Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) are similar to the aerial counterparts in their variety and their functionality. Almost everything exciting you can do in the air is possible underwater, but there’s a catch: Underwater drones typically start at around $500. Yeah, there aren't any budget versions of these drones, at least not yet, so whatever model you buy should be worth the investment. Depending on where you live (or where you go), underwater drones could be a waste of money. While they sound cool, if you are rarely near a body of water, then there’s no point in splurging on something you’ll probably only use once a year when you take that vacation to the beach or the lake. On the other hand, UAVs are functional in your own backyard wherever that may be. Where and how you fly only depends on your skill level, the weather, and the law of the land. Underwater drones are well suited for people who like being on the water. Just like aerial drones, underwater drones have emitters that need to stay within range of their remote. The person controlling the drone has to be on a boat nearby. In cases where visibility is lost in the depths, the boat is a landmark and also a guide to orientation. Underwater drones are trickier to orient and keep track of. Unfortunately, it is possible to completely lose visibility of your UUV during a dive until you bring it back up to the surface. Some of these drones come with a tether, but there’s also the Biki which swims like a fish. So, how deep CAN they go? You might not want to rush out to buy a UUV to be the first person to see the remaining 95% of the ocean that has never been explored before. While depths for each model vary, my research has seen depths ranging from 100 to almost 500 feet. Keep in mind that there is rarely any significant light beyond 200 meters (656 feet). Ultimately, of course, the decision is up to you if you think it’s worth it to buy an underwater drone. If you’ve got the right location and budget, I say go for it. 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

Photo by: Lonneke Tubbing, WWD Ambassador Earlier this year, Computer Science major Salina Servantez made headlines after 3D printing a drone for an assignment. Her project was impressive as it was not simply a model, rather an actual functioning drone capable of flight. It took some time, but she pulled it off, but could You, the average drone enthusiast, do the same? This led me to wonder: Could Anyone with access to a 3D printer print out their own drone? After researching the subject, I got my answer: Yeah, if you have the time and patience. For those of you who are unfamiliar, 3D printing is an amazing technology that is steadily becoming more accessible, but it can be time consuming. In university, a small model of our school mascot took about 30 minutes to print and preparing to print can be an extremely involved process. There's the type of filament you want your object to be, you can customize the design and change the density of the filament to determine the strength. Working with 3D printers is also not an exact science. Trial and error will most likely be involved as you struggle to make parts fit, redesign, crash during fly tests, and reprint. With that in mind, you can imagine that this whole process might take a while, but that should not deter you. Having access to a 3D printer is a great asset if you’re a beginner or just prone to crashing. While you may not have the time and patience to print and build an entire drone, at your own convenience, you can design (or download a design) and print replacement parts for your homemade and preexisting drones. It may be a worthy investment if you already own a 3D printer. You can print any part of a drone except for the electrical components which can be bought separately. 3D printing has many variables and it takes time to get it right. Even Servantez said that her first flight barely made it off the ground. There are DIY drone guides available on the internet, so don’t go into it blind. If you’re interested in 3D printing, check out other people’s designs on thingiverse.com, an archive of digital designs. Thingiverse already has listings for drone parts and quadcopter designs available for free. 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

Women Who Drone has the pleasure of interacting with so many female pilots around the world. Today we showcase Elizabeth Lassithiotakis, a 27 year old female drone pilot in Australia. Check out her beautiful images below and read on for her experience learning to operate and use her drone for photography. >> Bondi Icebergs While I am still very new to droning I found that it’s much easier than I previously thought. It's a very smart aircraft. I remember my very first flight and how extremely nervous I was. Terrified of crashing, I ventured to the local park to ensure a safe flying area. All height and distance settings were set very close so I didn't lose it. Slowly but surely I have been pushing myself to venture further and further away. I’m now feeling much more confident in my flight abilities. Bondi Beach Sunrise Mona Vale Dad always says "you learn something new everyday" and I truly believe there is still so much more to learn about my Mavic Pro. I wish I knew more about tilting the gimble. I honestly think it wasn't until about two weeks ago I learnt that you could actually tilt the gimble and it would make capturing that perfect shot even easier. Elevation aside, I love that flying a drone will always be a learning experience. Maroubra Beach I’m lucky to live in Sydney, Australia where we have such a beautiful coastline. I’m at the beach at least four times a week with my drone, just waiting for good light, like a surfer waiting for the perfect swell. My alarm goes off at 5.30 most mornings to catch the very first light of the day. Flying at sunrise is amazing - you can capture the most beautiful lighting conditions. Bondi is usually my first stop, followed by a beautiful stroll down to Coogee coastal walk which includes some of Sydney’s most stunning beaches (Bronte, Tamarama and Clovelly). Bondi Icbergs #FEMALEDRONEPILOT #WOMENANDDRONES #WOMENWHODRONE

At some point, every business person has asked themselves: What can I do to stand out? In a world filled to the brim with smartphone carrying travel bloggers, pilots have innovated new ways we can see the world. Using drones, touring a location can be more personal, interactive, and engaging than before. Companies are opening all over the world to offer drone tours in popular locations like Hawaii, Cambodia, Copenhagen, and many others. There may even be drone tours available for your state. So how do they work? Well, that depends. You could enjoy an aerial tour from the comfort of your home by watching online videos. In May of 2017, Gabrielle Kratsas of the website Great Value Colleges wrote an article showing how colleges are using drones to record videos of their campuses (30 Stunning Aerial College Tours via Drone Videos). From your laptop, desktop, or phone, you could see the whole world, or however much of it is available for viewing online. On the other hand, you could explore the world for yourself from vantage points that were previously unheard of. Based in Honolulu, Hawaii Drone Tours is run by drone pilots with backgrounds in Military Aviation and Aircraft Maintenance. They travel to locations, allowing tourists to use their own drones or rent one of theirs to fly over exclusive locations. Guests age 10+ up cost $129.50 per person. In the capital of Denmark, there’s Copenhagen Drone Tours which works with event agencies. This company allows its clients to feel like they’re flying by live streaming their drone video to FPV goggles. Their services include developing tours based on “your exact needs and wishes.” Also, they’ll visit your conference or event to offer your clients a tailored experience. Sky Films is an Asian service that offers courses aerial photography, drone tours, and pilot training in Cambodia. They have two choices in programs (1 day or 3 days) each involve learning the basics in drone operation and editing. Their 1 day program starts at $190 and the 3 day program at $500. Both programs decrease in price per person with more people in groups up to 3 people. They also offer 70% discounts for Non-Profit organizations. Drone tours are definitely a sign of the times. Steadily they are becoming incorporated into different facets of our lives, providing people with more opportunities to interact with technology. Though each of the services I talked about in this article are in different countries on different continents, they each strive to create a unique experience or put a new spin on the traditional idea of how tours are conducted. 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

The gap between the presence of men and women in the realm of technology can be overwhelming. Women Who Drone seeks to encourage more women and girls to join the drone community. Nowadays, communities rely on social media and Instagram is a significant platform for pilots of all levels to share their work. Capturing amazing photographs and videos, drones thrive on Instagram. For this article, I explored Instagram to find accounts dedicated to drone photography by female pilots. As a newbie to the world of drones, I wanted to explore the #dronestagram tag and find accounts by female drone photographers. Under the tag, I searched through the top posts. Looking through the tag was much more time consuming than I expected as a myriad of the tag’s top posts were either by men, collectives, or profiles with no person’s name attached. I was able to find the profiles of Then, I began looking through the #dronegirls tag. This tag was full of work by women all over the world. A few of my favorite accounts include: Clare Neilson Clare Neilson is based in Australia, and her work mainly consists of aerial shots of water and the beach. My favourite post of hers is this sunset photo at Merewether beach. I like how the peach sunlight reflects on the dark indigo of the waves. Cathy Waite: The Sea Diaries Cathy Waite is also a seascape photographer. Her profile abounds with surfers and crashing waves. My favorite of her posts is her first sea drone photo taken back in February. The tiny forms of the surfers and how the water transitions from lighter in the center to darker at the edges creates a massive impression. Emily Kaszton Emily Kaszton is also a photographer who’s profile contains posts of seascapes. She usually posts photos of the beaches of California, and posts come with nice little descriptions of the locations, piloting/editing tips, and the Song of the Day. This post of two whales is my favorite. It's always a treat to see animals in their habitat and the way the waves curl in this shot is reminiscent of teal fabric. There were all sorts of beautiful images found on Instagram by men and women, but it’s always nice to support women in their endeavors. Creating a community where women feel welcome to explore their interest is important. Of course, if you are also looking for more female pilots to follow you can’t go wrong with the #WomenWhoDrone tag, and check out the official Women Who Drone Instagram account. 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

The public’s intrigue in unmanned aerial vehicles is skyrocketing . As drones become increasingly mainstream, companies come up with ways to make them more accessible to the general public. Providing consumers with low-cost options makes the hobby accessible to children, newcomers, and the thrifty. Quadcopter's can cost hundreds of dollars, which, for many of us, is pretty pricey. Anyone learning to fly for the first time risks damaging an expensive piece of machinery, but an inexpensive option lowers the monetary risk. Whether you’re a complete novice or someone who’s looking to maintain their favourite hobby on a budget, here are 4 of the best reviewed drones available on Amazon for less than $50 (in no particular order). The qualifiers for this list were items under $50 with at least 4 stars and over 100 reviews. Cheerwing Quadcopter Plus Bonus Battery This quadcopter by Cheerwing is close to our budget at $44.98 and is equipped with a 2MP (720P) HD camera. Its maximum flight time averages 6-8 minutes. The top positive review states that this drone has managed to stay intact after numerous falls. The top critical review is dissatisfied with the product, stating that the camera is low quality and the battery has only given them around 2 minutes of flight time. Reviews Syma Toys RC Quadcopter 2015 This quadcopter is one of the cheaper ones on this list $29.48. It has a camera and about 7 minutes of flying time. The top positive review lauds this product as being perfect for beginners. The top critical review stated that their motor burned out after 35 days. Reviews Newest Syma X20 Mini Pocket Drone Headless Mode This is the cheapest drone on this list at only $26.90. It also has the shortest flight time of about 5 minutes and no camera. The top positive review for this product states that it is easier to fly than other drones of the same price, but it is slow and best suited for indoor use. The top critical review states that their drone stopped flying after only 3 days. Reviews Holy Stone HS150 Bolt Bee Mini Racing Drone This racing drone is also $45.99. It does not have a camera, but it does come with a bonus battery. The average flight time is 5-7 minutes. The top positive review believes they were right in choosing this drone to get their grandson into racing. The top critical review thinks that this product is good for its price but not the best, preferring a different model at the same price. Reviews Whatever form of technology you choose to consume, there are always high-end and low-end versions of a product. Choosing the less costly option may seem like a good way to save money, but when you buy the cheaper option you run the risk of buying an inferior product that isn’t even worth the money you spent on it. On the other hand, you might be getting a great deal on a product or missing a feature found on more expensive quadcopters. Amazon carries various models of drones at different price points. There are even more drones than what's on this list available for under $50. Check them out and let the community know how well they hold up. 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

If you have dreamt about your online Amazon packages being delivered directly to your door from the wings of a drone or can visualize yourself being picked up in a droning Uber taxi, then you can pinch yourself! Tech giants are wanting to light up with skies with aircraft that will be able to ferry packages as well as take people from place to place in a flash! As of now, this idea that is in the creation stage is known as unmanned aircraft systems, or UASs. There has to be a complex, delicate system in place that controls droning crafts to not crash into buildings and other obstacles. NASA is in the process of creating a UAS traffic management network with other organizations that plans to finish as early as next year so they can begin the testing phase. Uber is one of the biggest companies that is riding heavily on the success of this traffic management system and has already made announcements promoting the ‘uberAIR taxi service. The biggest question that remains in the air is if this system will be able to manage the volume of giant self-flying aircrafts that will be delivering a broad variety of items from pizzas to passengers. Uber unveiled the design specifications at its Elevate conference for the electric aircraft that will serve as UberAIR's workhorses. Credit: Courtesy of Uber NASA has actually been working on the details of this type of traffic management system since 2015, identifying the procedures and new technologies that can allow drones to navigate safely and up to altitudes of 120 meters. Even in 2018, automated UAS traffic control has a lot more work to be done before it can be utilized for everyday life. Even when this technologically advanced system of traffic is fully tested, it will stay a few years for it to be implemented in such a way where it can accommodate the demand that is expected with this drone delivery service. As for other companies such as Amazon, this sort of technology is a highly welcomed development in the teens of the 2000’s. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon introduced this idea back in 2013 on 60 Minutes, which tells us that this idea has more than a daydream for longer than 5 years. As you can imagine, other taxi companies are rivaling in Uber’s ambitious ideas and are helping to work on this creative idea so that in just a decade, people all over the world will be able to travel lightning fast and get their much-needed and wanted online purchases in just the knick of time. Just the idea that people will not just be riding or receiving items from drones but possibly owning them helps to fulfill the image of flying cars, Despite the wait of more than a decade, it could be in our lifetime that we can stick this image of stylish convenience to the Jetson’s. It’s more than being thought about, automated aircrafts and drones performing these duties are now being heavily researched, which means in due time, the world of convenience will drastically change into something from a Sci-Fi movie! Written By: Ruby Noel

When you think of drones you might think of aerial photography or maybe daydream about amazon delivery - but did you know drones are being used around the world to solve global humanitarian problems? The world is massive and there are still remote areas that don’t have access to medical care. Imagine having to travel three hours just to get medicine or a vaccine. UPS and Gavi (the vaccine alliance) have partnered to create drones that are able to deliver urgent medical supplies in Rwanda. Humans can’t stop climate change from happening, but what if we could reduce the effects of climate change on livelihood and food security? A company named WeRobtics is using drones in Fiji for aerial mapping in the hopes it could reduce the risk of climate change on the small island nation. Learn more about their work using drones for good. In some of the poorest, remote areas of the world the need for new and innovative solutions is high. Poor infrastructure and weather conditions make transportation difficult. Photo Credit: Barcosnightingales.org UNICEF recently launched the first African-based drone corridor in Malawi to test the use of drones for humanitarian purposes. It’s is open to universites, innovators and NGOs, to test innovative drone technology to help save lives. Have an idea you want to test? Learn more here. Like many new innovations, drones are being used to help solve problems we have long been trying to solve as a planet. The opportunities are endless if we continue to think big, innovative, and allow empathy to drive the way we build technology. Erin is a marketing, public affairs and social impact strategist. With over nine years of experience developing winning strategies and campaigns, Erin is also the co-founder and executive producer of the Global People's Summit. In her free time Erin enjoys playing with her new spark drone and learning how to take some epic photography. You can follow her on Instagram @wilddrones.

Hellooooo ladies!! Are you searching for a way to learn more about drones, learn to fly or maybe even start your own business using your drone? Dart Drones is offering a set of scholarships including "Women In Drones", "Aspiring Drone Entrepreneur Scholarship ", "Career Change Scholarship", an scholarship for high school and college students, plus several more! If you've been overwhelmed by the financial undertaking getting into drones can be, definitely check out these scholarships or share this post with a friend who might benefit! Keep up with drone scholarship news here on the Women Who Drone blog. Keep flying high!

Take a moment to imagine stepping onto a plane, feeling the excitement within you rise as you anticipate reaching your desired destination. Suddenly, the plane jolts, you see engine parts falling to Earth and your entire life flashes before your eyes…149 people boarded the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 plane on Tuesday with Captain Tammie Jo Shults at the controls with no inkling about the life changing event that would occur before making it to Dallas. Shults is a U.S. military and Navy Reserve veteran and well-known for her professionalism when it comes to flying and piloting. Shults was commissioned in 1985 and completed flight training in Pensacola. Serving at the Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron in Point Mugu, Calif. as an instructor pilot, she flew the EA-6B Prowler and F/A-18 Hornet. She then achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After leaving active duty in 1993, she served in the Navy Reserves until 2001. It’s stories just like these that make me reinstate any doubt that a higher existence is in power and watches over us. If not for Tammy Shults and her ability to calmly bring down flight #1380, there would be much more than one causality and seven injuries as a result from this emergency landing. The cause of the accident as far as investigators know was metal fatigue in an engine fan blade that broke off, which caused the engine to explode mid-flight. Shrapnel flying into the air and smashing a window is what ended the life of one passenger and fortunately only injured seven others on board. Photo Credit: latimes.com Shults is one of the many female pilots out there saving life, changing the world of flying, and engaging with passengers both in air and on the ground alike about how a calm and collected mind can really allow one to hone in on actions that must be taken to save hundreds of people’s lives in these scenarios. Females are no longer suited just for the home; they are in continuous lift-off to even better achievements and aspirations. Here is to Shults, an inspiration to other young female want-to-be pilots!

The creative geniuses at Intel were at it again with another eye-catching drone show that lit up that skies at one of the most renowned musical festivals in the world, Coachella! Held in Indio, California, thousands of people gather together to engulf themselves in a variety of electronic dance, indie, and rock music as well as beautiful art sculptures and installations. With several stages hosting live music, there is a lot for the eyes to see. Photo Credit: Elena Buenrostro The music at Coachella may be popping, but Intel once again broke the barriers of creativity with a unique light show performed by Shoot Star Mini Drones. While the company did not go near as big as the Super Bowl or the Olympic Winter games, they did something even better, which was go live! They put thousands in awe with a surprise drone performance during the Odesza’s act, which blew everyone in the audience away. The show features 420 of the infamous shooting star drones, creating the Odesza’s geometric logo. Photo Credit: Drone DJ With creatively designed software that is programmed and automated by Intel, the Shooting Star Mini Drone may be light-weight, but powerful in performance. The software simply informs each drone where to fly to create images. The software is advanced enough to choose specific drones that have more battery life and is lead with quality GPS reception. Light shows that used to take weeks and months to build are now being created in just a matter of days. One of the biggest draw dropping facts about these light shows to me is that it only takes one brave soul to pilot the entire light show. With the small LED lights packed into each mini drone, the software can perform a total of 4 billion different color combinations, which leaves endless room for creativity and awe-like performance. Which amazing event will another one of the light shows take place? It’s hard to say, but 2018 is the doorway to bigger, better, easier creativity thanks to those working hard in the droning world!

In case you missed it, Women Who Drone had their first ever event at the DJI Headquarters in NYC! It was an amazing turn out, full of creative content, drones and fun! Laura Chukanov and Elena Buenrostro took the reigns and discussed what Women Who Drone have been up to as well as what we have planned in the near future! We had the pleasure of welcoming, filmmaker and 2016 NYC Drone Film Festival winner, Jody Johnson who screened an original video about her love story with drones. DJI Public Policy Coordinator, Jennifer Thibodeau gave an informational piece about public policy and drones as well as Women in Tech. We also announced our upcoming workshops taking place in Brooklyn, NY which you can sign up for here. Take a look at the FB live below if you were not able to make it out. As we continue to grow our community, we want to encourage more women to reach out to us on how they can get involved and learn more about the booming drone industry. Take a look at the photo gallery of the event. Photos by Edward Kostakis, Xizmomedia