Uncrewed Views

Drones have proven to be an effective tool for bringing contraband into corrections facilities. Across the country and around the world, drones are being deployed to deliver drugs, cell phones, and even weapons into prisons. In many cases, corrections officers struggle to stop the drones from breaching their security barriers, and they face tough challenges in finding the contraband once it enters their facilities.

David Young, owner of Public Safety UAS, is addressing these problems by offering targeted training on counter drone systems and strategies to corrections officers and other law enforcement professionals.

In our latest Commercial UAV News podcast, Young describes the threats that drones present in prison settings and explains the ways his firm is offering crucial training to those on the front lines. Young also discusses the pressing need for effective counter drone policies to address the risks posed by rogue UAVs in large public settings such as stadiums and arenas.

In recent years, the use of drones for agricultural spraying has grown steadily. Increasingly, farmers are turning to uncrewed vehicles because they offer dramatic improvements in cost, efficiency, and safety over traditional methods like using backpacks and ground sprayers. Although experts believe that drones will never completely replace conventional techniques for spraying on farms, drones offer immense potential for improving agricultural operations—and they're just getting started.

For our latest podcast, Commercial UAV News spoke with Bryan Sanders, President of Homeland Surveillance and Electronics (HSE). A full-service provider of industrial unmanned aircraft, HSE has extensive experience helping agricultural operations adopt new technologies. Drawing on this background, Sanders discusses the current state of the spray drone sector, barriers to adoption, and how the technology can advance farming operations in the future.

The recent Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas was one of the official filming locations for a multi-part documentary made possible through a partnership with Women and Drones and the documentary film company Monumental Access. The film will capture the stories of women in the drone industry in hopes of inspiring the next generation of talented aviation leaders.

In this podcast, Scott Howe, Editorial Analyst for Commercial UAV News, interviews Sharon Rossmark, CEO of Women and Drones, and Monte Chambers, principal founder of Monumental Access. The discussion explores the current state of women in the drone industry and examines how this project may lead to more women joining this dynamic, fast-growing sector.

At the recent Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas, leaders in the use of drone technology in forestry and precision agriculture came together to the evaluate the current state of their industry and discuss what needs to happen move the sector forward. One of the participants was Adam Gittins, General Manager at HTS Ag.

For years, Gittins has been on the forefront of adapting uncrewed technologies to farming operations. At HTS Ag, an Iowa-based company that offers high tech solutions for agriculture, Gittins has found innovative ways to improve efficiency and profitability for farms and related businesses. In our latest podcast, Gittins draws on his experience and expertise to discusses spray drones, aerial seeding, the current regulatory environment, remote ID, and the overall ROI of using drones on farms.

Some 2,500 commercial drone professionals will come together in Las Vegas for the 2022 Commercial UAV Expo. For one week, engineers, designers, marketers, regulators, pilots, programmers, and others will learn about new technologies, interact with industry leaders, and share their insights and hopes for our industry. This kind of interaction is essential to building a strong UAV community and moving our industry forward.

In an interview, Ken Stewart, President and CEO of NUAIR, discusses the importance of collaboration and cooperation in the drone industry. Drawing on his experience heading an organization that works closely with government regulators and commercial entities, he explains how sharing ideas, offering support, and increasing understanding helps improve technology and craft meaningful public policy.

Recent reports state that the drone industry in Latin America and South America grew at a pace of 6.2% in 2021. According to uncrewed aviation expert Juan Plaza, that growth rate could rise as high as 10% in the coming years. In this podcast, Plaza explains how innovative business leaders, government agencies, and receptive consumers are driving the expansion of uncrewed operations in the region. Less crowded skies, a favorable regulatory environment, and success stories from drone companies operating in agriculture, package delivery, inspections, and more are also contributing to the growth. Plaza, who will be a featured speaker at the upcoming Commercial UAV Expo, offers his insights and predictions in this lively discussion.

Improving drone safety will not only increase public acceptance of uncrewed technology, it will increase ROI for commercial drone operations and move the industry forward. In this podcast, Josh Olds, CEO & President, Unmanned Safety Institute, discusses the risks associated with commercial UAV programs and the importance of safety training and certification for drone operators. Based on his experience as the head of the world's leading UAS training and certification organization, Olds explains how standardization, regulations, and a commitment to secure operations will make UAVs safer—and more profitable—for all stakeholders.

Robotic devices, including uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), can play a crucial role in disaster response operations. In this podcast, Dr. Murphy, a professor Computer Science & Engineering at Texas A&M University and a pioneer in the field of disaster robotics, discusses the history on uncrewed aerial systems in disaster response, the barriers to adoption, government regulations, the importance of wireless communications in robotic disaster operations, and her hopes for the future. In addition, she talks about the importance of training for disaster response professionals using UAVs, and she explains the training she offers through the organization Women in Drones.

The Avy Drone Response Network is new solution that can instantly deploy autonomous drones to carry out urgent and lifesaving missions. The network combines docking stations with Avy's new Aera autonomous drones to support medical deliveries or emergency services during critical incidents. The new-generation drone has improved payload capacity and range, capable of carrying up to 6.6 pounds (3 kg) of medical goods over a distance of 62 miles (100 km). Moreover, the VTOL aircraft can operate around the year in rain and winds up to 28 mph (45 kph). In an interview with Commercial UAV News, Avy's CEO, Patrique Pi Zaman, discusses the components and capabilities of Drone Response Network, as well as the challenges of creating an autonomous drone network.

The recently announced FLYY program is a comprehensive online learning and resource portal for drone pilots. While the education that defines the program is geared toward anyone who's interested in getting their Basic or Advanced RPAS Certificate to legally operate a drone in Canada, the comprehensive learning platform with multiple course offerings provides insights that are relevant to anyone building or operating an enterprise drone programs. To better understand why this sort of drone training should be the foundation upon which enterprise programs should be built, we talked with Kate Klassen, who is the architect of the FLYY program and also an instructor. She detailed her background in aviation, what makes FLYY the most comprehensive suite of courses she's ever put together and how she makes training engaging to both stakeholders and operators. Stay tuned to the end of the podcast for a 10% discount code on FLYY courses.