How far are we from having drones that will do our heavy work for us?

If you’d ask today’s guest on the Drone Radio Show, he’d say it’s already here.  Bob Dalhstrom is CEO and Founder of Appelix, an company that serves industrial workplaces that are doing dangerous dirty jobs.  His company has developed a prototype of an semi-autonomous drone for industrial painting applications.  In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Bob talk about Appelix, his Worker Bee Industrial Drone and the opportunities afforded through robotics.

Do you know what’s about to become the newest and most exciting entertainment sport on the planet? 

If you're thinking Drone Racing, then you’d be partially correct, because what the team at the Drone Racing League is doing can only be described as drone racing on steroids.

This week's guests on the Drone Radio Show are Nick Horbaczewski, Chief Executive Officer and Founder at Drone Racing League, Inc and  Ryan Gury, Director of Product at The Drone Racing League.  They part of a creative and innovative team that is forming a new sport around drone racing.  The Drone Racing League is a sports and media company that combines world-class pilots, iconic locations and proprietary technology to create engaging drone racing content with mass appeal  In 2016, the league will host a global race series culminating in a World Championship.  In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Nick and Ryan here talk about the Drone Racing League, why it’s so different from other drone racing events and how they’re about to create a whole new entertainment sport

Looking for accurate, actionable data on the drone industry to base your business decisions?

Then you’re going to want to listen to today’s guest.

Colin Snow is CEO and Founder of Drone Analyst Research and Advisors, a consulting firm for the commercial unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry. Colin is a 25 year technology industry veteran with a background in market research, enterprise software, electronics, digital imaging, and mobility. His experience includes aerial photography as well as making, programming, and piloting remote control aircraft. Colin holds an MBA from Florida Atlantic University and is a member of all major UAS industry groups 

On this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Colin talks about the trends in the drone industry, the services available through Drone Analyst and what we might see in the future as commercialization of the drone industry continues.

Looking for a simpler, easier way to pilot your drone and save time and money?

Then today’s guest on the Drone Radio Show has exactly what you need. Ian Smith is with Drone Deploy out of San Francisco and handles their sales and marketing management for the company. Ian has more than 9 years’ experience in the drone industry, some of that with a company in France. His personal, business and international experience gives him a unique perspective on the drone industry. On this edition of the Drone Radio Show, he talks about Drone Deploy, the company’s products designed to improve your bottom line (ROI) and offer his perspective on the drone industry.

What do commercial drone users want and how will this propel the next wave of industry growth?

We explore these questions and what means to you on this episode of the Drone Radio Show. My guest on this edition of the Drone Radio Show is Gretchen West, Senior Advisor at Hogan Lovells and a member of the firm’s Global Unmanned Aircraft Systems Group. She has served the unmanned systems industry over a decade. Prior to joining Hogan Lovells, Gretchen was at San Francisco start-up DroneDeploy serving as the company’s Vice President of Business Development and Regulatory Affairs. And previously, for over a decade, Gretchen served as AUVSI’s Executive Vice President, overseeing the organization’s global business development initiatives and government relations efforts for the unmanned systems and robotics industry.

There’s no better qualified person to speak on the commercial opportunities in the drone industry. In this episode, Gretchen talks about the issues facing the drone industry today, where things are headed and how Hogan Lovells and the drone industry is coming together to better serve drone users and their ROI.

As the popularity of drones increases, so do the legal questions surrounding their use. From privacy, liability and FAA regulations, commercial drone operators need to understand the legal lay of the land.

On this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Phil Stiles, an attorney specializing in drone law and the co-founder, President and General Counsel of an FAA approved drone company named SkyViewHD, talks about the legal issues that commercial drone operators should consider as they develop their drone based business. A must-hear podcast for anyone thinking about a commercial drone enterprise.

Ever wonder about using a drone to conduct an inspection?  In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, we'll explore this topic with Bob Johnson, Senior Vice President of Solusia Air, a national company specializing in UAS quality audits and inspections.  Bob has over 30 years of experience with corporate and start-up technology companies in business development. He has been associated with disruptive and over-the-top technologies within the telecom, wireless, railroad, utilities and predictive analytics sectors.   In this episode, Bob talks about inspections and data gathering in the infrastructure sector using drones, as well as the opportunities for people seeking careers in this challenging field.

Do you need drone insurance?

We explore this question on this episode of the Drone Radio Show with Grant Goldsmith president of Overwatch a division of Avalon Risk Management Company.  Overwatch specializes in high risk insurance for the U.S. government, United Nations, NATO and international commercial contractors working globally.  The company also provides insurance for the commercial drone industry.  Grant has more than 20 years of insurance and transportation experience.  He talks about the benefits of drone insurance and why commercial operators might want to think about adding coverage to protect their business.

With an expected 750,000 (or more) drones being purchased for this Christmas season, there is sure to be a large number of people wondering where they can fly their drone and what they need to know if they’re starting a drone based business. 

Tom McMahon is the Vice President of Advocacy and Public Affairs for the Association of Unmanned Vehicles Systems International. AUVSI is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems and robotics community.  In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Tom talks about what commercial drone operators need to know before they fly a commercial drone.  If you recently purchased or received a drone and you’re thinking about starting a drone based business, then what Tom has to say is critical to ensure your business operates safely and within the guidelines of the FAA.

Can drones provide the framework for an effective STEM Education Program?

We explore this question on this edition of the Drone Radio Show with Anne Lopez, a teacher at Eastside Middle School in Mt. Washington, Kentucky.  Anne teaches STEM education, and in 2015, she introduced a class to middle schoolers on the history, use and operation of drones.  The curriculum quickly gained praise from the drone industry and from education professionals for its innovative approach and hands-on learning. Anne's talks about the curriculum, the lessons learned and the place that drones play in STEM education. If you’re a STEM educator, then you’re especially going to enjoy this interview.