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Two years ago, at Super Bowl LI – the greatest Super Bowl ever – Intel Shooting Star Drones performed as the opening act for the half-time show headlined by Lady Gaga. The performance was the first time drones were commissioned to perform at the Super Bowl. Back then, General Manager of Intel’s New Technology Group Josh Walden remarked positively about the potential of drone light shows. The 2017 show was composed of 300 Intel Shooting Star drones. Together, they lit up the sky to transform into the Pepsi logo, American flag, and the Intel logo. For that show, concerns about “the weather and environment” led to the drone’s being filmed ahead of time, and what we all saw on TV was a pre-recorded performance filmed in January. Thus, sports fans who attended the game could not witness the light show live with Lady Gaga. Regardless, the show was one more milestone achieved after the precedent Intel set with their record-breaking performance from two years before. In 2015, Intel achieved its first Guinness World Records title by flying 100 drones simultaneously. The following year, they would break their own record in Germany with 500 drones flown at one time. In December 2017, Intel would break their own record yet again with the performance they pre-recorded for the Olympics opening ceremony. The performance was accomplished using 1,218 of the Shooting Star drones. In this year's Super Bowl, which aired February 4th, Intel Shooting Star Drones continue their legacy of innovative drone light show performances by breaking one of their Guinness World Records, yet again. With 150 of their new Enhanced Intel Shooting Star drones, Intel’s team choreographed an indoor light show that beat the previous record of 110. This was not a challenge-free feat though. As explained by Anil Nanduri, Intel Drone Group VP and GM, there were a few things that made this performance unique. For one, being indoors in the enclosed Mercedes-Benz stadium meant that the team could not rely on GPS to track the location of the drones. Instead, they used the same location technology used in the Radio City Music Hall with their performances with the Rockettes. Another aspect that made this performance special was that unlike with Super Bowl LI, when the performance was pre-recorded, this show was performed live, meaning the stakes were high. The Shooting Stars weren’t the only drones with permission to be present at the Super Bowl. During all the festivities, Skyfire Consulting, whose website proclaims them to be America's leading public safety UAS experts, was performing security checks with the help tethered DJI quadcopter's. Matt Sloane, who co-founded the company, was on a nearby rooftop performing a security watch with a team of pilots. According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Sloane's “extensive safety plan” included using a tether system made by Drone Aviation Corp. The drones used for their security detail were the DJI Matrice 210. Skyfire and Intel’s presence at the Super Bowl is an indicator that drones are still being applied in a variety of ways, whether it’s entertainment or security. There’s no slowing down progress. Drone light shows and tethered drones have been covered on this blog before. Read about them and more on the Women Who Drone blog. 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

Video Credit: New York City Drone Film Festival The New York City Drone Film Festival was founded in 2015 by Randy Scott Slavin, an award-winning director, photographer and aerial cinematographer. The event began as the first international film festival dedicated to drone cinematography, and 2019 marks its 5th year running. This year's festival featured panels, screenings, an afterparty, an expo, races, demos, and a Q&A with the film directors post screening. The film festival named winners in eleven categories, and it’s clear that the chosen victors deserved their accolades. Let's take a look at some of the winning pieces. CINEMATIC FPV CATEGORY & BEST IN SHOW - MOABLASTER 2 - THE STORM BY AIRBLASTR This film stars rock formations and a storm, and we get a first-person view. My favorite part is when the drone flew through a waterfall and the water droplets hit the lens. The Storm was recorded by Airblastr a.k.a. Jonny Durst from Bozeman, Montana. EXTREME SPORTS CATEGORY - GOOD MORNING BY RICHARD PERMIN, MAXIME MOULIN & FILMMAKER ANTOINE FRIOUX In the extreme sports category, our winner is a fun and lighthearted film featuring skier Richard Permin as he skis his way through several mornings. The highlight of this video for me was watching Permin fly from rooftop to rooftop at the Avoriaz 1800 ski resort in France. LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURE CATEGORY - A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BY MARCUS MÖLLER This video featured beautifully vibrant colors, seamless transitions, and captured awesome reflections on different water surfaces. It wonderfully captures the different beauties of nature. NARRATIVE CATEGORY - I AM DRONE BY TOMMY TABIJIA A.K.A. UMMAGAWD The transitions between clips are creative and engaging. This film successfully personifies a drone by giving it a story, thoughts, and feelings. Plus, the robotic text-to-speech voice was a nice touch and added to the concept. X-FACTOR CATEGORY - I AM FRAGILE BY FLORIAN LEDEUX The title and imagery of this film work together as we’re shown clips of various wildlife and landscapes. “I AM FRAGILE”, ice, polar bears, walruses, and whale pods. They all remind us of our precarious relationship with nature. SEE MORE The NYCDFF was held at the start of this month at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, and Women Who Drone attended the event as a media partner along with Dronegear, From Where I Drone, and Rotor Drone Magazine. This is only a selection of the winners for this year’s competition. Winners’ submissions from this and previous years are featured on the NYCDFF website. See who else won at https://www.nycdronefilmfestival.com/winners. 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 #newyork #newyorkcity #NewYorkCityDroneFilmFestival #nyc #NYCDFF #dronecinematography #film #filmfestival #womenwhodrone #WOMENWHODRONE

Credit: Hermes Rivera Canada’s national authority on aviation is the Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA). Starting from the Canada.ca homepage, drone regulations can be found by clicking on Menu, scrolling to Transport and infrastructure, then clicking the Drone safety link under Most requested. The Drone safety webpage of the TCCA website includes links to helpful information such as Canada’s legal requirements for drone flight, safety regulations, and penalties for not following regulations. The page also has links to information on important services including drone registration in Canada and obtaining a pilot certificate. One of the site's best tools is the “Where to fly your drone” page, which features an interactive map of Canada to help pilots decide where to fly. This tool is applicable to both commercial and recreational drone pilots. Credit: Transport Canada Drone Safety Registration For all drones between 250 grams and 25 kilograms, pilots will need to both register their drone with the TCCA and hold a valid pilot certificate regardless of whether they fly commercially or recreationally. The drones must also be marked with the registration number before takeoff. In order to log in to the registration portal, pilots will need to log in through either a Government of Canada account login or by using their online banking login information (if their institution is a Sign-In Partner). Registration can be done online through TCCA’s Drone Management Portal. According to the TCCA website, users will also need to pay a $5 registration fee. To register your drone, you will need: to be at least 16 years old either a Government of Canada login or information to log in through your banking institution the purchase date of the drone, if applicable the make, model, serial number, weight, and type of drone you’re registering a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Interac) Successful registration (along with the valid pilot’s certificate) will permit pilots to do basic operations, which refers to flying in uncontrolled airspace, among other factors. Pilots wanting to pursue advanced operations, including — but not limited to — flying in controlled airspace or over bystanders, will need to obtain a separate Safety Declaration along with the drone registration. If you are flying a micro-drone weighing less than 250g, you will not need to register the drone nor hold a drone pilot’s license. Image Credit: Transport Canda Pilot Certification (License) All pilots flying drones weighing between 250g and 25kg are required to pass the online pilot certification exam. A Canada drone pilot certificate, or license, is valid for 24 months. This goes for both a Basic Operations Certificate and an Advanced Operations Certificate. To receive a Pilot Certificate — Basic Operations, you will need to: be 14 years or older pay a $10 exam fee take the online exam for basic operations (called the Small Basic Exam) print your certificate through the Drone Management Portal and have it on you at all times when flying The Small Basic Exam is made up of 35 multiple-choice questions and requires a 65% or higher to pass the exam. To receive a Pilot Certificate — Advanced Operations, you will need to: be 16 years or older pay a $10 exam fee per attempt take the online exam for advanced operations (called the Small Advanced Exam) complete an in-person flight review with a reviewer from an affiliated drone flight school print your certificate through the Drone Management Portal and have it on you at all times when flying The Small Advanced exam includes 50 multiple-choice questions and requires an 80% or higher to pass the exam. Image Credit: Transport Canda Exam questions for both Basic Operations and Advanced Operations certificates are based on the knowledge requirements for pilots, which can be found here. Pilots with a Basic Operations certificate can only conduct basic flight operations, while pilots with an Advanced Operations certificate can conduct both basic and advanced flight operations. Flying a drone without meeting the requirements above can result in a fine of $1,000 for recreational pilots and $5,000 for commercial pilots. Both pilot certificates last for 24 months. To renew the certificate, pilots must: retake the exam (either basic or advanced) pass a flight review OR do one of these training activities listed on the Government of Canada aviation webpage: attend at a safety seminar endorsed by the TCA complete a recurrent training program from a drone flight school complete of self-paced study program endorsed by the TCA Full lists of rules and requirements for drone pilots in Canada, as well as resources for drone safety and tools to find the best places to fly, can be found on the Government of Canada Drone Safety webpage. Sarah Sabatke is a journalist, filmmaker and licensed drone pilot based in Baltimore, Maryland. Sarah is an avid fan of compelling visual storytelling and loves the potential that drone footage can add to a story. She is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and taught drone flight to students through the MU Drone Journalism Program, while also flying commercially. Instagram: @sarahsabatke

Location: Seattle, Washington Tell us about yourself. Give our readers a personal introduction to you and what you do. My name is Jackie, and I’m originally from the Washington D.C./Virginia area. I work full-time remotely in tech. I don't have a permanent home as my job has been fully remote since before Covid. However, I lived in Colorado last year and am in the Pacific Northwest for this summer. After, I might drive down the California coast. I use the flexibility of my work schedule to travel, move around to new places, and be inspired by all the new adventures I have. I love to hike, ski, camp, run, paddleboard, and capture all of these activities via my drone and camera. I love doing these adventures even more with my Shikoku dog named Sora. What inspired you to begin flying drones, and what made you want to enter the industry as a drone pilot? I have loved making films and videos since I was a little girl. I have also always loved working with new technology, being a part of the growing tech industry, and representing women. Drone flying makes me feel empowered. I love the new perspectives you can reach; drone flying gives me a different edge and a different space to create and share from. What were you doing before you started flying drones, and what made you make the transition? Currently, drone flying is still just a hobby for me as I have a full-time job in tech. What drone(s) are you currently flying, and what drone accessories do you love? The DJI Mavic Air. I’ve been flying it for about five years! What is your favorite feature on your drone and why? The automatic feature. I'm often hiking by myself with one hand on my leash for my dog, so being able to go hands-free is super helpful to me. I love the follow-me shots especially. What drone images are you most proud of and why? I'm more proud of my videos, but I’ve added a few. I think they just show my adventurous lifestyle and why I create. Diverse places and landscapes constantly inspire me, and I love capturing them and sharing them with others. Have you learned any valuable lessons from being in the drone industry that you can share with our female drone community? I have only been filming as a hobbyist. Just stay up-to-date with regulations as they can and do change. Follow and support other female creators for inspiration and encouragement too. Whether it's from a creative, commercial or humanitarian perspective, tell us about your most memorable drone flight you have piloted thus far. It's from a creative standpoint for me. I'd say last winter. I first heard the song "Runaway" by Aurora (before it got super overplayed on TikTok), and I immediately had this vision in my head of me falling into the snow and making this snow angel on a winter wonderland/snowy hike. I wanted to create and show the spirit of my time spent in Colorado, out exploring and hiking solo with my dog in nature. I had this vision, and I just couldn't stop when I had it. I knew I had to go out and create what I had pictured in my head. Being out there, setting up the shot, getting some unexpected shots, and putting it together with that song brought me so much happiness. What would you say to women and girls about the drone industry to spark their interest in getting involved? I'd say try not to be intimidated. It's hard to break into a culture or field that doesn't represent you or people that look like you, so I totally get it. However, if you want change to ever happen, then you have to overcome that fear for the betterment of future women. Drones are a super cool way to interact with technology that doesn’t have a steep learning curve. If you're into travel or photography, then it can bring your images to the next level and offer new ways for you to explore capturing that shot. When you're visiting a place, you might not see all it has to offer from the ground, and taking flight and looking at something from above can be super inspiring and unique. What excites you most about more women joining the drone industry? I'm excited to not have to explain myself each time I make a video. One time, I added a cool drone video I made to my Hinge dating profile, and I got asked several questions insinuating that I didn't film the video myself. They couldn't believe that a girl would film it so well, and many assumed someone else filmed it for me. The more women join the field, the more normalized it will become that women enjoy flying drones and aren't bad at it. I've dealt with the issue of exclusivity being in the tech field since early high school - so I’ve always just tried to push through it and not let it stop me from trying to do something new that I’m interested in. Do you have any drone tips & tricks you can share with our audience? Get it insured via a personal articles policy, always read the regulations before you go somewhere to fly so you're not disappointed, and be respectful/mindful of others around you. Go to popular filming locations on off-peak days/hours to avoid disrupting others. Just start filming! Find a good place that's free of obstacles and not crowded (but close to your home) to practice. What's the best way for our readers to get in touch with you? Instagram via @somewhere_with_sora or email. Jackie Lasky I studied Computer Science in my undergraduate program, and I’m currently pursuing a master’s degree in Data Analytics. I work full-time remotely as a Cybersecurity Engineer and spend all of my free time outdoors/adventuring and capturing those adventures through film and photography, often with my drone. I prefer drone video-editing the most and would love to make a side-career doing that someday.

Drones are transforming viticulture in ways more than one. Here's a quick lowdown on some of the most popular uses of drones in winemaking... By Ishveena Singh Winemakers have traditionally relied on instinct to make their good wines great. But now, farmers and vineyard owners chasing utter brilliance are turning to technology. More specifically, drone technology. That’s not to say that wineries were not exploring technology before the advent of drones. Bodegas Ayuso, arguably the most modern winery in Spain, has incorporated everything from automatic analysis and classification of grapes to self-emptying and self-cleaning tanks. Others have explored sensor-equipped tanks that can be remotely directed to cool down should any batch of fermenting grapes get too hot. But all that, more or less, relates to the core production and storage of the wine. Drones, meanwhile, come into the picture for everything that needs to be done before, and everything that comes after the cabernet, chardonnay, or merlot grapes make their way into the tanks. Drones in Winemaking: Imaging Capabilities for Precision Viticulture Water Stress Levels: California-based Jackson Family Wines has been using drones since 2015. The winery is best known for its Kendall-Jackson chardonnay, a supermarket staple. But it also supplies dozens of other wines to countries across the globe. With drought being a recurring condition in the state, the winery fires up drones to monitor the moisture in their crops. These drones are equipped with multispectral sensors that can detect moisture by evaluating the colors of vegetation. Disease Detection: This normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data can also be used to detect plant diseases such as the dreaded leaf roll that can delay fruit maturity and dramatically reduce fruit quality, pigmentation, vine vigor, and yield. In the meantime, European companies are using drones to detect flavescence dorée, which causes leaves to yellow and grapes to shrivel. Vineyard Management: Drone data, essentially, can help farmers to identify weak spots in a vineyard as well as areas with excessive vigor. This kind of knowledge can have a tremendous impact on the management of the vineyard. For example, if there’s a significant weak area, the winemaster may decide to harvest it last, or at a different time. Similarly, by relating the NDVI color classes to the ripeness and sugar levels of the grapes, different blocks in the vineyard can be harvested together to achieve more consistent wines. Drones for Fertilizer, Pesticide Spraying While China has been using drone spraying technology for over a decade, other countries are also quickly realizing the value of sprayer drones for high-value, low-acre crops such as grapes. Drones are more efficient than traditional hand-spraying and can easily supplement ground-based spraying vehicles as well. They can be used to apply pesticide or fertilizer to a smaller, targeted area as well, which a farmer can map out for the drone utilizing the data collected by NDVI cameras. Spraying drones can cover about four to five acres of farm area in one hour. Drones for Wine Marketing And now comes our favorite part, and something which we believe the Women Who Drone community can start with right off the bat: using drone photos and videos for vineyard marketing. Drone footage is the perfect tool to show the vast expanses and the sweeping views of the vineyards from a unique vantage point. This out-of-the-box perspective is a great asset for any promotional material. Vineyards can use it to create marketing videos, promote wine tours, or capture the entire winemaking process – right from the planting of the first seed to the harvesting and fermentation. Now, while these are some of the most effective ways in which vineyards are using drones, the applications of our flying machines do not end here. Farmers are using drones for security and surveillance purposes, and even to deter incoming birds that are known to cost some $80 million in crop damages in the state of Washington alone. Moreover, farm owners can leverage drones to map land contours for drainage. Whatever be the case, it’s safe to say drones are helping vineyards to improve both their bottom lines as well as the ‘drink of the Gods’! Ishveena Singh is a versatile journalist and writer with a passion for drones and location technologies. She has been named as one of the 50 Rising Stars of the geospatial industry for the year 2021. In the last 13 years, Ishveena has worked with both mainstream media organizations (Miami Herald International, Times of India, Microsoft MSN) and dedicated geospatial technology media (Geospatial World, Geoawesomeness). With a deep understanding of content marketing and social media, Ishveena also helps private companies (DJI, Aerodyne Group, Terra Drone Corporation) to generate qualified leads through useful and timely content. When she is not making magic at her desk, you are likely to find Ishveena on road trips, eating her way through life, or binge-watching TV shows. Connect with her today on LinkedIn and Twitter

Here’s a quick and simple guide to meeting the FAA’s Part 89 Remote ID requirement By Ishveena Singh The Federal Aviation Administration’s Remote ID (Part 89) rule for drones became effective on April 21, 2021. In its simplest form, Remote ID can be described as a digital license plate for a drone. More broadly, Remote ID is a monumental step toward a regulatory environment wherein drone operations can be fully and safely integrated into US airspace. How does Remote ID work? Well, since a physical license plate wouldn’t be of much use on a small airborne drone, Remote ID works by sending radio signals to receivers on the ground. As such, this necessitates either having a drone with built-in capabilities to transmit these signals or attaching an external module to the drone to do the same thing. Why is Remote ID necessary? With Remote ID enabled, if a drone appears to be flying recklessly or illegally, the FAA and other law enforcement agencies would be able to figure out its control station or take-off location. With such unparalleled aerial accountability, Remote ID will make the skies safer for all. This means the public acceptance of drones will improve, making these flying machines more ubiquitous. And there will be new possibilities for drone pilots to fly without worrying about special waivers and exemptions, such as flying at night or directly over people. Remote ID: Important dates to remember While the Part 89 rule may have come into effect already, you actually don’t need to do anything immediately. The FAA is giving drone manufacturers until September 16, 2022, to make all the necessary upgrades to future drones. And after that, drone pilots will have until September 16, 2023, to meet the operating requirements of part 89. Which brings us to the big question: How do I meet the requirements of Remote ID? 3 ways drone pilots can meet the Remote ID rule 1. Operate a Remote ID compatible drone: A Standard Remote ID Drone is one that is manufactured with remote ID broadcast capability built-in. All DJI drones, for example, introduced to the market after September 2022 will have Remote ID capabilities built in. Interestingly, the FAA plans to allow Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations only to those drones that have Remote ID built-in. 2. Operate a drone with Remote ID broadcast module: A broadcast module is an external device that can be added to a drone to retrofit it with Remote ID capability. The caveat, however, remains that any pilot operating a drone with a remote ID broadcast module must be able to see their drone at all times during a flight. 3. Operate without Remote ID at FAA-recognized sites: Understanding that it may not be possible for everyone to meet the Remote ID requirements, especially those in research and development fields, the FAA has kept room for some exceptions. The agency is allowing community-based organizations and educational institutions to get their premises registered as FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs). In these FRIAs, drones without Remote ID would be able to operate legally within the pilot's visual line of sight. This excellent graphic by the FAA explains it quite nicely: The drone services market is estimated to grow to $63.6 billion by 2025, and regulations like Remote ID are crucial for sustaining the momentum and enabling greater commercial opportunities. And if this rule improves the social acceptance of the technology we all love, it has got our vote. Ishveena Singh is a versatile journalist and writer with a passion for drones and location technologies. She has been named as one of the 50 Rising Stars of the geospatial industry for the year 2021. In the last 13 years, Ishveena has worked with both mainstream media organizations (Miami Herald International, Times of India, Microsoft MSN) and dedicated geospatial technology media (Geospatial World, Geoawesomeness). With a deep understanding of content marketing and social media, Ishveena also helps private companies (DJI, Aerodyne Group, Terra Drone Corporation) to generate qualified leads through useful and timely content. When she is not making magic at her desk, you are likely to find Ishveena on road trips, eating her way through life, or binge-watching TV shows. Connect with her today on LinkedIn and Twitter

More and more drone manufacturers are looking to sedate the hum of their machines to improve the public acceptance of drones By Ishveena Singh Multiple studies have found that the annoying sound drones make is the biggest barrier to wider public acceptance of the flying robots – second only to concerns around privacy. According to a NASA study, people find the buzzing sound of drones more bothersome than the lower-frequency loud noises of ground vehicles. Furthermore, research by the University of Salford in Manchester, UK concludes that drone noise is less preferable than that of commercial aircraft – even if it’s at the same volume! So, in order to promote wider the adoption and commercialization of drones, more and more manufacturers are now looking to sedate the hum of their machines. Impact of propeller design on drone noise The noise level of drones is largely governed by the shape and design of their propellers. This is how DJI was able to achieve a staggering 60% reduction in noise power levels with the release of the Mavic Pro Platinum. And this is why you find many other drone operators going for aftermarket propellers designed to reduce noise. A quick disclaimer here, though: Using a third-party propeller is one of the easiest ways to void the warranty of your drone and might even cause damage to the machine. Machine learning to make propellers quieter But what if drones had propellers that were actually pleasant to hear? Aerospace engineers at Australia’s RMIT University are working to make this a possibility. The team is using machine learning to design quieter propellers, the prototypes of which are then 3D printed for experimental acoustic testing. And the results are impressive. The researchers have found that their prototypes produced around 15dB less noise than commercially available drone propellers. There are two major factors at work here: The numerical algorithms developed to design the propellers, and The consideration of how noise is perceived in the human ear Dr. Abdulghani Mohamed, aerospace engineer and lead researcher at RMIT University, says, “By using our algorithms to iterate through a variety of propeller designs, we were able to optimize for different metrics such as thrust, torque, sound directivity, and much more. We also formulated a new metric, which involves how the human ear perceives sound, and propose to use that in future designs.” The team believes this method for optimizing propeller design can be applied to small quadcopters and flying taxis designed to carry human passengers alike. Mohamed goes on to explain how various manipulations of propeller blade noise can significantly impact how the human ear perceives it: The modulation of high-frequency noise is a major factor in the human perception of rotor noise. Human ears are more sensitive to certain frequencies than others and our perception of sound also changes as we age. By designing to such metrics, which take into account human perception, we can design less annoying propellers, which one day may actually be pleasant to hear. It’s worth noting that a quieter propeller design has been a key selling point for Joby Aviation, a passenger mobility company that has recently made its public trading debut on the New York Stock Exchange. The video below showcases how starkly different Joby’s propellers are from the deep, thumping sounds produced by a helicopter: Ishveena Singh is a versatile journalist and writer with a passion for drones and location technologies. She has been named as one of the 50 Rising Stars of the geospatial industry for the year 2021. In the last 13 years, Ishveena has worked with both mainstream media organizations (Miami Herald International, Times of India, Microsoft MSN) and dedicated geospatial technology media (Geospatial World, Geoawesomeness). With a deep understanding of content marketing and social media, Ishveena also helps private companies (DJI, Aerodyne Group, Terra Drone Corporation) to generate qualified leads through useful and timely content. When she is not making magic at her desk, you are likely to find Ishveena on road trips, eating her way through life, or binge-watching TV shows. Connect with her today on LinkedIn and Twitter

Why the DJI FPV is the perfect beginner’s drone to get you acquainted with the world of FPV flying By Ishveena Singh Last month, DJI launched a new product that would introduce a lot of people to a different kind of flying: first-person view or FPV. FPV means instead of looking at the drone as it flies in the sky, you wear a pair of goggles to see what the drone is seeing in real-time. This amazing sensory experience makes you feel like it’s you who is flying. And this style of flying is most commonly seen in the world of drone racing. However, traditionally, if someone wanted to take the plunge into the world of FPV racing, they would need to learn how to build their own drone. Not anymore. The all-new DJI FPV drone has just removed a huge barrier to entry to the world of FPV flying by letting you experience the absolute thrill of immersive drone flight right out of the box. The intuitive aerial platform with a 10 km video transmission range and a max speed of 140 kph has been designed in such a manner that even a total novice could take basic flights on Day 1. Don’t fancy racing? Use the drone for freestyle FPV and capture dynamic, cinematic footage with its 4K/60fps 120 Mbps camera. DJI’s RockSteady stabilization technology will smooth out any shaky footage and eliminate the rolling shutter effect as you film fast-moving scenes. And that warped and unappealing fisheye look that is so common in FPV footage? Just select the ‘Distortion Correction’ feature in the camera menu and you’ll be set! Flight Modes to Match Skill Levels Since the DJI FPV drone is designed for everyone from beginners to professionals, there are three different flight modes available depending on the skill and experience of the pilot. In any case, there is a dedicated Emergency Brake and Hover feature is available in all flying modes to make the drone stop and hover in place at any time during the flight. Normal (N) Mode: If you’re new to FPV, you can use this mode to get a flying experience similar to other DJI drones. The FPV drone will hover in place with the use of GPS and/or visual positioning systems (VPS) on the bottom. This mode also houses the maximum safety features including obstacle detection sensors on the front. Manual (M) Mode: Designed for more experienced users, this is the mode where all sensors and hovering features are disabled and you take complete, limitless control. The drone goes from 0 to 100 kph in just 2 seconds! Sport (S) Mode: This new hybrid mode offers some of the dynamic movement capabilities that come with M mode along with some of the key safety features of N mode. Sports mode is the middle step that has been developed to give pilots more room to explore their skills as they get accustomed to FPV flying. Several different viewing modes are also available, including a High-Quality Mode, a Low-Latency Mode, and an Audience Mode where you can share your perspective with up to eight additional goggle sets to allow onlookers to experience the flight. Priced at $1,299, the standard FPV combo contains the drone itself, a dedicated remote controller, FPV Goggles V2, all required cables, and one battery. There’s an option to buy a slick new motion controller too for $199. Ishveena Singh is a versatile journalist and writer with a passion for drones and location technologies. She has been named as one of the 50 Rising Stars of the geospatial industry for the year 2021. In the last 13 years, Ishveena has worked with both mainstream media organizations (Miami Herald International, Times of India, Microsoft MSN) and dedicated geospatial technology media (Geospatial World, Geoawesomeness). With a deep understanding of content marketing and social media, Ishveena also helps private companies (DJI, Aerodyne Group, Terra Drone Corporation) to generate qualified leads through useful and timely content. When she is not making magic at her desk, you are likely to find Ishveena on road trips, eating her way through life, or binge-watching TV shows. Connect with her today on LinkedIn and Twitter

Skydio, inc is a drone and software production company that specializes in autonomous drones. Their debut drone, R1, launched in 2018 and made a name for itself by being the first drone to feature Skydio’s Autonomy Engine. After several major software updates, the R1 was able to autonomously track cars, fly autonomously over large bodies of water, and more. During the summer of 2019, the R1 sold out, and now, Skydio is back with a new drone that raises the bar for autonomous technology. In this video on the Women Who Drone YouTube channel, Elena reviews the Skydio 2 drone sent to her by Skydio themselves. In her review, Elena notes that the Skydio 2 is a light quadcopter with interesting propeller placement, 7 cameras, and a magnetic battery. Her package also came with a Skydio Beacon, which launched alongside their new drone. The Beacon is an accessory that uses GPS tracking so that the Skydio 2 will follow you wherever you go, even if you’re out of sight. Pilots can fly their new drone using the Beacon’s simple interface. Image Credit: Skydio, Inc. Test #1: Running For Elena’s first test, she runs while holding the Beacon. We can see the drone follow her from the front, back, and side. So far, she’s impressed with how well it followed her. The take-off and landing were smooth, and she thinks it stacks up against her other drones Test #2: In the Woods Elena’s next test takes place in the woods. While she’s walking and running through the woods with the Beacon, the Skydio 2 tracks her and navigates its way around the trees. She’s surprised that it hasn’t crashed and is impressed with its performance. Test #3: Riding a Bike In Elena’s third and final test, she tasks the Skydio 2 with following her while she rides her bike. In this test, the Beacon is in her pocket. Regardless, Skydio 2 is able to follow her from the back, lect, right, and front. From the drone's footage, you can see it tracking her using a light blue circle. Skydio describes their drone as “ the most uncrashable drone on the planet”. It uses a new deep learning system “to understand the environment around it”, which helps it to anticipate and avoid obstacles. We can see from Elena’s test that the Skydio 2 just might live up to that. Buy your Skydio 2 here: https://bit.ly/3gddZP9. If you’re interested in seeing more drone and drone accessory reviews, check out the Women Who Drone YouTube channel. 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 Tags: #WWD #WomenWhoDrone #DroneReview #Review #Skydio #Skydio2 #SkydioBeacon #Beacon #Autonomy #AutonomousDrones #GPSTracking #AutonomousTechnology

Company: Hamptons Drone Images Location: Southampton, New York Tell us about yourself. I will always be a student in life and I love finding hidden details in landscapes most others might miss. I strive to be creative and bring the world a new perspective on the details of our earth through aerial art. What inspired you to begin flying drones, and what made you want to enter the industry as a drone pilot? I started building and flying model aircraft with my grandfather at a very young age. I got my first flight lesson at the age of 18 and fell in love. 20 years later, in 2016, I got my first drone and my life was forever changed. What were you doing before you started flying drones, and what made you make the transition? I was a single mother raising two beautiful boys, a website designer, a programmer of home automation systems, and social media director for a public figure. What drone(s) are you currently flying, and what drone accessories do you love? I'm currently flying the DJI Phantom 4 ProV2 and Mavic 2 Zoom. I have multiple PolarPro ND filters and batteries. Most recently, I got a portable generator so I can charge my batteries while flying. I found it takes time to find the perfect angle and perspective and true art can not be rushed. What is your favorite feature on your drone and why? I mostly fly manual since I like to have full control in-flight. The Mavic 2 Dolly Zoom mode is pretty cool, but the added aperture feature in the Pro series gives me my required in-flight editing flexibility. I really look forward to getting a lumecube for my P4ProV2. What drone images are you most proud of and why? 'Swampy Grasses' (below) was nominated at the 2020 NYC Drone Film Festival. Back in 2019, I dreamed of being included in this elite collection of professionals. The image was taken in the backyard of a friend's house. I really had no idea while flying that I was going to find such a gem in the after look. I take time to thoroughly inspect all images taken, this is where I find the little amazing details of our earth. Have you learned any valuable lessons from being in the drone industry that you can share with our female drone community? It is an ever-changing industry. Read every day to keep up with the technology and regulations. Read, listen, practice, fly, crash and rebuild every day. Never be afraid to ask for help or advice. Whether it's from a creative, commercial, or humanitarian perspective, tell us about the most memorable drone flight you have piloted thus far. I am currently working on an ongoing project with a local National Cemetery, it is by far the most heart-touching and inspiring project I have had the privilege to be a part of. What would you say to women and girls about the drone industry to spark their interest in getting involved? Start with a small, non-automated drone like a Hubsan. Learn to fly manually first, study the regulations and when you do get the larger camera drones you will be far more comfortable in your first flights. What excites you most about more women joining the drone industry? Education! The women in Women Who Drone are doing amazing things to bring knowledge to children. Flying drones brings a new perspective which creates an open mind. One must be aware of circumstances on the ground level and in the air which promotes high awareness and multitasking abilities. Plus, it is a great way to cultivate hand-eye coordination, technical skills, and creativity. All of which are great for developing minds! Do you have any drone tips & tricks you can share with our audience? After I launch, I always take a 360° pan video of the area. After a close inspection, I often find other areas or details that I want to revisit. I always check the weather, sun position, tides, wave heights, sunrise and set times, and of course NOTAMS which often dictates where and when I go to specific locations. What's the best way for our readers to get in touch with you? Email hamptonsdrone@gmail.com Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you? Each day I am grateful for every person and place that comes along my path in life. Joanna has been flying and repairing drones since 2015. She has just clocked her 1500th flight hour. She has worked with the IDRA, Astral AR, written for sUAS News, and has done drone security for a public figure. She has done drone consulting for law enforcement agencies, townships, and speaking engagements for the AIA. She has had the honor of winning multiple international aerial photography awards. Her work can be found on The Weather Channel, WeatherNation, Accuweather, LiveStormChasers, StormHour, and news stations across the USA. She was nominated at the 2020 NYC Drone Film Festival, thanks to Airvuz, and was most recently thrilled to be accepted as a Women Who Drone Brand Ambassador. Joanna says she is a work in progress... always learning, practicing, and researching as a professional photographer/ videographer in The Hamptons, New York. #PilotSpotlight #dronephotography #femaledronepilot #bussinesswomen #dronevideos #femaleempowerment

Female drone pilot-centric YouTube channels to follow and get inspired from in 2021 By Ishveena Singh So much awesome drone footage, so little time. YouTube is an amazing resource for anyone looking for high-quality drone video content, but the sheer amount of new content on YouTube often makes it difficult to figure out where you should even begin. And so, we’re here to help! If you're looking for some great female drone pilot-centric YouTube channels to follow and get inspired from in 2021, know that the recommendations below are run and managed by Women Who Drone community members – many of whom got the motivation to start their own channel while sheltering in place. Happy viewing! 1. OC Drone Photography Founded by Women Who Drone Brand Ambassador April McClure, the channel showcases aerial drone photography of commercial properties and business districts for promotional video production. You can also see stunning visuals of boats in action. 2. Sunrise Aerial Imaging Kim Reynolds uses a DJI Phantom 4 Pro at her company Sunrise Aerial Imaging to provide 4K aerial photos and videos to her clients. Her YouTube channel showcases some of her best work. 3. Hamptons Drone Images Joanna L Steidle An artist with a drone, Joanna Steidle has been flying and repairing drones since 2015, and has just clocked her 1500th flight hour. And even though she has joined our community only recently, Joanna has captured some of the most stunning shots that you would see on 'Women Who Drone' Facebook group page! 4. Drone Life by Christie Hobbyist drone pilot Christie Christopherson features some of the most beautiful places she has been to on her YouTube channel. Make sure to check out her one-minute nature meditation aerial videos! 5. JenNYC263 Jennifer Maskell is an amateur photographer/videographer/drone pilot who likes to share her love for the outdoors through her YouTube channel. You will find a lot of Osmo Action in the videos created by this NYC native. 6. Katrin Pfitzenreiter Katrin Pfitzenreiter likes to share videos that showcase destinations, nature, places to visit, insights, real estate/relocation information for Florida. Her vision is for you to use the videos to decide if it is worth going to, maybe even moving to or learning more about! 7. Cecilia Blomdahl Cecilia is a Swedish girl living on Svalbard, an arctic island close to the North Pole, for 5 years now. She uses drone footage in her videos about the daily life in the Northernmost town in the world. (They have Polar Bears there!) 8. Andrea Villanueva Andrea captures beautiful cinematic shots with her DJI Mavic Mini and also offers useful tutorial videos such as "What do I need to bring before flying a drone for the first time?" The channel, however, is not dedicated to drone footage only; you get a chance to rejoice in Andrea's family celebrations also! 9. Flyover Drone Footage Aerial photographer and videographer Dilly Morgan loves to fly her DJI Mavic Mini in the Spanish mountains and her YouTube channel is a testimony to that. Hop over for some breathtaking views of Costa Blanca. 10. Amanda I Above AZ A longtime drone user, Amanda Ochs makes it a point to watch at least one photography tutorial a week as she documents Arizona from up above. She is FAA licensed and open to commercial work. Architecture photography excites her the most! 11. Bonus Recommendation: Women Who Drone And of course, if you are not following us on YouTube yet, do so now for the latest drone reviews, tips and tricks, and interviews with fabulous female drone pilots! Ishveena Singh is a versatile journalist and writer with a passion for drones and location technologies. In the last 13 years, she has worked with both mainstream media organizations (Miami Herald International, Times of India, Microsoft MSN) and dedicated geospatial technology media (Geospatial World, Geoawesomeness). With a deep understanding of content marketing and social media, Ishveena also helps private companies (DJI, Aerodyne Group, Terra Drone Corporation) to generate qualified leads through useful and timely content. When she is not making magic at her desk, you are likely to find Ishveena on road trips, eating her way through life, or binge-watching TV shows. Connect with her today on LinkedIn and Twitter

Company: Lauren Guarneri Films Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Tell us about yourself. My name is Lauren Guarneri, and I have a love for storytelling! I've always been obsessed with movies for as long as I can remember, and I've been writing my own stories since before I even knew how to spell. I started my journey to become a film director about 3 years ago, and I've been directing mostly music videos for local artists around Montreal. I have been flying drones since 2017, and in 2020 I got certified, insured, and started my own company to fly drones in films and promotional content. I'd love to be able to work on environmental documentaries to use my talents for climate justice. I'm also certified in scuba so that I can provide on the ground, above ground, and underwater footage. What inspired you to begin flying drones, and what made you want to enter the industry as a drone pilot? I was inspired to fly drones because I am a tech nerd and I already worked in the film industry. Naturally, drones popped up on my radar pretty quickly. I was always mesmerized by aerial footage and thought it'd be a great and cinematic way to capture my travels and practice honing my video making skills. It took a couple of years, but I bought my first second-hand drone in 2017 and began traveling with it. When I started working on bigger sets as a production assistant, I was able to meet professional drone pilots and told them I had a drone and loved flying it. They immediately pointed out there was a need for women in the industry. After that, nothing could stop me. I got my advanced certification from Transport Canada and started working as a drone operator almost instantly. I started my own company providing aerial production services this year, so it's only the beginning of something great. What were you doing before you started flying drones, and what made you make the transition? I had just graduated from university with a degree in communications and was lost about where to start my career and in what. I was thinking about working in an office but knew I would never be happy doing that. I had to own my creativity and at least not be scared to try a job in the creative field, so I started to focus on filmmaking and directing. At that point, I was using drones for fun, but it quickly turned into a career opportunity. What drone(s) are you currently flying, and what drone accessories do you love? I have the Mavic 2 Pro, and I absolutely love the Polar Pro cinema series filters. Living in a country with this much snow, bright and sunny days can get you blown out footage pretty easily, so filters are a must! What is your favorite feature on your drone and why? I usually control and film manually, but I have to say I love the hyperlapse feature! It can capture such eye-grabbing footage, and all you have to do is set it up and let it do its thing. I also love sport mode, so I can film action with speed. What drone images are you most proud of and why? I mostly do video, but I've been getting into aerial photography in the last couple of months, and I have to say, I'm a fan. I'm pretty proud of my images of Saint Joseph's Oratory and the Percé Rock. I love these because they were both filmed at sunrise and they both capture the essence of calm and serenity. Have you learned any valuable lessons from being in the drone industry that you can share with our female drone community? I've learned that your credibility is often questioned, but you can't let it bother you. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a woman or my age, but it happens often that people question me before they even see my work or meet me in person. The biggest thing you can do is let the anger and frustration go and come at it with a professional tone. That way, you can sort of give an implied 'I told you so' when you show them what you can do. Whether it's from a creative, commercial, or humanitarian perspective, tell us about your most memorable drone flight you have piloted thus far. My most memorable has to be a commercial shoot I did for a school. All the kids thought what I was doing was so cool, and they were asking me so many questions about how I do what I do, so I can't help but hope I inspired a few of them. What would you say to women and girls about the drone industry to spark their interest in getting involved? Don't be afraid to try something out of your comfort zone. It's intimidating at first, but the fact that you may sometimes be the only woman in a sea of men is kind of a rush and makes you stand out. Use that to your advantage. Tech is not only a guy thing, and it's okay to like it too. What excites you most about more women joining the drone industry? The fact that there will be more female perspectives in films and cinematography. I think the industry is severely lacking that, and there's just something different about the female eye. Do you have any drone tips & tricks you can share with our audience? If you live in a cold climate, that doesn't mean you can't drone at all. Check the temperature range of your drone and always carry hand warmers for your batteries to make sure they're warm and ready for a flight. Also, I turn down the sensitivity of my joysticks so that I don't get choppy footage if I brake or turn too fast accidentally. But be warned: that also means slower reaction times if you need to stop quickly. What's the best way for our readers to get in touch with you? You can visit my website laurenguarnerifilms.com and all my contact information is on there! Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you? I want people to know that it's just the start! If you want to collaborate on a project — especially if it's on the topic of sustainability, preservation, and protection — just get in touch with me through my website! Lauren Guarneri is a director, writer, editor, and commercial drone operator based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her all-around passion and dedication to her craft have made her a prominent figure in the Montreal film scene. She is also president of her own production company offering aerial video and photo services.