Image Credit: AirMap One of the first things you learn as a drone pilot is that you can’t fly everywhere, and there’s no stricter no-fly zone than airports. To the majority of us, airports and their surrounding area are forbidden territory, but there are a lucky few who have access to this restricted airspace. That’s probably thanks to the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), one of multiple collaborations initiated by the FAA. But what is it exactly and how does it benefit commercial pilots? Today, we’re going to dive into the FAA website and break down how LAANC helps to bridge the gap between drones and restricted airspace. Video Credit: Kittyhawk The FAA website states that LAANC is the first partnership under the FAA UAS Data Exchange, which they describe to be “an innovative, collaborative approach between government and private industry facilitating the sharing of airspace data between the two parties.” So, LAANC’s primary purpose is to assist in integrating UAS into the National Airspace System specifically by processing requests from commercial pilots. In other words, it bridges the gap between commercial pilots and airports by allowing drone companies to share and receive authorization information. Video Credit: AirMap The FAA has streamlined the application process for obtaining authorization into NAS by partnering up with businesses that already offer drone management and incorporating LAANC into their services. After completing the necessary technical steps, well-known drone businesses like AirMap, DJI, Kittyhawk, Project Wing, and Skyward have entered into an agreement with the FAA and have become approved LAANC UAS Service Suppliers. Thus, a commercial pilot who relies on Kittyhawk to manage their drone fleet can also use their software to access LAANC to apply for permission to do a number of things, flying under 400 feet in controlled airspace around airports being one of them. From there, It’s almost like they’re running a UAS background check using information from the FAA UAS Data Exchange to determine whether to give an applicant authorization or not. Image Credit: Kittyhawk If you're a commercial drone pilot or a business that utilizes drones, you may want to look into a drone management service that's also a LAANC UAS Service Supplier like the ones mentioned above. These services have sped up the authorization process, and in some cases authorization has been given almsot immedialtey. The LAANC page on the FAA website features a table of approved suppliers and also clarifies whether Part 107 Near – Real Time Authorization and Part 107 Further Coordination are publicly available services with these companies. Read more about the LAANC and read the table of approved suppliers here. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron #laanc #NationalAirspaceSystem #LowAltitudeAuthorizationandNotificationCapabi #FAA #UASDataExchange #NAS #AirMap #DJI #Kittyhawk #ProjectWing #Skyward

Photo courtesy of Flyability If you couldn't make it to AUVSI XPONENTIAL this year, then you missed out on witnessing current projects in drone technology and business firsthand. In particular, the latest innovation in drones used for inspections was revealed during the conference: Flyability’s Elios 2. Elios 2 is the latest version of the inspection drone built by startup company Flyability, and their second drone overall. Its creative design reconsiders how drones avoid obstructions and changes the way drones navigate through indoor spaces. Flyability is a Swiss company that builds drones specifically to be operated safely "indoors, in complex and confined spaces, and in contact with people." Dr. Adrien Briod and Patrick Thévoz founded Flyability in 2014, and it's based In Lausanne, Switzerland. They describe their company as a "spin-off from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne and the laboratory of intelligent systems." In another post, we’ve mentioned how the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (a.k.a.Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne) housed the research team that researched and developed the foldable drone, so it seems like innovative solutions to drone-related problems are their thing. Image Credit: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne Flyability made a name for themselves when they released Elios 1 in 2016. When they released the original Elios, they described it as the first “collision-tolerant” drone. Rather than focus their efforts on creating and testing sensors that can scan their surrounding area to avoid bumping or crashing into things, they instead designed a protective frame around their drone. The protective frame is made from carbon fiber and can tolerate collisions up to 15 km/h. It also has a modular design to make it easy to maintain. Elios’s unique design was inspired by insects, which are able to maintain their stabilization after a mid-flight collision. We’ve all seen flies ram into light bulbs and bounce back just fine; it’s kinda the same idea. Flyability advertises Elios as being able to Improve safety, reduce downtime, and save money. These key factors were improved upon with the Elios 2. Elios 2 was built in partnership with IQ Motion Control, a robotics company that specializes in developing advanced motion control systems. In their blog post, Flyability states that they formed this partnership to “bring an active collision tolerant propulsion system to life.” You can read more about it here. Photos courtesy of Flyability Elios 2 is also advertised as the most intuitive, reliable, and precise indoor inspection drone and is designed to navigate through confined spaces. On their blog, you can see several case studies where Elios 2 created photogrammetric models of mines, inspected amusement parks, investigated the aftermath of a fire, and more. If you're interested in flying the Elios 2 for your upcoming inspections, feel free to contact Flyability directly to learn more about the new Elios 2 platform. They are currently accepting orders and training is included along with easy maintenance and a support team. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron #collisiontolerant #AUVSIXPONENTIAL #droneinnovation #EcolePolytechniqueFederaledeLausanne #Flyability #SwissFederalInstituteofTechnologyLausanne #Elios #Elios2 #droneinspection #inspections #aerialphotogrammetry #IQMotionControl #collision #crash

Company: McCutcheon Media Location: San Francisco, California (but nomadically-inclined) Tell us about yourself. I'm 29, and a dedicated Ashtanga yoga practitioner. I also like to write songs on my six-stringed ukulele. What inspired you to begin flying drones, and what made you want to enter the industry as a drone pilot? I'm an active outdoors person, and drones seemed like a fantastic way to communicate the elevated feeling that comes with a dramatic landscape. What were you doing before you started flying drones, and what made you make the transition? I worked for several years as an Associate Producer for a small documentary production company. (Keep an eye out for their upcoming film, Free for All: Inside the Public Library!) They hired a drone operator for a shoot in Wisconsin, and I was so blown away by the footage and how the aerial perspective could elevate the overall quality of the film. Right around that time, I signed up for the Drone Pilot Ground School newsletter and purchased a drone simulator to practice on my laptop. What drone(s) are you currently flying, and what drone accessories do you love? I fly an Inspire 2 with the Zenmuse X7 camera (bought used through the Drone Pilot Ground School forum), a Mavic 2 Pro, and a Mavic Air. What is your favorite feature on your drone and why? I mostly like to fly manually, but I've recently discovered 360 photos. Been having a lot of fun putting some of those on Google Maps! What drone images are you most proud of and why? These days, I'm loving smooth, slow, meditative 15-30 second shots where where you don't necessarily assume it's filmed by a drone - you're just struck by how stunning the imagery is. (à la this guy's work at oneeyedbird.net). I also love when I can get some satisfying symmetry going on. Have you learned any valuable lessons from being in the drone industry that you can share with our female drone community? The fanciest drone isn't always the best one for the job. I recently did a shoot for a client and used both a Mavic Air and an Inspire 2. They ended up using footage from both and didn't comment once on the quality difference! Since then, I've decided to use the Mavic series (Mavic 2) over the Inspire for filming that focuses on people, unless the client specifically needs ProRes or RAW and will pay a higher fee for it. Whether it's from a creative, commercial or humanitarian perspective, tell us about your most memorable drone flight you have piloted thus far. A former White House calligrapher hired me for his lifelong dream project of writing a poem on a beach. We met at Bodega Bay in California and spent a half day filming large-scale calligraphy from an aerial perspective - all in 20 mph wind (with some higher gusts that did push the drone's limits of stability)! Then, I camped along the beach in my converted van, which is my favorite thing to do when flying drones around California. :) It's been a fun challenge to edit the piece together to make the poem flow smoothly + feel comprehensible. He'll be debuting the short film at the International Calligraphy Conference in Toronto this summer! I'll post a link in the WWD facebook group when it's up. What would you say to women and girls about the drone industry to spark their interest in getting involved? There's so much demand for it right now! I've been really pleasantly surprised how quickly things have been falling into place for me, work-wise. It definitely helps that I'm somewhat connected in the documentary world already - most of my clients have come through word of mouth. So I recommend cultivating good relationships with people who are interested in the same things as you. You really never know where those will lead! What excites you most about more women joining the drone industry? More friends! Do you have any drone tips & tricks you can share with our audience? If you have access to wide open spaces, that's the best place to fly! (Perhaps that's obvious) More specifically - in the U.S., you can't fly in National Parks, but there are other types of federal public land where you CAN fly legally. For example, land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are great options. This is likely easier to find in Central/Western U.S. where there's lots of open space. Figuring out specifics of federal public land can get confusing, so I like to refer people to this article to parse out the types of public land and their related drone regulations: Making Heads or Tails of Flying a Drone Over U.S. Public Lands. What's the best way for our readers to get in touch with you? You can email me at hello@elliemccutcheon.com, or find me on Instagram at @ellie-mccutcheon. Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you? I also want to get into mapping with drones, but haven't scratched the surface of that. So if anyone has any tips/tricks on how to get started with that, I'm all ears! Also curious for any tips on 360 video - don't yet know how to do that either. Ellie is a Part 107 FAA-certified remote pilot specializing in aerial storytelling techniques for filmmakers and journalists. She loves filming dramatic cinematic landscapes, and is interested in pushing the creative limits of what you can communicate with a drone. After spending several years in the San Francisco Bay Area’s documentary film scene, Ellie borrowed a friend’s drone and took to the vast public lands of the Western U.S. (specifically, land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service) to practice flying. More than a hundred flight hours later, she travels around California doing client work and making short aerial films with her DJI Inspire 2 and Mavic 2 Pro. Some recent clients have included NPR, UC Berkeley, Blue Shield of California, and a former White House Calligrapher. #pilotspotlight #womenwhodrone #WOMENANDDRONES #EllieMcCutcheon #California #producer #femaledronepilot #DronePilotGroundSchool #Inspire2 #ZenmuseX7camera #DJIMavic2Pro #MavicAir #360photos #BureauofLandManagement #USForestService

Image Credit: DJI Technology Co. People often say that the best way to learn is by doing. It seems like DJI takes this old adage seriously as they continue to put out products that emphasize educating in an interactive way. That's definitely what we're getting with RoboMaster S1, their newly released robot. Named after their international robotics competition, DJI RoboMaster, this robot is being advertised as both educational and fun. RoboMaster S1’s advertised features are reminiscent of the Tello drone, which was also advertised as an interactive learning tool. Along with typical robotic features, the S1 has different gameplay and educational features that can go hand-in-hand to create a fun experience for users to learn robotics, programming, and AI. Image Credit: DJI Technology Co. This robot was crafted by DJI’s top engineers to give learners hands-on experience assembling and programming a robot that is also capable of teaching physics and mathematics. From a robotics standpoint, your hands-on experience comes from building the S1 yourself. Yes, yourself! RoboMaster S1 has a modular design, meaning users can put their robot together like a 3D puzzle. As for programming, RoboMaster S1 supports Scratch 3.0 and Python coding, making it accessible to beginner and experienced programmers. Additionally, RoboMaster S1 has a companion app that features numerous educational resources like "Road to Mastery", a series of projects designed to "enhance programming, robotics, and AI to strengthen problem-solving and critical thinking skills”, and RoboAcademy, video courses and programming guides to enhance their knowledge of mathematics, physics, and basic programming. “These lessons let users of any level understand complex principles in an engaging way.” Image Credit: DJI Technology Co. Now, for the fun part! RoboMaster was also built to be entertaining, and it accomplishes this by having gameplay features that include FPV driving, omnidirectional movement, target shooting, and more. As part of its accessories, S1 comes with vision markers that you can use to build your own competition arena. RoboMaster is equipped with various sensors capable of recognizing claps, gestures, hits, and more, and its automatic driving feature allows the S1 to recognize simulated roads and traffic lights. S1’s various AI applications give it Line, Vision maker, Individual, Clap, Gesture, and S1 recognition. This means that it can recognize people, gestures, itself, and more. Also, the RoboMaster app features multiple competition modes where these features work together to provide competitive gameplay with Math and Physics knowledge in addition to the aforementioned hands-on experience with robotics, programming, and AI. Image Credit: DJI Technology Co. Currently, RoboMaster S1 is available for $499 with free shipping. if you have an approved academic email address, you may qualify for the DJI educational discount program where you can get 10% off of your purchase for being a student, educator, or academic research staff. at the moment, each customer is limited to two units so attempts at more purchases will be canceled. There’s a lot more to RoboMaster S1 than what was mentioned here. If you’d like to see for yourself, check out its product page on the DJI store site or read the article “RoboMaster S1: Unboxing & Highlights” posted by DJI. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron #DJI #RoboMasterS1 #robotics #programming #coding #Tello #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #education #Scratch #Python #fpvracing

No matter what platform we use, we're surrounded by amazing drone photography. On a daily basis, you may be scrolling through a mile's worth of overhead shots of foreign terrains you dream about visiting. We all love seeing a pilot's latest shots on Instagram and Facebook, but what if they were also on your clothes? Drone technology and fashion are constantly evolving industries. Now, thanks to Australian fashion designer Yumi Morrissey, these industries are converging. To give you a little backstory, Yumi Morrissey is the creative mind behind Zilpah Tart, the Australia-based fashion brand named after her grandmother. Yumi started Zilpah Tart to create designs that are both unique and comfortable, and she created all the fabric prints she uses in her collections. After becoming interested in drones, she has further set her brand apart by incorporating her drone photography into her print designs. I was fortunate enough to interview her about her work. It all started almost a year ago when Yumi purchased her first drone, a DJI Mavic Pro. Like many beginner pilots, she lost control of it on a windy day at the beach and eventually, its battery died over the ocean.Traumatized by this event, she quickly replaced it and aimed to be more careful. “Don’t ignore the wind warnings!!!” was her main takeaway and solid advice. Yumi’s favorite place to fly is the coast, and her favorite images are top-down photos of the water. In her interview, she states, “I just love the view of the ocean and how [a drone’s] perspective from the sky is so, so different to what you can see from the shore. It's just so beautiful.” Living in Canberra (inland Australia), it’s only a two-hour drive for her to get to the south coast. On the weekends, she loves to escape to the beach to find new spots to fly, which explains why so many of her designs feature crystal clear waves and the blues, greens, and whites of the ocean. Broulee, a town on the south coast where the water is unbelievably blue, is one of her favorite flying locations. She’s also in love with images she’s captured higher up on the central coast where, she states, “It’s amazing that the colour of the water is so different just a few hours north, with a green tinge.” Yumi's constantly thinking of ideas for her next fabric print and says she automatically looks at every image with a print in mind, taking into consideration patterns and how the colors and shapes would look on the body. As a result, she began to see the potential in her drone shots as possible designs. “I also love telling stories through my use of photographs to create prints, and using these images tells a story of one of the things that makes me happy – flying my drone at the beach.” Learning through trial and error, she has gained enough experience as a fashion designer to recognize what kinds of shapes work in prints once they’re on the body and has found that organic shapes work the best. Regarding choosing which images ultimately become designs, Yumi stated that she tries to pick an image that is already a pattern and has high contrast to make it interesting. To ensure that a design works, she also uses Photoshop to visualize what it might look like as a dress. Moving forward, Yumi thinks she’ll continue to use drones in her business by experimenting with photos of a forest or autumn trees for a new collection, flying for photo shoots with the models, or creating promotional videos of the dresses from the drone’s perspective. When asked for words of encouragement for female pilots and businesswomen, she stated, “Follow your passion and work towards it every day. Put yourself out there. If you love what you’re doing, people can see it in your work, and they’ll want to follow you. Do more of what makes you happy. If that means heading to the beach with your drone, then make time, all the time to do that!” Thank you, Yumi, for your encouraging words and for taking the time to share your story. Yumi has now released two collections using her drone images for her Zilpah Tart brand and has recently released Zilpah Tart Active, an active wear brand that features drone images as well. Check out the Zilpah Tart and Zilpah Tart Active main websites and follow @zilpahtart and @zilpah_tart_active on Instagram. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron #womenwhodrone #dronebusiness #bussinesswomen #dronephotography #fashionbrand #dronefashion #australia #femaledronepilot #YumiMorrissey #ZilpahTart #DJIMavicPro

Company: Social Swell Digital Marketing Location: Long Beach, CA Tell us about yourself. Hey, guys! I'm Maddy, and I'm a freelance digital marketer and drone pilot! With my background in photography, I was so intrigued with all the creative perspectives drones were able to capture and knew I had to get my hands on one. I am now a licensed drone pilot in addition to running my own marketing agency as well! What inspired you to begin flying drones, and what made you want to enter the industry as a drone pilot? A few years ago, I started seeing drone photos pop up on my Instagram feed and was so intrigued with the cool angles and perspectives they were able to capture! I have a background in photography as well and am always looking for ways to stand out from the crowd. I tried out my friend's Phantom and was hooked! I saved up my money and bought my own drone a few months later and began capturing everything around my city. About six months later, I decided to study up and get my Part 107 license as well, so I could start using my drone for work such as brand photos, hotels, etc. What were you doing before you started flying drones, and what made you make the transition? Before I started flying drones, I was doing freelance photography and digital marketing. I still do both of these and am happy to say that my drone services are a happy bonus! My background in photography was also incredibly helpful because instead of worrying about exposing my photos properly, I was able to fully focus on the flying process when I first started. What drones are you currently flying, and what drone accessories do you love? I just bought the new Mavic Pro 2, and the Hasselblad camera is dreamy! I also have a Phantom 4 Pro and Mavic Pro along with Tiffen filters. What is your favorite feature on your drone and why? I would have to say the vertical pano feature! Especially since I post so many of my images on social media, I prefer them to be in a vertical format so the panos really come in handy and let you capture so much more in the frame than just a normal photo. What drone images are you most proud of and why? My favorite drone image actually happened the most recently! I was on a whale watching boat off the coast of Dana Point and we saw a whale entangled with rope around his tale swimming very slowly. We sent our drones up in the air, and we were able to get pretty close and capture photos of the rope to send to rescuers. The rescue team then used our photos to not only locate the whale but also prepare to cut the rope. I will forever be proud of those photos because we were able to use our drones for good and potentially save this whale! Have you learned any valuable lessons from being in the drone industry that you can share with our female drone community? My most valuable lesson so far has been that sometimes people are going to push you down, but that just fuels your fire! As a female drone pilot, I've seen SO many sexist comments made about girls not being able to fly or know anything about drones. Little do they know that anything guys can go, girls can do better ;) Whether it's from a creative, commercial or humanitarian perspective, tell us about your most memorable drone flight you have piloted thus far. My most memorable drone pilot so far has been the whale watching day I mentioned above. As pilots, we often get a lot of flack from people who don't fully understand drones, so it was nice to be able to do something good for this animal and help the rescue teams too! What would you say to women and girls about the drone industry to spark their interest in getting involved? I think my biggest piece of advice would be to just get started! My very first drone was a little $60 toy off Amazon, and I slowly worked my way up after practicing. There will always be excuses, but sometimes we just need to put those aside and try. Otherwise, we'd never know what we're capable of! What excites you most about more women joining the drone industry? What most excites me is just getting more women involved and watching the ripple effect! I'm so tired of the sexist comments from men in the industry so I think the more women we can get involved the better! Do you have any drone tips & tricks you can share with our audience? Shooting in manual has completely changed the way I capture my drone content! It gives you so much more control than auto, along with WAY more freedom in the editing process. I would definitely recommend learning your camera and switching over to manual. Practice makes perfect! What's the best way for our readers to get in touch with you? I'm most active on Instagram! You can find me @mmaaddzz or stay in the loop with all my current adventures over on my blog alohamadz.com! Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you? Flying drones can seem scary at first - I totally get it! I didn't want to fly over water for weeks because I was scared of crashing. But once I got comfortable before the controls, it was so freeing and everybody should be able to experience that feeling! Maddy was born and raised in Long Beach, California. She picked up her first drone almost two years ago and was immediately hooked! After leaving her 9-5 to start freelancing, Maddy is now a freelance digital marketer and drone pilot. She is also Part 107 certified and has integrated her drone imagery into her marketing services along the way. She's worked with brands such as Lululemon and hopes to expand that list very soon. Living so close to the beach gives Maddy plenty of amazing locations to work with and much of her work involves sunsets, waves and lots of sand! #pilotspotlight #wwdambassador #womenwhodroneambassador #MaddyWashburn #LongBeach #part107certification #Phantom4Pro #djimavicpro #DJIMavicPro2 #California

Image Credit: Wix Several weeks ago, we reported on the recent change in drone regulation put forth by the FAA regarding drone registration and identification. On February 25th, a new regulation went into effect requiring that FAA-registered drones display their registration numbers clearly on the outer surface of the drone. They enacted this rule to aid law enforcement and for safety reasons. Having a drone’s registration numbers displayed clearly on the outside allows law enforcement to identify a drone without coming into direct contact with it. Ideally, this new rule will improve the safety of officers and make identifying drones more efficient. However, it’s really only a step towards something greater: Remote Identification. Clearly displaying your registration number on the outside prevents law enforcement from having to handle an unidentified drone that could be potentially dangerous, but the officer on site would still need to be close enough to the drone to identify it with the naked eye, or they would need equipment to identify the number form a safe distance. These would not be obstacles with a method to identify a drone’s origin or owner remotely. Image Credit: Wing and AirMap In June of 2017, the FAA chartered a committee called the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Identification and Tracking Aviation Rulemaking Committee (or simply the ARC). Later that year, the committee submitted recommendations to the FAA on “technologies available to identify and track drones in flight and other associated issues.” The committee discussed emerging technologies and the issue if remote tracking, safety and law enforcement in a detailed report that is available on the FAA’s website. Essentially, the consensus was that the FAA should consider a direct broadcast method and a network publishing method for remote ID and tracking as “both methods would send the data to an FAA-approved internet-based database.” Now, the big question is: Who will be developing this technology and how will it be enacted? The ARC has stated that the FAA should “promote fast-tracked development of industry standards while a final remote ID and tracking rule is developed, potentially offering incentives for early adoption and relying on educational initiatives to pave the way to the implementation of the rule.” On December 20th, 2018, the FAA issued a Request for Information (RFI) for a remote ID system. This RFI closed earlier this year on February 4th. Video Credit: Wing Also in December, three UAS companies gifted us with a possible solution to the remote identification problem. AirMap, Alphabet’s Wing, and Kittyhawk.io worked collaboratively to put forth a remote ID application that’s network-based and works on the InterUSS Platform. InterUSS is an open source network used to connect drone service suppliers and share safety information. Together, these companies successfully demonstrated how the application works by using the app to identify drones near them. In the demonstration, the app was able to show the user drones within a 1-mile radius and flying on different platforms in a controlled airspace. The app showed the drone’s model, the purpose of the flight, its speed, and its altitude. Since the app shares only necessary safety information, the privacy of the pilots is still protected. Hopefully, along with this demonstration, we’ll soon see more steps being taken towards a practical application of remote identification. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron #RemoteID #remotedroneidentification #FAA #faaregistered #GoogleWing #AirMap #AlphabetsWing #Kittyhawkio #InterUSS #RFI #RequestforInformation #UnmannedAircraftSystemsIdentificationandTrack

Women Who Drone sparks creativity and empowerment in women with drone technology. New York, NY, May 20th, 2019 - Women Who Drone, an online platform and community that inspires, educates and empowers women and girls with drone technology, today announced that it was selected to participate in the 2019 MassChallenge Boston accelerator program. Rigorously selected by a community of close to 200 expert judges, Women Who Drone represents the top 9% of applications from around the world, including 61 countries and 25 U.S. states. Through a global network of zero-equity accelerators, MassChallenge identifies the world’s highest-impact, highest-potential startups and helps them successfully launch and grow. As part of the 2019 cohort, Women Who Drone will have unrivaled access to expert mentorship, top corporate partners, and more than 20,000 square-feet of co-working space – all at zero cost and for zero equity. Women Who Drone will also engage in evidence-based curriculum, which has been designed to address key challenges throughout each phase of the early-stage lifecycle, including discovery, development, deployment, and distribution. At the close of the program, startups will compete for more than $1M in cash prizes at the 2019 MassChallenge Boston Awards held on October 24. “We are super excited to be joining the MassChallenge Program, so we can continue to grow our community and offer drone education and experiences to more women and girls.” -Elena Buenrostro, Founder of WWD Women Who Drone is an online platform and community that inspires, educates and empowers women and girls with drone technology. We do this by providing drone education including creative one on one lessons, workshops and online courses but also prospective career opportunities and a community of women and mentors who fly drones around the world. Women Who Drone’s goals in the MassChallenge program includes growing their global community of female drone pilots, expanding their drone education to more women and girls as well as raise funding to build their team, content and online products. About Women Who Drone Women Who Drone is an online platform and community that inspires, educates and empowers women and girls with drone technology. We do this by providing drone education including creative one on one lessons, workshops and online courses but also prospective career opportunities and a community of women and mentors who fly drones around the world. About MassChallenge MassChallenge is a global network of zero-equity startup accelerators. Headquartered in the United States with locations in Boston, Israel, Mexico, Rhode Island, Switzerland, and Texas, MassChallenge is committed to strengthening the global innovation ecosystem by supporting high-potential startups across all industries, from anywhere in the world. To date, more than 1,900 MassChallenge alumni have raised more than $4 billion in funding, generated more than $2.5 billion in revenue, and created more than 120,000 total jobs. #womenwhodrone #Masschallenge #PressRelease #Press #News

Image Credit: DJI Technology Co. DJI Technology has just dropped what many are calling their version of a GoPro, using their stellar camera technology to break into the action camera world. With their brand new Osmo Action, DJI's action camera debut is packed with features. Boasting 4K HDR Video, 8x Slow Motion, and UHD Image Quality, Osmo Action also has dual screens so you can “record your world from behind a lens or be the star of the show”. Read on to find out more about the camera's many features and why people are comparing DJI to GoPro. PHYSICAL FEATURES Image Credit: DJI Technology Co. Built with durability in mind, DJI claims that their new action camera will allow you to spend less time worrying about your equipment so you can focus on the action. It has a watertight seal and a hydrophobic coating on the back touchscreen, making it waterproof at depths of up to 11 meters. With protection like that, you can get those killer underwater shots! Environmental safeguards are vital in any action camera, and the Osmo Action's design seems to have taken that into account. The Osmo Action was also built to withstand the elements. The camera features what they call RockSteady stabilization, a combination of electronic image stabilization (EIS) and “complex algorithms” designed to keep camera footage stable. Its lens features 3 aspherical layers for the purpose of reducing glare and distortion, a safeguard against direct sunlight. The Lens Filter Cap has a protective, anti-fingerprint coating on it that "repels oil, water, dirt, and other small particles”. In addition to being resistant to water damage and dirt on the lens, Its constructed to be resistant to have batteries resistant to extreme cold with batteries able to withstand temperatures as low as -10℃”. It also features a 16% increase in cooling efficiency thanks to its heat-transfer system. This prevents the camera from overheating. SOFTWARE FEATURES Image Credit: DJI Technology Co. In terms of what it's capable of, Osmo Action's HDR camera can handle recording in environments with “complex lighting” and can naturally transition between light and dark. Designed with even night shots in mind, Osmo Action has “manual and semi-automatic settings that allow up to 120 seconds of exposure, perfect for capturing the night sky.” This camera is capable of 8x Slow Motion with 1080p resolution and 240fps and can record 4K/60fps at 100Mbps. With these frame rates you could spice up your timeline with slowmo and time lapse videos. Extend your footage to show off every detail or condense your footage to capture extended movement and time, and plan the perfect shot with timed photos. Additionally, DJI claims that Osmo Action's operating system, Action OS, is “extremely fast”. They have streamlined the user interface, so that it only has 3 buttons, powering on, recording, and setting modes. Speaking of modes, you can use them to customize your action camera. Through custom mode, you can create a list of your most frequently used shooting modes. ACCESSORIES This is all well and good, but what about the peripherals? A camera's accessories are also important. Osmo Action already has some accessories available on the DJI store website. They include backup batteries, a charging kit, an adhesive mount kit, and more. The Osmo Action store page advertises a waterproof case that you can take to depths of up to 60 meters, a floating handle to aid shooting in water, a 3 port charging hub, and a quick-release base. Image Credit: DJI Technology Co. COMPARISON TO GOPRO Image Credit: DJI Technology Co. and GoPro, Inc. Many people are comparing this camera to other action cameras most notably the GoPro. Osmo Action has primarily been compared to the GoPro HERO7 Black released late last year. Some are even saying that DJI's foray into action cameras is a direct response to GoPro's release of their Karma drone in 2016. The GoPro HERO7 Black is also waterproof (at depths up to 10 meters) and has "gimbal-like" stabilization. It also advertises voice control (16 voice commands compared to Osmo's 5) and live streaming features. Originally, it sold for $399.99, but it's currently on sale for $349.99, the same price as the Osmo Action. As a result of these and more similarities, there are already several articles and videos comparing the two cameras. However, opinions are divided. Some people believe the Osmo Action to be a sufficient substitute, some just think of it as a worthy contender to the HERO7, and others believe that the Osmo Action doesn't compare to GoPro at all. So, what do you think? Is the Osmo Action competition for the HERO7? If DJI is making great action cameras, will GoPro make comparable drones. Are DJI and GoPro really rival brands? Feel free to share what you think. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron #gopro #djinews #newproduct #OsmoAction #actioncamera #Karmadrone #goprokarma #waterproof #DJI #DJIstore

Location: Manchester/ Peak District UK Tell us about yourself. I am passionate about encouraging more women to fly drones. 4 years ago, I set up a blog and social media presence as "The Drone Lass", and I know I have inspired others to fly. That is not just women but men as well. I love horses and dogs although I don't own any. To keep fit, I walk in the hills, run and ride a mountain bike. I am passionate about drones, architecture, culture, books, photography, cameras and travel. What inspired you to begin flying drones, and what made you want to enter the industry as a drone pilot? I was working in the camera department of the BBC, and production teams were coming in talking about drones. I was fascinated and read lots on the internet. Then, I saw a clip from the NYC Drone Film Festival and decided that I needed a drone. A drone would add to my skill set as a filmmaker and TV camera operator. What made you make the transition? I don't think I have made a transition really. I feel that I have added to my skill set and improved my employability as a person. I get booked for lots of reasons: as a Filmmaker, Shooting Producer Director, Camera Operator, and also as a Drone Operator. It has become a combination of all my skills. Although, more and more of my working time and income is drone related. What drone are you currently flying? I fly an Inspire 1, Phantom P4P x 2 and a Mavic 2 Pro What is your favorite feature on your drone and why? The camera on my Dji Mavic 2 Pro is insane as the colour space is amazing. I loved both the x5 and x7 cameras. You can create amazing footage and stills, and I really enjoy flying it as it is compact. I have flown it and the Dji Inspire 2 for some of the companies I fly for. What drone images are you most proud of and why? The new photos I am taking at the moment. I am challenging myself to come up with higher quality images and trying to see the landscape. There is some amazing drone photographers out there, and they are inspiring me to do more stills and make them better. Have you learned any valuable lessons from being in the drone industry that you can share with our female drone community? You have to constantly evaluate your own work and be supportive to yourself. Ignore the inner critic that says you can't do something. I have learned that we all have to be beginners at something so allow yourself to be a beginner. Also, learning is a lot of fun. Equally, don't say you can do something unless you have the skills to carry you through. If you don't have the skills, learn them. Whether it's from a creative, commercial or humanitarian perspective, tell us about your most memorable drone flight you have piloted thus far. I fly a lot for BBC Breakfast, and they are always LIVE. To think my pictures are being sent live out to UK homes makes for a memorable experience every time. I try not to think of what might go wrong. Commit to the shot and go for it. What would you say to women and girls about the drone industry to spark their interest in getting involved? You must go for it. It is amazing standing in a field or wherever flying a drone. It is fun, challenging, exciting, technical, creative, and who knows where it might lead you. What excites you most about more women joining the drone industry? To feel that I am not the only woman doing this is the most wonderful feeling. Also, I see that the industry is going to twist and turn to be something we haven't yet thought it will be. We are at the beginning. Yes, it may be 6 years since the first consumer drones, but the tech is getting better and better and more affordable. I say all the time the drone industry, even as a hobby, is a level playing field for women. Let's be present, lets show up! Do you have any drone tips & tricks you can share with our audience? Keep calm and practice flying. Learn about whatever drone you have and whatever drone you can afford. Don't feel you need to constantly update. Although we all love new tech, you can get a lot out of what you currently own. Try and do your own thing and don't constantly compare yourself to others. Be inspired but don't steal others ideas. What's the best way for our readers to get in touch with you? Via my blog or by Instagram: @thedrone_lass Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you? I love maps and perhaps that was a hidden bit in becoming a PfCO holder in the UK. I have copies of maps in my house and adore the aviation maps. I'm totally geeky about all drone aspects. She has been flying drones professionally for over four years. She is a camera operator and shooting producer/director for TV and has flown drones for major TV companies including the BBC, ITV, Channel 5 and various independent production companies. Carys has appeared on BBC 5 Live, BBC News channels, Good Morning Britain and in The Guardian as a drone industry spokesperson and expert. She is a public speaker and educator can be found flying drones in the Peak District, near Manchester and is a PFCO UAV flight instructor in the UK. One of very few female instructors. She writes a blog entitled The Drone Lass. She has spoken at lots of events about drones including the Photography show UK and The Video show UK. #femaledronepilot #pilotspotlight #CarysKaiser #wwdambassador #womenwhodroneambassador #unitedkingdom #TheDroneLass #NYCDroneFilmFestival #BBC #DJIMavic2Pro #BBCBreakfast

Image Credit: D. Falanga, K. Kleber, S. Mintchev, D. Floreano, and D. Scaramuzza We have witnessed time and time again the conveniences that drones bring to different industries. Because of their maneuverability and safety, drones have facilitated businesses' needs for inspections, aerial imaging, and drone mapping. Drones have proved themselves to be incredibly useful in these areas, but they do still have their limitations, one being their shape. Whether its a helicopter, fixed-wing, or quadcopter, there are going to be difficult places to navigate. If only there was a drone that could change its shape while flying. Such a drone may not be far off. In an instance of drone innovation, a research team with the University of Zurich in Switzerland developed the Foldable Drone. Inspired by the use of drones in search-and-rescue and in inspections, this team worked to create a drone that could “morph” in midair to avoid obstacles and navigate through narrow openings. This drone was designed to “morph” and squeeze through difficult spaces in order to perform inspections, aerial mapping, and aerial imaging. Here's what we know about them and their work so far. Video Credit: D. Falanga, K. Kleber, S. Mintchev, D. Floreano, and D. Scaramuzza The University of Zurich is the largest university in Sweden. The work being done on the Foldable Drone was started by the university’s Robotics and Perception group late last year. Their Robotics and Perception lab was founded in 2012 and is part of the university’s Department of Informatics, where their main goal is “to develop autonomous machines that can navigate all by themselves”. A research team within this lab designed this drone to be able to retract its arms mid-flight so that it could navigate through difficult spaces, drawing inspiration from “birds that fold their wings in midair to cross narrow passages”. It is capable of doing this because of its “morphing design” which consists of “four independently rotating arms that fold around the main frame.” Furthermore, the researchers who developed this design state in their research paper that they were able to guarantee stable flight at all times, in spite of the drone’s folding maneuvers, by exploiting “an optimal control strategy that adapts on the fly to the drone Morphology.” As a result of this design, the foldable drone can accomplish morphing into three distinct shapes: H morphology, O morphology, and T morphology. Their research paper includes images of the drone exhibiting these morphologies as well as an image of the drone entering a collapsed building through a narrow gap. Image Credit: D. Falanga, K. Kleber, S. Mintchev, D. Floreano, and D. Scaramuzza If put on the market, a drone with these capabilities would be another game-changer in the drone industry. Its ability to change shape while still flying would be a great asset to any business or public service team. Hopefully, we can look forward to seeing more developments to this “foldable” technology and a commercial release sometime soon. If you'd like to follow the research team's experiments with the Foldable Drone, check out their site. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron #quadcopter #morphingquadcopter #foldingdrone #foldabledrone #universityofzurich #robotics #sweden #morphology #aerialimaging #dronemapping

Image Credit: SZ DJI Technology Co. Almost everyone is talking about the epic climax of Marvel’s superhero cinematic universe: Avengers Endgame. In the leadup to this cinematic event, Marvel has released all kinds of promotional merchandise. Ordinarily, retailers sell Avengers-branded t-shirts, posters, accessories, and even makeup. One of the more unique items receiving the Avengers treatment is the Tello. Have you ever wanted to fly a boldly colored hi-tech UAS just like Iron Man? Well, you’re in luck because DJI has released a new Tello modeled after everyone’s favorite Avenger, Iron Man. Originally, the Tello was lauded as a great drone for beginners. Launched last year, the Tello was a collaborative effort put forth by DJI, Shenzhen startup Ryze Tech, and Intel. It was created to be a low-budget drone that made learning to fly and program fun. It was priced at an affordable $99, hundreds of dollars less than DJI’s next inexpensive model. Ryze endearingly refers to the Tello as “a smaller brother of the Spark.” A key aspect of the Tello is its educational component. It was designed to educate through entertainment and interactivity. Junior pilots can fly this drone with their smartphones by using the Tello app and with the Tello Edu app, they can learn how to program their drone. Video Credit: Tello Drone Essentially, the new Avengers Tello Iron Man Edition comes with the same features that made the original Tello great wrapped up in a new iron man skin (and with a $30 surcharge). It has the same 13 minutes of flight time, 100-meter image transmission, and 720p HD transmission. An added feature for this version is the companion Tello Hero app. This app strives to immerse the pilot in Iron Man’s world and even uses his new artificial intelligence assistant F.R.I.D.A.Y., who Marvel introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The Iron Man Tello also supports Tello Edu so the Tello maintains its educational benefits. Nowadays, films are relying on drones to land the perfect aerial shot. It’s not often that a drone is redesigned to feature a film. Other than custom designs, there are only a few instances of drones be designed in honor of a major motion picture. In 2016, the Propel team launched a range of Disney licensed Star Wars battle drones. They also sell a DC endorsed Batwing and Batwing HD. This new Tello is a fun addition to the DJI store and an interesting way to celebrate the new Avengers film. Are there any other drones that should receive a superhero makeover? What film do you want to get the drone treatment? Feel free to share your dream movie drone combination in the comments. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron #Marvel #djinews #Tello #IronMan #TelloIronManEdition #starkindustries #TonyStark #Avengers #AvengersEndGame #FRIDAY #Disney #StarWars #Propel #DCcomics #Batwing #Batman