Aerosystems</a>
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.autelrobotics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autel Robotics</a>
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://commaris.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commaris</a>
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://frontierprecision.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frontier Precision</a>/<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.yellowscan-lidar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YellowScan</a>
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.skydio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Skydio</a>
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://skyfront.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Skyfront</a>
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://volatusaerospace.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Volatus Aerospace</a>
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://wingtra.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wingtra</a>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/RebVbeNwOvUrxW5zMUFJrM87krBR4hzY1HYBWnuO.jpg" alt="" width="672" height="504" />
​​While all of the demonstrations were impressive, there were two in-particular that really stood out to me.
First, was <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://commaris.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Seeker drone from Commaris.</a> The Seeker demonstrated its capability for long range and loitering persistence, making it an exceptional aircraft for a multitude of operations including law enforcement, search and rescue, right of way inspection, forestry, firefighting, and survey. The Seeker also stood apart from the rest with its near-silent noise profile of around 40 dBs even when operating at 400ft. Commaris also presented an advanced EO/IR camera system that works in conjunction with a real time analytics suite so you can have live actionable data with automatic reports generated at the end of your operation.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/VaMJjoi11APohuw4NWq5EDpkbPwPxfXePuDL4ty8.png" alt="" width="705" height="472" />
Above: The Seeker.
Frontier Precision and YellowScan demonstrated their newest High-end LiDAR solution from YellowScan. <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.yellowscan-lidar.com/products/voyager/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The YellowScan Voyager LiDAR</a> was extremely capable of high-demand data collection missions with a 193-point point density and up to 15 echoes throughout each scan. With its laser scanner&rsquo;s wide field of view, the entirety of the points are oriented towards the ground, meaning no loss of points. This also means 1.5 million points per second will be usable, which would not be the case with a 360&deg; scanner. The best part? The YellowScan Voyager is compatible with just about any enterprise drone platform.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/sZ4dgZHLNvmdzgns83js4AtGCALvRW0GMJS69SIr.jpg" alt="" width="679" height="776" />
Above: The Voyager.
After taking-in tons of information throughout the span of the demonstration portion of the day and wrestling with the incredible desert heat, it was time to head back to Las Vegas to get some well-earned rest and relaxation before heading back over to Caesar&rsquo;s Forum at 5:30 pm for the official kick-off to the exposition portion of the show week. Upon our arrival we ran into Droning Company friends Carl Berndtson, the Managing Director of the Commercial UAV Expo, and Skip Fredericks of <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="http://hollywood-drones.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hollywood Drones</a>. We also made new friends including Ashlee Cooper, the Founder and CEO of <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.droneversity.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Droneversity</a>, and Eric English of <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.flyability.com/elios-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flyability, Inc</a>.
The first day of the Commercial UAV Expo saw exceptional turnout on the event room floor. Thousands of people roamed the exhibition hall soaking up all of the drone knowledge and innovation they could. During our first walkabout of the expo floor, we had the opportunity to speak with leadership and executives from companies such as Barrett Mooney of <a href="https://ageagle.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AgEagle</a>, Fred Bedard of Commaris, Dan Justa of <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://freeflysystems.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freefly</a>, and Fritz Reber of Skydio about their respective company&rsquo;s latest innovations and technology as well as how it is applied in the real world. We will have these conversations and more for you <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiPevjKgtVfwXU2w9ODsrlQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on The Droning Company YouTube channel</a> within the coming days so you can learn more about these companies and the drone technology platforms they offer.
At 7:00 pm, the lights were turned down and our first day came to a close as we filed out of Caesar&rsquo;s Forum and into our Uber to finish the day with dinner at Battista&rsquo;s Hole in the Wall.
With day one in the books we have just two days remaining here at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. We cannot wait to see what they have in-store and to share it with you the best way we know how!
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/ETlx1vHyh5uSvcS27xXIJLnIOSepcrq4LSxzq6Qh.jpg" alt="" width="723" height="721" />
Above: The Droning Company founder/CEO Stuart Smith speaking to Barrett Mooney, CEO of AgEagle.

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