National Drone Safety Awareness Week — aka drone safety week or simply drone week — is not only back for year two but is also officially an annual campaign. Hosted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), this campaign highlights drone safety using special events and social media. During this week, the FAA promotes “the safety stories, successes, events, and educational content” of people in the drone community. Last year’s inaugural drone safety week took place November 4-10, 2019. Using the tag #DroneWeek, recreational fliers, government agencies, and industry leaders took to Twitter and other social media to show their support for spreading drone safety awareness. The FAA described it as “a huge success," which led to them making it a permanent fixture on our drone event calendars. National Drone Safety Awareness Week 2020 will be November 16-22. The campaign is open for everyone to participate in and will be entirely virtual this year due to the pandemic. Information, resources, and downloadables for the campaign are available on their web page and in their 2020 Guidebook. The guidebook summarizes the daily themes, the purpose of drone safety week, how to participate, and holding virtual events supporting drone safety. Last year, each day had a daily focus. This year, they assigned educational themes to each day: Learn (Monday), Improve (Tuesday), Passion to Profession (Wednesday), Start a Program (Thursday), In the Classroom (Friday), and Having Fun (Saturday & Sunday). Using social media, the FAA plans to share participants’ digital content related to these themes. When we covered drone safety week last year, the FAA had partnered with Know Before You Fly and the Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team (UAST), and their partnership will continue this year. Founded by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), Know Before You Fly is an educational campaign that focuses on drone and model aircraft safety. Their website offers guides on how and where to fly, event information, and drone safety resources. Credit: Federal Aviation Administration The UAST is an “industry-government partnership” that collaborates with UAS industry members and links users to helpful resources. Using data-driven safety enhancements, they aim to ensure that UAS are operated safely in the national airspace system. This year, they are helping the FAA keep track of virtual events on the official drone safety awareness week website. On the website, you can view the event calendar, access in-depth instructions on setting up a drone safety event, and register your event with the campaign. Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

Credit: Skydio The last time the North Carolina Department of Transportation was featured on our blog, we discussed how they were involved in a groundbreaking moment in drone legislation. To summarize, in 2018, NCDOT was selected by the FAA to participate in its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program. This program aims to bring together local and national governments to “accelerate safe drone integration.” As a result, NCDOT was able to work with UPS to complete the United States’ first-ever commercial drone delivery, flying a Matternet drone across the WakeMed campus to deliver medical supplies. In their proposal for the program, NCDOT aspired to tackle safety issues such as flying over people, beyond visual line of sight, and at night. Delivering medical supplies, food delivery, and conducting bridge and infrastructure inspections, “especially after natural disasters”, were the purposes they chose to focus on primarily. According to NCDOT’s webpage on the program, the pandemic led to them refocusing their efforts to using drones specifically to help fight against COVID-19 through medical supply and food delivery. Recently, NCDOT received the first-ever BVLOS waiver, permitting them to pilot drones beyond the visual line of sight. This achievement is a big deal and another groundbreaking moment. When it comes to commercial and recreational drone regulation, flying your drone outside your range of visibility is a big no-no. In the FAA’s rules for recreational fliers, they direct fliers to “[k]eep your drone within your visual line of sight, or within the visual line-of-sight of a visual observer who is co-located (physically next to) and in direct communication with you.” Commercial operators fly under similar conditions, but they have the opportunity to apply for a waiver, though the waiver does have stipulations: “The FAA will not waive this section to allow the carriage of property of another by aircraft for compensation or hire.” Even first responders have to apply for Tactical Beyond Visual Line of Sight waivers. Credit: Skydio BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) piloting is seen as a safety concern. It is performed with the pilot monitoring the drone through a camera feed or by an autonomous drone in ideal situations. Without direct observation, drones being operated this way could pose a risk of damaging property and people. On the other hand, not allowing for BVLOS operations has severely limited what people can do with drones. The aforementioned drone deliveries, emergencies, and infrastructure inspections are examples of circumstances where drones would make things more efficient and safer. For this reason, NCDOT being the first state transportation agency to receive the BVLOS waiver, opens the door for continued safe drone integration. With it, they can now operate UAS beyond visual line of sight to perform bridge inspections. For these inspections, they will be using drones from Skydio, inc., a drone and software production company that specializes in autonomous drones. We have also discussed Skydio previously on our blog. Their debut drone, R1, was able to autonomously track cars and fly autonomously over large bodies of water. They have since released the SKydio 2, a drone that raises the bar in terms of autonomy. In a video on the Women Who Drone YouTube channel, Elena reviews the Skydio 2 and tests its autonomous tracking abilities. Since the beginning of the year, Skydio has put more effort into being at the forefront of discussions regarding drone regulations and actually helped NCDOT develop the waiver application. In his February interview with protocol.com, Brendan Groves, Skydio’s new head of regulatory and policy affairs, discusses the company’s goals and the state of drone regulations at the time. There, he mentions that obtaining waivers to fly over people and beyond the line of sight is a slow process that “makes it tough to use drones in emergency situations.” Receiving this waiver is another step forward in the endeavor to safely integrate UAS into airspace, an endeavor that seems to be surging confidently ahead. Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

If you follow aerial photographers on social media, you’re probably used to seeing amazing content in your feed. Drones offer a different perspective and another layer of creative opportunity. Some photographers and videographers take that creativity and skill to the next level and have been rightfully rewarded for it. There are a number of competitions looking to find and exhibit the best of the best in this area. Some of these videos and images have even won out over thousands of submissions from around the world! Read on to see just a portion of celebrated work that was captured from the sky. 'Hungry Hippos' by ZekeDrone This photo depicts a subject that would be outrageously difficult to capture without drones: uninterrupted wildlife. ZekeDrone’s Hungry Hippos gives us something different by making a “bloat” of hippos in Tanzania the subject of their work. The photo features the muddy forms of hippos of various sizes crowded around each other with parts of their light grey bodies peeking out from the dark mud. This image has a number of accolades including placing 1st in the 2018 SkyPixel Aerial Photo & Video Contest and the 2018 Chromatic International Awards. ZekeDrone has been recognized in a number of contests in the past few years and has been featured on websites, in magazines, and in exhibitions. ‘A Shoal of Colorful Fish’ by Jacek Deneka Polish photographer Jacek Deneka’s piece ‘A Shoal of Colorful Fish’ earned the title of Photo of the Year in the 2019 Drone Awards. His work drew a parallel between a cluster of cross-country skiers rushing down a slope and a large group of rushing down a river. Their colorful jackets stand out in stark contrast against the white of the snow. '爪哇之巅' by Tony Wang The lighting and the colors in this shot are amazing. The shape of the mountains makes your eyes glide across the image. The photographer gives this photo character by playing with the foreground and background. We see Mount Bromo, an active volcano, standing proudly in focus while the other peak is in more of a silhouette with details peeking through the shade and fog. This image was a grand prize winner in the SkyPixel 5th Anniversary Aerial Photo & Video Contest. Credit: Alex Chacón ‘Bolivia by Motorbike and Drone’ by Alex Chacón Alex Chacón’s video earned the distinction of being the 1st Classified winner for the Video category in the 2019 Drone Awards. The video depicts the pilot traveling only with his motorbike and drone, documenting this 60-day journey across various landscapes. The video is full of beautifully composed shots and gorgeous scenery. Chacón is no stranger to recognition for his videos. A number of his videos have gone viral, garnering millions of views on YouTube. He also helms a travel blog called The Modern Motorcycle Diaries where he documents his adventures. Credit: Sam Favret 'Natural Mystic' by Sam Favret In this Grand Prize-winning video, we see a skier’s small figure juxtaposed against the massive form of a snow-capped mountain. The shots of the mountain are beautiful, and the camerawork is interesting. The drone’s camera slowly follows the skier down the slopes until he zips out of frame. With no music, the viewer is easily immersed in the environment. Sam Favret is the skier featured in the video, and this film has been recognized in other international contests, including the New York Cinematography Awards, Berlin Flash Film Festival, and Skypixel's 5th Anniversary Aerial Photo & Video Contest. Credit: Bachir Moukarzel Showreel 2019 by Bachir Moukarzel Moukarzel's Showreel 2019 invites us to experience Dubai. With a series of smoothly captured clips of landscapes, wildlife, cityscapes, people, and more. Highlights of this video are the scenes emphasizing the shadows of their subjects such as camels walking through the sand and construction workers passing along buckets. This video also earned the distinction of being the 1st Classified winner for the Video category in the 2020 Drone Awards. Bachir Moukarzel in aerial photography and videos and has received several awards for his urban and wildlife work. These photos and videos were just the tip of the iceberg in the realm of award-winning, internationally recognized aerial content. Despite the circumstances, some drone competitions and exhibitions are still in full swing, and taking into account are changing the world by including categories related to the pandemic or changing when and how they exhibit work. If you’re interested in seeing more, be on the lookout for international, national, or even local contests accepting work captured by a drone. Take a chance and submit some of your own work. You may be a future award-winning drone pilot! Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

When you’re good at something, you should be recognized for it. All over the world, people have embraced drones as the next level of photography, so it stands to reason that there would be platforms to exhibit and reward those whose work can be considered the best of the best. For the past few years, companies have been giving aerial photographers worldwide an opportunity to prove themselves a stand-out amongst their peers. If you’re a drone photographer with a lot of promise, consider submitting your work to these aerial photo contests. Drone Photo Awards Drone Photo Awards (often simply referred to as Drone Awards) is a worldwide aerial photography and video competition affiliated with Siena International Photo Awards. Created to highlight work set apart from traditional photography, the Drone Photo Awards isn’t exclusive to your average quadcopter. According to their About page, Images captured by “fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, balloons, blimps and dirigibles, rockets, kites, and parachutes” are also accepted. On their website, you can see a gallery of winners from previous years’ competitions. Photographer Jacek Deneka’s work, ‘A Shoal of Colorful Fish’, earned the title of Photo of the Year and is prominently featured. Below his feature, you can explore the works of the other winners in each category. By clicking on ‘Discover the winners’, you can see the 1st Classified image, the Runner Up, 3 highly commended works, and 7 commended works. Winning photographers receive a number of prizes. Drone Photographer of the Year wins €500,00 worth of photography equipment. They and the category winners receive the Pangea Prize Crystal statuette. Highly commended and commended photographers receive a parchment onstage. All winners will have their work displayed at the “Above Us Only Sky” exhibition, they will be special guests at the awards ceremony and the gala dinner, and their work will be published in the online gallery. They will also have their work exhibited during the Siena Awards Festival and receive press coverage “from publications and media outlets around the world”, increasing their chances of being globally recognized. Additionally, it’s important to note that all photographers who participate in the contest retain the copyright for their work, but winners and finalists grant Drone Photo Awards “limited and restricted use of winning photos ...” More details about this are available in the competition rules. For the 2020 competition, the categories were Wedding, Video, Urban, Nature, People, Animals, Abstract, Sport, Series, and Empty Cities: Life Under Covid-19. The Series category requires a set of 5-9 linking images with the same theme and editing style, and the Empty Cities category is accepting work in both the photography and video formats. The submission period for this competition started on May 1, 2020 and ended June 15th, 2020. The awards ceremony will take place during Siena Awards Festival in October at the Teatro dei Rinnovati in Siena. SkyPixel Aerial Photo & Video Contest Created by DJI, SkyPixel launched in 2014 and serves as "a dedicated platform for aerial photographers and filmmakers from around the world." It is now considered the world’s largest platform for drone and aerial photo and video sharing. Towards the end of 2015, SkyPixel celebrated its first anniversary with the first in a series of annual aerial photo contests. As of this article’s writing, SkyPixel has completed its 4th contest, celebrating its 5th anniversary, and we may see an announcement for its 5th competition in the next few months. SkyPixel’s 2019 competition was aptly named the SkyPixel 5th Anniversary Aerial Photo & Video Contest with the subtitle ‘Journey Beyond the Sky’. The contest submission period began December 3rd, 2019 and lasted until February 3, 2020. The winners were announced on March 3rd. Each year, the contest has encouraged storytelling, and this year’s competition emphasized it with the addition of the new Aerial Story category. Submissions are accepted in both video and photo formats. In the video section, the categories were city, travel, nature, and sport. In the photos section, the categories were architecture, portrait, nature, and sport as well. As previously stated, the final category is a new addition: Aerial Story. Its description reads: “From your first flight to all the amazing places you have explored, share your most memorable aerial story.” There are two grand prizes, one for each format: the Abbual Video Award sponsored by Nikon and the Annual Photo Award sponsored by Western Digital. Winners of the Abbual Video Award will receive a collection of Nikon equipment with a total value of $11,566. Annual Photo Award winners will receive Western Digital products and an Inspire 2 Professional, a $13,010 value. SkyPixel also hosts a gallery of past winners on their Contests webpage. 2019’s grand prize winners were NATURAL MYSTIC by Sam Favret Haute-Savoie from France and 爪哇之巅 by Tony Wang from Beijing, China. Prize winners go up to 3rd place, and many other participants were recognized through the 5th Anniversary Prize, nominated entries, and the People’s Choice Prize. Aerial Photography Awards The last contest on this list is the newest. The Aerial Photography Awards is an international competition for aerial photographers. The competition already has participants from over 55 countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Australia, the Philippines, Germany, and Zambia. Their call for entries states that they’re “inviting all photographers, whether they take photos from a high point of view or use tools such as drones, helicopters, hang gliders, paragliders, ULMs, and all sizes of aircraft, to submit their best photographs, no matter where in the world they were taken.” The Aerial Photography Awards opened for submissions for their first-ever competition on April 10th of this year. They don’t close until September 20th, so there’s still time for you to submit your work! Winners will be announced on October 20th. Originally, there were 6 main categories and 24 sub-categories: Urban, Nature, Fine arts, People, Editorial, and Real Estate. Recently, a new category was added, and it doesn't require an entry fee: World in Lockdown. Possible placements include 1 Grand-Prix winner, 12 category winners, 92 sub-category winners, and special mentions in each sub-category. The Grand-Prix winner and category winners will receive cash prizes, all winners will have their photos displayed in the online gallery, and every participant will have an opportunity for social media exposure. Be sure to check the contest guidelines for entry fees and submission requirements. The jury for this year’s competition consists of distinguished members of the aerial photography community from all over the world. There are 12 judges on the jury: Jeffrey Milstein, Daniel Beltrá, Dirk Dallas, Alex MacLean, Benjamin Grant, Peter Essick, Florian Ledoux, Hulia Boz, Abstract Aerial Art, Noura Al Murr Al Neyadi, Costas Spathis, and our very own Elena Buenrostro! Now’s the time to work on your portfolio and send in some entries! Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

As we move forward together, we make more progress in removing the barriers set before us, allowing ourselves and people like ourselves to take full advantage of previously inaccessible opportunities. Accessibility is an essential aspect of being in a community, and it can be granted through language programs and translating. It’s through these things that people can be more engaged with their community. Having access to materials in your native language facilitates inclusion. When the community supports these actions, they show their non-English speaking community members that they are seen and have a voice. According to the FAA, “nearly 25.6 million people in the U.S. have Limited English Proficiency,”. LEP.gov identifies Limited English Proficiency individuals as “[i]ndividuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English”. On the LEP.gov website, you can also find data as recent as 2015 showing that many states have a considerable population of people who speak English less than “very well” and speak Spanish at home. Additionally, data analyzed by the Pew Research Center confirms that Spanish is “the most spoken non-English language in U.S. homes”. Looking at the numbers, you can imagine how access to Spanish materials and resources would impact these populations. Credit: LEP.gov To reach this group, the FAA has launched a new pilot program that has translated some of its web pages into Spanish. The goal of the FAA’s new program is to “remove barriers”. By “translating content into Spanish”, they are giving Spanish-speaking citizens with LEP access to information that would facilitate their involvement in the drone community. This program targets recreational flyers and aims to provide them with “basic drone safety information”. Unlike commercial airline pilots, who must adhere to regulatory and legal English language requirements, recreational pilots do not have to be fluent in English. You can access the Spanish web pages with only a few clicks. Starting on the FAA’s homepage, click the green button with the white quadcopter icon labeled “Drones/Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)". Looking at the menu on the left, the last menu option is “UAS en Espanol”. Click there, and it will bring you to a page titled “Para Empezar”, the first Spanish page. This will also open up a submenu on the left under “UAS en Espanol”. This submenu has the option “Matricule su dron” under “Para empezar” and other items: Restricciones del espacio aéreo, Pilotos aficionados y organizaciones comunitarias, and Contáctenos. Credit: FAA.gov If you or someone you know is interested in joining the drone community and is more comfortable accessing information in Spanish, take advantage of this program and what it offers. In their announcement, the FAA states that they “will analyze the results of this outreach effort and may consider additional project phases in other languages in the future.” This pilot program’s success could lead to other language projects by the FAA, opening the drone world up to even more non-English populations in the United States. Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

Nowadays, there’s a podcast for everything: from book series to sports teams to relationships. Therefore, it stands to reason that drones would have their time to shine over the airwaves. There are drone podcasts available for almost every facet of drone life: flying tips, business advice, news, reviews, and more! If you’re in the market for some new listening material, check out these drone podcasts. This list includes only a few of the many out there. Even if you don't see something you like, with a Google search, you might find a drone podcast in your area of interest. Drone to 1K Drone to 1K is the podcast backed by Drone Launch Academy. Founded by David Young, Drone Launch Academy aims to help prepare their clients for the FAA's commercial drone knowledge exam, which is the exam pilots take to obtain Part 107 certification. This certification allows pilots to fly their drones for commercial purposes. Drone to 1K is an extension of the Drone Launch Academy's goal to empower and inform drone business owners. The podcast gets its name from its guests, business owners whose companies are making $1,000 per month or more using drones. Founder David Young hosts and speaks with these successful drone business owners, discussing how they got started and how they grew to earn a 1K or more monthly income. There are currently 2 seasons out now, 10 episodes each. Episode lengths vary from 35 to 55 minutes. The podcast has a 5.0 from 115 Ratings on Apple Podcasts. Bill The Drone Reviewer Podcast Bill the Drone Reviewer has been reviewing drones and drone accessories on his YouTube channel for 3 years. Alongside his reviews, Bill offers “tips, tricks, commentary, weekly [live streams], and updates on the drone industry.” He describes himself as a “seasoned IT professional who has always had a passion for technology.” He purchased his first drone in December of 2016, and then a few months later in February 2017, he obtained Part 107 certification, making him a licensed sUAS Remote Pilot. The Bill The Drone Reviewer Podcast features "same great quality content" seen on his channel with the occasional guest. As of the writing of this article, the podcast has 68 episodes with a typical episode lasting about 1 hour. The latest episode was posted on July 29th, 2020. In it, Bill hosts Rotor Talk Live Episode 70 and discusses the Skydio X2 announcement. Drone Radio Show The Drone Radio Show is a weekly podcast featuring stories about drones and the people who use them. Guests of the podcast come from every walk of the drone life. They’re people in the industry, business owners, and even recreational fliers. “Our guests share how they’re using drones to make a positive impact, build a business, lessons they’ve learned and insights that you can use to take YOUR interest in drones to the next level.” Randy Goers helms the podcast. He identifies as a city planner, strategist, and drone enthusiast. On his About page, he states that he started the Drone Radio Show to “showcase opportunities that are emerging in the drone industry, how those opportunities are changing lives, and more importantly, how you can be a part of this exciting industry.” As of the writing of this article, there are 100 episodes, and it has a rating of 4.5 from 45 ratings on Apple Podcasts. The Drone Radio Show podcast is also uploaded to a YouTube channel with the same name. Ask Drone U Podcast The Ask Drone U podcast is a daily Q&A podcast geared towards answering questions about drones and the drone industry. The questions featured are submitted by their audience: “We feature & answer actual questions from drone enthusiasts just like you!” Backed by the Drone U Flight School (“one of the largest online drone training schools”), the show is hosted by Paul Aitken and Rob Burdick, 2 out of the 3 founders of Drone U. You can listen to the podcast on their website or watch them on their YouTube channel. As of the writing of this article, there are 1,122 episodes of Ask Drone U up on their website. The Drone Trainer Podcast The Drone Trainer Podcast is a weekly show hosted by the Drone Trainer himself, Chris Anderson. Weekly, Chris interviews successful drone pilots from around the world so that they can share their insight with his listeners. With the goal of learning what makes a successful drone business, Chris and his guests discuss tips both technical and commercial. On Apple Podcasts, it has a rating of 4.9 from 51 ratings and is currently sporting 123 episodes. In the show's most recent episode, Chris is accompanied by Melissa Schiele with whom he discusses flying Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). The UAV Digest The UAV Digest’s podcast focuses on, you guessed it, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Systems. For the uninitiated, UAV is the name given to an aircraft that is flown without the pilot being on board. They are commonly referred to as drones but can take the form of crafts other than the iconic quadcopter. The UAV Digest typically updates on a weekly basis and tackles industry news, recreational and commercial drone trends, innovation, and regulation. The podcast launched in 2013 and is hosted by founders David Vanderhoof and Max Flight. The UAV Digest currently has 340 episodes, 50 of which are available on Apple Podcasts. There, it is rated 4.8 from 60 ratings on. Episodes are about 30 minutes long. Earlier episodes can be found on their website. The latest episode discussed various topics such as Wide-Area Motion Imagery (WAMI), UAS pilot program for Virginia, and the first commercial delivery drone to the Smithsonian. Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

Credit: Women Who Drone A portmanteau of the words ‘drone’ and ‘selfie, a dronie is simply a self-portrait taken with a drone. These days, instead of holding your phone at arm’s length to get the perfect angle, you can use drones to capture your good side at any angle. Dronies are becoming a popular way to take a selfie that stands out. Currently, over 100,000 posts on Instagram are tagged #dronie. Like any form of self-expression, dronies can be a fun and creative way to show the world who you are! Here are some tips on how to take a good dronie: Credit: @benetttriplets The journey to a good dronie starts with the drone itself. Drones are ideal for taking grand landscape photos, but that doesn't mean you won't look good as the subject of the frame. A good selfie drone will have a quality camera and stable controls. Particularly, you'll want to pay attention to its ability to zoom and hover. A drone with the ability to hover well will capture a stable image and a good camera will have the features you need to get a quality photo. You may also want to consider accessories like lenses to have more control over your results, using different lenses versus the built-in one to transform your image. Credit: @vngl.ooo Now that you have your materials, how exactly do you take a dronie? Founder and CEO of Women Who Drone Elena Buenrostro outlines in her video “3 Ways to Create a Dronie” different types of dronies you can capture: a regular head over dronie, a rotating dronie, and an ascending dronie. In a simple and straightforward manner, she describes and demonstrates how to capture these dronies. Here's a brief overview: Head Over Dronie: This is the easiest type of dronie you can capture. Simply hover your drone 10 feet above you and increase the altitude. If you are in the U.S., be careful not to exceed 400 feet. Rotating Dronie: The technique used to capture this type of dronie is similar to the Head Over, but there is the addition of a slow, subtle rotation to the left or right. Ascending Dronie: For this technique, hover your drone at least 10 feet in front of you and slowly tilt your right joystick backward while slowly increasing the drone’s altitude. Credit: @foxyginger For more tips, there is an interesting article on DJI Guides that gives advice on how to create interesting photo and video selfies with your drone. Techniques include using angles to play with shadows and taking long exposure shots to paint with light. Also, you may be considering taking dronies indoors. If you want to take dronies while inside, consider a drone that is small or smart. Inside, you're in close quarters with potentially more obstacles. Thus, you have more opportunities to crash and cost yourself a pretty penny. Some drones, like the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, have obstacle avoidance software that would come in handy. Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

Credit: Susan Kay Smith Earlier this month, I spoke with FPV pilot Ryan Lindsay Lessard (aka Mako Reactra) about her experience as an FPV racer who uses drone simulators. To paint a better picture of what the world of drone SIM racing is like, Ryan put me in contact with Susan Smith (aka Roo), another pilot who is active in the FPV community and an avid SIM racer. Susan Smith is an FPV drone racing pilot in real life, and she also races competitively in SIMs. She is a member of the Safety Third Racing Club and the team pilot for NewBeeDrone, a company based in San Diego, California that is dedicated to supporting newcomers to the FPV drone racing world: “We strive to support all the awesome pilots in the rapidly growing sport of FPV Racing, both locally here in San Diego, and all around the world!” Susan seems to stand by that mantra as she is invested in helping more women start racing drones. She has stated that she wants to empower men, women, and students to reach for their dreams. She regularly posts about FPV racing on her YouTube channel: RooFPV, and you can find her on Instagram @roo_fpv. Here’s what she had to say about SIMs: What is your favorite simulator and why? Credit: RooFPV There are so many simulators available today! Some of the most well-known simulators are Velocidrone, Liftoff, DRL, and DCL. They can even run different types of drones such as whoops and even XClass. Velocidrone has a whoop and X-class add-on package, and there is another simulator for whoops known as Tiny Whoop Go. Each of the simulators has its pros and cons! Velocidrone is widely used by drone racers, and it hosts realistic race tracks - as well as tracks that you could never fly in real life that mimic flying through space. DRL allows you to run the same tracks that the TV pilots race on. The graphics are outstanding, and a few of the maps are particularly good for freestylers. I also really like the tutorial for new pilots. Liftoff was the first simulator I used regularly, and I love the tracks there as well; Joshua Bardwell’s backyard is replicated here for racing or freestyle. DCL is a newer SIM and boasts some of the impressive graphics in the space. DCL can also be run on PS4, which is allowing women without drone radio controllers to fly a drone. The best part about a simulator is that you can usually add your exact drone setup so that it more closely mimics what you fly in real life. Whatever simulator you choose, you’ll learn to be a better drone pilot, whether you race or freestyle. Credit: RooFPV What was it like learning how to use drone simulators? Were your real-life skills completely transferable? The great part about learning in a simulator is that you aren’t costing yourself hundreds of dollars in repairs while you learn! When you crash, you can just hit reset. I know one pilot who practiced for several months in the simulator and then went to a real drone race. She had never flown a drone before in real life and was able to fly through the gates — and in fact did quite well in the race. How well do you think simulators stack up against real-life FPV? They stack up surprisingly well. Just like in real life, it takes a little time to “warm up” when flying a simulator. You’ll want to be patient with yourself as you try to learn. I explained it to a friend as like when she learned to drive a car or use a sewing machine. When you first drive a car, you push the gas pedal too hard, and then slam on the brake. The same thing happens with drones. You need to learn to be light on the sticks that control the drone because a little movement can go a long way. Have you learned anything from playing simulators that translates into real life? Absolutely! I learned to do power loops and flips in the simulator, both of which were moves I was afraid to do in real life for fear I’d lose or break my quadcopter. One of my favorite things to use the simulator for is to experiment with different rates or camera angles. I can easily change my roll, pitch or yaw rates, and see how it affects my flying. I can even time myself over several laps to see more objectively how different rates affected my flying. Credit: RooFPV What is it like competing virtually vs in real life? I was really surprised at how nervous I got when I began competing in SIM races. The adrenaline rush was crazy! My hands were shaking. My mouth was dry. There were butterflies in my stomach. When you race in the SIM, typically you are doing several races right in a row, whereas in real life you’ll only fly one battery at a time. For this reason, I actually think races in the SIM can cause more nerves at first than real life. The benefit of doing so many SIM races is that now, I don’t get as nervous. Don’t get me wrong — I still feel the nerves when I’m under the spotlight, especially if the announcer is showing everyone my screen! But it is much less than when I first started. It has definitely helped me to calm my real-life nerves. Now, the race pressure doesn’t bother me nearly as much. Credit: RooFPV If someone was interested in competing, how could they get involved? If you can, watch some of the SIM competitions! I like to watch them online while I’m practicing in the SIM. It’s a great way to see what some of the racing is like. But once you’re able to fly through a map, I’d encourage you to give it a shot! You can start with entering some multiplayer races within the SIM. This can give you a chance to practice what it’s like to race against other people. Don’t be discouraged if you’re much slower than they are because you don’t know how long they’ve been flying or how much time they have available to practice. I was dead last in every SIM race I entered for a year, and now I sometimes can make it to the Top 7 when I’m racing. Once you’re able to complete laps — even if they’re slow — then you’re likely ready to step up to a race. Find an event that is beginner-friendly and go for it! The races are typically run on a Discord channel, so you’ll want to join the server and be ready to listen. Be sure to read the rules and understand how the race works. For some races, you have a day or two to set a qualifying time. That is your fastest time on the map. Then, you simply need to show up at the race time. The race starts with the pilots divided into heats based on their qualifying time. For other races, the track is released to everyone at the same time, and you typically have an hour to set a qualifying time before pilots are divided into heats. Everyone is very encouraging and welcoming — we all love when folks come to race for the first time. Give it a shot! Do you have any tips for people looking to get involved in drone simulators and competitions? Join the social media groups, and introduce yourself! You’ll find people who would love to practice and race with you. Is there an online community of simulator racers? Yes, there are several! You should look for a group of pilots who use your chosen SIM. Some of the ones I joined are: Velocidrone Community Facebook group (see a variety of upcoming events) Simubators Discord channel (variety of upcoming events) Drone Racing League Discord channel Fayetteville Multi Velocidrone Discord channel (features Wednesday night races for all levels) What do you hope to see in simulators in the future? I’d love to see more women competing on the simulator! A few weeks ago we had four women in a Velocidrone race, and that was the most women I had ever seen in a single race. I hope that more women will give it a shot because it’s a great way to practice real-life racing and improve stick skills. Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

On December 28th, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that they released two final rules for flying drones. These new rules concern Remote Identification and the authorization to fly over people and at night under certain conditions. In their press release, the FAA revealed that there are currently over 1.7 million drone registrations and 203,000 FAA-certificated remote pilots. These measures are part of an effort to facilitate the drone industry's growth and the safe integration of drones into national airspace. Together, these new rules are supposed to also provide “increased flexibility”. Remote ID We’ve discussed Remote ID a few times before on this blog. Last year, we reported that the FAA had issued a Request for Information for a remote ID system. The request was issued in December of 2018 and closed in February of 2019. On December 31st, 2019, the FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for remote identification of UAS. In February of 2020, we reported that citizens could voice their opinion on the notice by submitting an official comment to the Federal Register. At that time, there were over 10,00 public comments posted. Some citizens railed against the notice, and others voiced their concerns for how the rule would impact them. A common theme among the comments was the potential impact such a rule would have on hobbyists, and this thread continues in people’s comments on the final rule. While things are moving forward for those in the drone industry, hobbyists and recreational fliers feel that these new rules are essentially barriers. The FAA’s official Twitter account tweeted about the announcements. Some users' reactions were negative since they saw the rule as an obstacle to those who fly drones recreationally. Others were unconcerned. Replies to the FAA’s tweet included the following comments: Ultimately, utilizing remote ID with drones is supposed to support the integration of drones into the national airspace system, an active effort that has been ongoing for some time now. Notably, there was the creation of the LAANC, the application process for obtaining authorization to enter the national airspace system, which is supported by the government and private businesses. Also, it was a topic at the 5th Annual FAA UAS Symposium. On the subject, the FAA states in their press release, “Airspace awareness reduces the risk of drone interference with other aircraft and people and property on the ground.” The new Remote ID rule (Part 89) applies to those who operate drones that require FAA registration. According to the press release, these operators can comply with the new operational requirements in three ways: Operate a standard Remote ID drone that broadcasts identification and location information of the drone and control station Operate a drone with a Remote ID broadcast module (may be a separate device attached to the drone), which broadcasts identification, location, and take-off information Operate a drone without Remote ID but at specific FAA-recognized identification areas More detailed information on this final rule can be found in the executive summary of the Final Rule on Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft (Part 89). The executive summary also includes a section on major changes from the proposed rule to the final rule: Network-based / Internet transmission requirements have been eliminated. The final rule contains Broadcast-only requirements. UAS operators under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations may continue to register with the FAA once, rather than registering each aircraft. However each Standard UA or Broadcast Module serial number must also be entered into the registration record for the unmanned aircraft. ‘Limited Remote ID UAS’ has been eliminated and replaced with Remote ID Broadcast Module requirements to enable existing UA to comply. FRIA applications may be submitted to the FAA beginning 18 months after the effective date of the rule, and applications may be submitted at any time after that. Educational institutions may now apply for FRIAs as well as community-based organizations. Operations over People The final rule on flight operations over people (OOP) and at night has been highly anticipated. Because of the current Part 107 federal regulations, pilots are prohibited from operating at night and over people. To do so requires a waiver from the FAA. With the new rule, these operations are allowed depending on the operation's level of risk. They are permitted based on four categories of eligibility. These categories are covered in detail in the executive summary. Before operating at night, remote pilots must complete either the updated initial test or the updated recurrent online training. Per the new rules, small drone operators must have their remote pilot certificate and identification in their physical possession when operating if they need to present them to authorities. Also, the requirement to complete a recurrent test every 24 calendar months has been replaced with a requirement to complete updated recurrent training that includes operating at night in identified subject areas. Drone manufacturers will have 18 months to begin producing drones with Remote ID. Then operators will have an additional year to start using them. For more information and inquiries related to this announcement, citizens are directed to contact the FAA by calling 844-FLY-MY-UA or emailing the FAA at pressoffice@faa.gov. Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

Drone racing, or FPV, is a sport that challenges pilots to strategically fly through complex racing tracks at high speeds. Pilots compete in these races in person while watching a first-person view of their drone camera footage through special FPV goggles or virtually through drone simulator games. Either way, the racers are immersed in a high-flying competition of speed and strategy. The Drone Champions League (DCL) was first mentioned on our blog when we covered flying virtually with drone sims as an alternative to going outside. However, the DCL isn’t just the creator of a highly praised drone simulator. The DCL proudly carries the distinction of being the recognized championship for professional drone racing teams. About the DCL In the past, we’ve focused on FPV drone racing as an individual sport, but the DCL is a race series that promotes several teams of professional pilots. These are international teams that would compete at locations around the globe for the DCL World Championship. There are seven teams listed on their website: The China Dragons, Drone Sports, Quad Force One, Raiden Racing, SDT Euroflytec Team, XBlades, and Super Sonic X (formerly known as Veloce Racing and later Falcons Racing). The DCL challenged themselves to establish drone racing as a world sport by producing live and virtual racing events that can be enjoyed in person or through streaming. Thousands of spectators have watched these events in person. In 2020, the DCL’s fifth season was completely virtual. Pilots competed in DCL - The Game in a virtual world with replicas of real cities. On April 7th, the DCL announced on their social media pages that their 2021 World Championship would be a hybrid season. The teams will race virtually, then in a real-life location, which will be streamed live on Twitch. Credit: Drone Champions League The Women’s Cup Similar to other drone racing spaces, women are underrepresented as competitors in the DCL. Based on the DCL’s team pages, SDT Euroflytec is the only team that features a female pilot at the moment: Nuria Hernando flying under the moniker Bright FPV. However, this will change greatly in 2021. On April 9th, the Drone Champions League announced their Women’s Cup. In their announcement, the Drone Champions League states that their Women’s Cup aims to provide a global platform for female drone pilots. Women will put their drone racing skills on display in front of millions of people worldwide in races that are broadcasted live on TV and online. Ultimately, the DCL hopes to encourage girls and women to participate in drone sports and grow the FPV community. In the DCL Women’s Cup, they will be given the opportunity to join a team and benefit from the support that comes with it. - The Drone Champions League Puts Female Drone Pilots in the Global Spotlight with the DCL Women's Cup The DCL Women's Cup will take place with female drone pilots competing for the title in front of a virtual audience. Interested female pilots applied for spots on a team by showing their flying talent in DCL - The Game. Their performance in DCL - The Game will be a determining factor in their draft selection qualification. From June to November 2021, the chosen female pilots will compete against each other in seven race weekends in the Women’s Cup. The first six races will take place at virtual locations worldwide, including the USA, Switzerland, and China. According to the DCL, “[t]he final race weekend is set to take place in a real-life physical location.” The winning team will be announced in November, after all seven race weekends have been completed. For the Women’s Cup, each team will choose two female pilots from the draft selection. The team that finished last in the final standings of the 2020 DCL World Championship gets the first choice. Each race day of the Women’s Cup is split into four "heats." Each of the seven teams is represented by a pilot in one heat. All seven pilots race at the same time against each other in a “Big Heat.” After each heat, the pilot's final position correlates to a fixed number of points. The team with the most cumulative points after all four heats wins the race day and will be crowned the Women's Cup Champion. The Draft Selection Pilots qualify to be in DCL’s teams by competing in DCL - The Game, their drone simulator game available on Steam, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. DCL - The game is a collaboration between DCL and THQ Nordic, a global video game publisher and developer. It is advertised as having over 30 tracks, a worldwide userbase, and four flight modes: Arcade, GPS, Angle, and Acro. The pilots in the highest racing mode compete for places in the actual DCL Draft Selection, allowing players from the game to be recruited by teams to fly in the real-life series. The Draft Qualification for this year began running on April 19th. The DCL invited pilots across the gender spectrum from all over the world to demonstrate their flying talent from the comfort of their homes. Interested pilots could fly all four virtual tracks for their chance to be selected by a team and fly in the DCL World Championship or DCL Women's Cup for 2021. The Draft Selection Qualification to join one of the DCL’s teams officially ended Friday, May 14th. DCL considers speed and technical knowledge essential in drone racing, and both were considered in the qualification process. Aside from this, participants could also convince the teams by showcasing their success and experience outside the DCL. The best-performing pilots were eligible to compete in a final race. This race took place on May 22nd. Starting at 12 pm UTC, the pilots were given 24 hours to fly the best possible time on an entirely new racetrack. The teams’ final selections will be announced on May 31st. Tyesha Ferron is a writer and an artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital art, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

For pilots in Australia, the government entity responsible for regulating aviation is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Through their website, pilots can easily access and stay updated on important information regarding Australia’s drone policies. On the homepage, drones are listed under Aircraft and on the sidebar with links to other aviation-related information. CASA’s drone webpage has information for pilots who fly for fun and for business. A prominent feature on CASA’s drone webpage is their Know Your Drone campaign, a campaign dedicated to national drone safety education. Know Your Drone was created to promote national drone safety rules and provides essential information regarding regulations for recreational fliers. The page hosts guides on Australia’s new rules for drone registration and pilot accreditation, current drone rules, safety apps, and tips for buying a drone. Commercial fliers can find the information they need on the main drone page. Registration For recreational fliers, new rules regarding registration and accreditation will go into effect in March 2022 and will be required by May 30th, 2022. According to these new rules, pilots who fly for fun will need to register their drone before flying if it weighs more than 250 grams. Registration can be completed online through the myCASA portal and will last for 12 months before you have to reregister. As of this article’s writing, the cost of registration and potential fees for recreational fliers has yet to be determined and will be decided following a “period of public consultation”. To register your drone, you will need: To be at least 16 years old A myCASA account Proof of identification (e.g., an Australian passport, Australian birth certificate, Australian citizenship certificate, foreign passport, or ImmiCard) An aviation reference number* (ARN) The make, model, serial number, weight, and type of drone you’re registering *Note: An ARN is the unique ID number that CASA will use to identify you each time you communicate with them. You can apply for one online via your myCASA account. As a recreational flier, you won’t need to register your drone if (1) you fly exclusively indoors, (2) you don’t intend to fly at all, or (3) your drone weighs 250 grams or less, and it’s not being flown for or at work. For commercial fliers, there is a new rule regarding registration. As of January 28, 2021, drone registration and operator accreditation are now required for drones flown for business purposes regardless of their weight. If you’re flying your drone to provide any type of service (e.g., selling photos or videos, inspecting sites or equipment, surveillance, research, etc.), you must register your drone before flying. After registering, you can download/print your certificate from myCASA. Registration is free and valid for 12 months. If you are found to be flying an unregistered drone, you can be fined up to $11,100. More registration information can be found here. Certification (Accreditation) If you’re flying for fun, you don't need to do anything today. Accreditation for recreational fliers will open in March 2022 and will be required by 30 May 2022. These new rules require pilots flying a drone weighing more than 250 grams to get accredited as proof that they understand the drone safety rules. The accreditation process will consist of watching a short video then completing a quiz to test your knowledge. You will be able to complete it online through the myCASA portal. Accreditation will be free and last for three years, and accredited pilots can supervise children younger than 16 (who must be supervised by an accredited adult who is at least 18 years old). Pilots will automatically have access to their accreditation certificate after they pass the quiz and will be able to download and print it through myCASA. Don’t worry about failing! You’ll have unlimited attempts to pass. Similar to registration, to get accredited, you will need: To be at least 16 years old A myCASA account Proof of identification An aviation reference number (ARN) CASA requires pilots to obtain a remote pilot licence (RePL) if they want to fly for commercial purposes or outside of the drone rules. Pilots who wish to fly for these purposes must also apply for a remotely piloted aircraft operator's certificate (ReOC) or be employed by an existing ReOC holder as a remote pilot. RePLs do not expire, and there is no minimum age requirement to obtain one. To obtain a remote pilot licence, CASA lists four steps: Apply for an ARN Complete the required training through a certified training provider Download your digital license Register your drone Restrictions CASA has created an easy-to-follow video on their drone rules for recreational drone operators. This video and the rules are available on YouTube and the Know Your Drone webpage. You can also download the rules as an infographic PDF file. Credit: CASABriefing The rules include but are not limited to the following: Do not fly your drone higher than 120 meters (400 feet) above ground level or beyond your visual line of sight. Do not fly over or above people, and keep your drone at least 30 meters away from them. Do not operate your drone in a way that creates a hazard to another aircraft, person, or property. Do not operate over or near an area affecting public safety or emergency operations such as a car crash or fire. Respect people’s privacy, meaning no photographing or recording others without their consent. Only fly one drone at a time and during the day, but do not pass through clouds or fog. Operators flying drones weighing more than 250 grams must fly at least 5.5 kilometers away from a controlled airport. Operators can fly their drone within 5.5 kilometers of a helicopter landing site or a smaller aerodrome without a control tower. However, they must land as quickly and safely as possible should they become aware of manned aircraft nearby. To find safe places where you can fly, download one of the CASA-verified drone safety apps for custom location-based information. These apps will have maps of where you can and can’t fly per aviation legislation, but you will still need to check the local rules and regulations from your local and state government before you fly. Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

Over the past few days, the internet has been abuzz with news of NASA’s latest Mars rover, the Perseverance, finally landing at its destination. Missions to Mars have been a part of our country’s space exploration legacy since the Mariner 3 and 4 launched in 1964, and from then on, NASA’s Mars Exploration Program has continued to launch crafts (a mix of orbiters and landers) towards the red planet with several successes and failures. Despite many launches, only eight NASA spacecraft have managed to land on Mars’s surface. The Mars 2020 rover mission is the latest success in a long line of Mars missions. Perseverance was launched on July 30, 2020, and made its landing on February 18, 2021. Interestingly, this rover had a passenger aboard: the Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity. NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter is an autonomous helicopter carried under the Perseverance rover, covered by a shield for protection during the descent and landing. It made the trip to Mars to perform its own mission: an experimental flight test. Following in the footsteps of the Mars Pathfinder rover and the Mars Cube One, Ingenuity is a technology demonstration — “a project that seeks to test a new capability for the first time”. After landing, the helicopter must survive its first 30 Martian days (31 Earth days), enduring extreme temperatures. After that, the team will initiate the first-ever aircraft flight on another planet. The helicopter will attempt to autonomously take off and hover in Mars’s extremely thin atmosphere. This, along with the planet’s extremely low temperatures, makes flights highly difficult, so by performing its flight, the Ingenuity will be accomplishing a groundbreaking feat. “[I]f the rotorcraft lands successfully and remains operable, up to four more flights could be attempted, each one building on the success of the last.” The Mars Helicopter is masterfully designed. Weighing only 4 pounds, the craft is also solar-powered and can recharge itself. Smartly, it was designed to analyze its surroundings to ensure it maintains its programmed flight path when it eventually takes off. According to the Ingenuity Landing Press Kit, “NASA has invested about $85 million to build the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, accommodate it on Perseverance, and operate the helicopter on Mars.” The Ingenuity was built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California. JPL manages the Mars Helicopter Technology Demonstration for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. MiMi Aung, who serves as the project manager at JPL, describes the endeavor as uncharted territory. She states, “Just about every milestone from here through the end of our flight demonstration program will be a first, and each has to succeed for us to go on to the next. We’ll enjoy this good news for the moment, but then we have to get back to work.” Reported on February 19th, mission controllers at JPL received a downlink with Ingenuity’s first status report. The report indicated that “both the helicopter and its base station ... are operating as expected.” According to Tim Canham, Ingenuity’s operations lead at JPL, this positive report is exactly what the team was looking for and gives them the go-ahead to move the mission forward. Credit: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter's mission will be the culmination of years of hard work by many people, and the world is waiting to see the team’s goals come to fruition. The success of this mission could lead to the inclusion of more aerial elements in future mars missions. While this mission was years in the making, it is just the beginning for many possible future endeavors. For more in-depth information on NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, check out Ingenuity’s press kit or the Mars Helicopter webpage, where you can read about the technical aspects of Ingenuity, the team’s objectives, and the mission itself. Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron