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Acrobats, air shows, fireworks and now drones! Performances high in the sky have been spectacles for generations, and now the latest iteration in aerial entertainment is here: drone light shows. While planes can only fly outdoors, and fireworks are loud fire hazards, drones are versatile, reusable, and just as entertaining. Take earlier this year for example. The 2018 winter Olympics featured many performances, but the highlight of the opening ceremony was the masterfully synchronized light show performed by a record-breaking 1,218 drones (beginning at 1:58:18). As they flew over 100 skiers, the drones assembled to take the shape of a snowboarder flying along the slopes. The drones concluded the ceremony by reassembling into the Olympic rings, wowing even the commentators. Clearly, this won’t be the first time that these drones amaze audiences. Developed by Intel, the drones used in the opening ceremony have performed at many other major events. Their website states, “From Germany to South Korea, our drone light shows are shining bright across the world.” This year, Intel’s drones have also performed light shows at the Bellagio Hotel and Coachella. The Intel® Shooting Star™ drones performed the largest drone light show ever to celebrate Intel’s 50th anniversary, creating a display of 2,018 drones and breaking their own record. Their most recent performance was to celebrate Independence Day with military families. While Intel is by far the largest company doing work like this, there are other organizations in the drone light show business. To start, there's That Drone Show, which has hosted events for a laundry list of well-known clients, including Disney, Kia, and Fox Studios. Firefly Drone Shows, an FAA approved company, uses “Cutting-Edge Drone Swarm Technology” to create performances for corporate and private events. Performances can be held inside or outside, and they also offer to record the performance either from the ground or from a drone. Ultimately, the advent of drone light shows is a reflection of our society's technological progress. A few years ago, Intel's performance would not have been possible. Now, light shows are traversing the world. Regardless, it is unlikely that drones will replace other forms of aerial entertainment. However, they are providing a viable alternative to traditional shows and something new for us all to enjoy. 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 #dronelightshow #Droneskyshow

Tell us your story. How did you get started in the drone industry and when did that happen? I am a 23 year old female drone pilot from the city of Perth in Western Australia. I have had a passion for filmography and photography ever since I could remember. So it was only fitting that I did my Undergraduate Degree at university in Film and Sound Production. After finishing my degree I decided to then do a Masters in Marketing, which I am currently completing. When I first heard of drones becoming the new way for creating content, I instantly was intrigued and had to get my hands on one to add to my camera bag. At the end of 2016 I purchased my first drone, the DJI Phantom 3 Professional, which I still use to this day. I have always been someone who has been interested in the latest technology and wanting to learn how to use it. Drone photography and filmography has demonstrated a whole new way to capture an image from the different perspective of a birds eye view, which has made travelling even more interesting. Don't get me wrong, flying a drone is challenging and it takes a lot of practice to get it right. I'm still not a pro at all and I am always learning new things everyday. My photography on the drone to begin with was pretty shocking. A lot of over exposed shots and just super bad angles. I can say now that I am way more confident when shooting with my drone. Tell us about your company/work/organization and your position. I am currently a student at Curtin University studying a Masters in Marketing, who works part-time as a sales assistant at Kathmandu, and on the sidelines I am also doing my blogs on my website and starting to sell my drone photography prints. What kind of drone(s) do you fly and what's your favorite thing about it? I currently fly one of the now older models of DJI drones, the DJI Phantom 3 Professional. Don't be fooled by this older model, it is awesome! The camera quality is insanely good and captures the most clear content for both my photos and videos. It would be way cheaper in price now then when I first bought it and it would probably be cheaper than some of the newer models too. Totally worth checking it out! Have you learned any valuable lessons being in the drone industry you can share with our female drone community? With any sort of content that you create, you want to add your own flavor to it. Drone content creation is on the rise and it can be tricky to find your own style. What I do love about seeing drone content on social media, is that even if the shot was taken in the same place (e.g. Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia) no one really has the same shot as you. In saying that, you don't want to have the same shot of Cottesloe Beach and not put your own style to it, which can be done in the post-production stage of editing the image. Always support other female dronists out there! I would love to see more women excelling in using drones and the only way to do that is to support one another. Giving a follow, a like, or posting a positive comment to each others social media pages, will encourage more women to not be scared to fly a drone. Drones are so much fun to fly! Whether its from a creative, commercial or humanitarian perspective, tell us about your most memorable drone flight you have piloted thus far. One of my most memorable drone flights was my first time shooting surfers. I had no expectations of what I was going to shoot that day. So, I went to the beach super early in the morning and was so excited when I saw two surfers out in the water. I took my drone up as a few specks of light started to hit the water. It was so magical and I reckon those shots I took that day are some of my best ones that I have ever taken. What would you say to women and girls about the drone industry to spark their interest in getting involved? For anyone out there who is scared at the thought of flying a drone, don't be! I've been in so many scary situations with my drone where I thought I had either almost lost it, or broken it. However, it was those situations which have made me become more confident when flying my drone. I've learnt so many lessons on what to do right and what not to do now, that it was important for me to go through those hiccups. So don't be scared ladies, you can do it! Just practice, practice, practice! What excites you most about more women joining the drone industry? Today, a lot of drone imagery is showcased on Instagram, which I personally think is one of the best social media tools out there to display your work. I follow heaps of different drone accounts, but what I had noticed was the lacking in female drone work being displayed on the "big" drone accounts. I also didn't know where to look to actually find female drone accounts who display their work on Instagram. When I came across Women Who Drone I can't express enough how excited and happy I was! Finally, a page where I don't feel like drone photography is just a male dominated industry. Women Who Drone is able to display so many amazing drone work from so many talented women and I can finally be able to find amazing female drone pilots out there on Instagram. Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you? I am super excited to share that I have just started up my very on store called the 'Flying High Store', which I am selling my drone photography prints through! You can check it out here! Leticia (Letti) is a drone enthusiast, photographer and filmmaker from the city of Perth in Western Australia. She has lived half of her life growing up in South-East Asia and has traveled to many places around the world. She is currently studying a Masters in Marketing and recently set-up an online store through her website to sell her drone prints. #dronegirl #femaledronepilot #FEMALEDRONEPILOT #WOMENWHODRONE #interview #spotlightinterview

“We are in an AI arms race, and it’s happening in industry, in the Big Five” — Drew Cukor, Chief of the Algorithmic Warfare Cross Function Team What Is Project Maven? Stamped April 26 2017, a memorandum released by the Deputy Security of Defense states that the Department of Defense “needs to do much more, and move much faster … to take advantage of recent and future advances in [artificial intelligence, big data, and deep learning].” The goal of this memorandum is to resolve this need by establishing a team for this express purpose. Dubbed Project Maven, the team was established by former Deputy Security of Defense Robert Work. Officially, it is named the Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team, and the AWCFT’s goal is to make advancements in the DoD’s Artificial Intelligence. These innovations in A.I. would contribute to analyzing the data that the Department of Defense has collected in their search for ISIS. Much of this collected information would be considered Big data, or large data sets, and are too time consuming to process with the technology currently in place. Where Do the Drones Come In? Later in the memorandum, Work states that, “The AWCFT's first task is to field technology to augment or automate Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED) for tactical Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and Midaltitude Full-Motion Video (FMV) in support of the Defeat-ISIS Campaign.” One of the main focuses of this project is Computer Vision which, like deep learning, is also an aspect of A.I. It involves programming “methods for acquiring, processing, analyzing and understanding digital images, and extraction of high-dimensional data from the real world in order to produce numerical or symbolic information, e.g., in the forms of decisions.” Essentially, this means that the video recorded by military drones would be processed through this new A.I. in search of objects of interest. What About Google? According to defense.gov, Project Maven had intentions of partnering with “industry, academia and national laboratories to develop and deploy artificial intelligence-based algorithms against some of DoD’s toughest challenges.” Google signed a contract with the Pentagon to be brought on as one of the developers of this advanced A.I. However, this decision was criticized, and much of the backlash was internal. Their employees were not comfortable with the idea of developing innovative technology that could be used for the weaponization of drones. Thus, they began to protest. They released a petition with well over 3,000 signatures. Because of this backlash and the negative press it has cultivated, Google announced earlier this year that they would not renew their contract. The news surrounding this series of events has brought to light conversations we will soon be having about the ethical incorporation of A.I. into defense. In the past, our country has had similar conversations surrounding ethics and the militarization of technology. As the world becomes more globalized and competitive, we may be having this conversation more often. 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 #dronedefense #ProjectMaven

On their homepage, She Flies states that Australia is lacking in terms of its retention rate for female talent in STEM fields. According to their website, only 27% of Australian STEM jobs are filled by women. Unfortunately, this is the reality for many women around the world. Catalysyt.org reports that as of 2018 women are more likely to leave STEM careers than enter them. She Flies has made it their mission to address the lack of women in STEM through their drone training programs. They want to use drone education as the platform that launches girls into careers in STEM and keeps them there. The organization was co-founded by Dr. Karen Joyce and Dr. Catherine Ball, both of whom have experience using drones for practical applications. Dr. Joyce has years of teaching and coaching experience, and a desire to make learning fun and interactive. Dr. Ball is passionate about intersecting technology with finding solutions for humanitarian and environmental issues. To accomplish their goals, She Flies works with schools and communities around the country. Dr. Joyce leads in creating the program content, which is reviewed by other qualified teachers. With She Flies linked to the Australian curriculum, schools that participate in the She Flies program can teach girls valuable technical skills and give them first-hand technical experience. In their workshops, students can learn to program drones, the roles and responsibilities of flying in 'real life' situations and test their flying skills. Speaking of teachers, She Flies also designs training programs for educators. They provide teachers with professional experience workshops and ready-made lesson plans and resources in line with the Australian curriculum to alleviate some of the hard work that comes with introducing new technology into the classroom. It doesn’t stop there. She Flies makes what they do available to communities and businesses, furthering the proliferation of digital literacy. They have training designed for government organizations, town planners, pastoralists, and more. Programs are tailored to suit whichever group they are engaging, from library programs to corporate events. Moreover, each program is filled with diverse activities made to keep learning fun. Even though She Flies is dedicated to building girls’ confidence in technology, the organization does not limit its program to only teach girls. The program is gender neutral and boys can participate as well. As of now, She Flies operates only within Australia, but organizations like this could have an impact on gender equality worldwide. If you want to learn more about the presence of women in Australian STEM careers, check out these resources: Women in STEM: A Story of Attrition Women in STEM in Australia 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 #STEM #SheFlies #Dronetraining

Can you get the FPV Experience through Gaming? Video games are dominating the media with advanced graphics, cinematic visuals, A list voice actors, and innovative gameplay. The onset of immersive VR experiences has substantially revolutionized how we interact with our entertainment. Nowadays, people experience many common activities through gaming. There are simulation games for various occupations, relationships, and life in general. Steam, an online distribution platform for games, is home to many products like this, and among their listings are several such simulators for drone piloting. Even The Drone Racing League has developed their own simulator available on the platform. Their homepage describes it as “the premier FPV racing game and simulator” although on steam, the simulator has received mixed reviews. Issues with bugs and accuracy have been the most common complaints. For troubled players, the DRL Simulator has a FAQ page and a Steam community forum, so player’s can find solutions and discussions by navigating through those pages. Independent game developers are also seeking to replicate FPV piloting, giving gamers the racing experience at home. For example, Liftoff (released November 2015) is one of several Virtual Reality FPVs available on Steam. Hundreds of reviews rate the game very positively, and commenters applaud the game for being accurate to real life quadcopter piloting experience. Another game with positive reviews is Drone Hero. Released last summer, reviewers describe Drone Hero as having great controls and entertaining VR gameplay. While still in their early stages, VR headsets are primed to be the next step in gaming. The obvious similarities between VR and FPV make FPV racing a logical business move for any game developer. Especially, considering how deprived the market is for a variety of drone based games. 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 #fpvracing #dronegames

As we've seen with our phones and the advent of digital assistants like Alexa and Google Home, the future may be voice-controlled. Thus, it only makes sense that this permeating technology would inevitably combine with another quickly growing technology: drones. Years ago, UAVs activated with the sound of a voice still seemed like science-fiction. Now, they're reality. The road to voice-controlled drones has been an interesting one. On October 18th, 2016, Amazon was awarded a patent for an “Unmanned aerial vehicle assistant”. The patent claims that this device would be able to respond to a user’s voice commands and be small enough to carry in a bag or pocket. The patent goes on to say: “the disclosure is described herein as a system and method for controlling a UAV with simple voice commands to cause the UAV to perform one or more tasks”. It states that possible uses for this device would include finding a lost child in a crowd and aiding the police. Meanwhile, drone enthusiasts developed their own solutions to make up for the whole in the market. People with the skills and know-how built their own voice-controlled drones from scratch or by modifying pre-built drones. In 2016, Lukas Biewald with oreilly.com wrote an article called How to build an autonomous, voice-controlled, face-recognizing drone for $200. In it, he explains how to program a prebuilt drone to respond to voice commands. If you’re into DIY drones and coding, you might want to check it out. DIY site Instructables also hosts a few tutorials on designing a voice-controlled drone. However, if that isn’t up your alley, then you’re in luck. The wait is (almost) over. Earlier this month, for the whole world to see, Yuneec announced the first ever voice-controlled drone. For those unfamiliar, Yuneec is one of the leaders in electronic aviation. Based in China, Yuneec was founded in 1999 and has been releasing award winning aircrafts for years. Their Mantis Q is the latest in their electronic aviation legacy. Made to be energy efficient, this drone can last 33 minutes in the air at a constant speed of 15.5 MPH and retails at $499.99, making it one of their least expensive models. You can make the Mantis Q turn on, take off, take pictures, record video, and land with the sound of your voice. It has not been released yet, but it is available for pre-order in the United States. 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 #voicecontrolleddrones #droneinnovation

No matter what you plan on using them for, high quality drones are a serious investment. Like with anything else of considerable monetary value, it may not be a bad idea to prepare for the worst, meaning you might want to contemplate getting your drone insured. Piloting a drone means there are possible risks to take into account like injury and property damage. When piloting is your livelihood and you’ve invested over $1000 in that new DJI, a rough landing will cost you more than a new one. If that were to happen, having insurance could mitigate the situation. To protect yourself and your investment, it may be worth it to investigate all your options. You could try using a general insurance provider to cover your drone and its accessories. Searching through forums, I found that some people insure their drones through State Farm. A popular option is having your drone insured under State Farm’s Personal Articles Policy which covers belongings like bikes, art, jewelry, collectibles, etc. Users on different drone forums have acquired policies for their drones from Statefarm, stating that in some places, people were able to obtain a policy for only $60 a year with no deductible. Of course, this all depends on where you’re getting your insurance and coverage is limited. However, that will only be suffice as long as your drone is being used recreationally, not for business purposes. If you’re in the market for on-demand insurance, there are a couple of choices for commercial drone pilots: Verifly and SkyWatch. Verifly offers general and drone liability insurance. Their prices vary based on where you fly, but policies start very low for both. Both services allow you to track your flights and coverage with their own apps available on Google Pay and the App Store. Since they offer hourly policies, you can pay for coverage when you fly. Recently, SkyWatch added a new policy for those who would benefit from more than hourly coverage. Frequent flyers now have the alternative to pay monthly for SkyWatch Plus. These are only a few of the options available to you. Any of these possible selections are dependent on where you are and what works best for your situation. If you’re still uncertain, you could call the services you’re interested in and shop around for the best deal. Also, there are plenty of forums around the internet where fellow drone pilots may be willing to answer your questions offer their advice. Popular blog UAV Coach has published their own guide to drone insurance. Check it out for step-by-step guidance and additional considerations. 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

Tell us your story. How did you get started in the drone industry and when did that happen? I have been in Dubai for almost 14 years now.. Dubai can be very tough and extremely hot during the summer which is why I try to travel as much as I can during that period. I found myself to be somehow the designated photographer of the group, trying to take the nicest pictures for my friends which evolved eventually to landscape photography... somehow this made my travels much more enjoyable, always looking for the best spots to take pictures, more often than not they were off the beaten path. The only thing that was missing was aerial photography, taking pictures from a complete different angle and this is how I got into drone photography. What kind of drone(s) do you fly and what's your favorite thing about it? Mavic Air - I find it the best drone to travel with, no compromise on the quality of the footage and at the same time pretty light and compact. Have you learned any valuable lessons being in the drone industry you can share with our female drone community? It does not take a genius nor a professional, your passion should be enough... the best pictures I have seen are taken by amateurs. Whether its from a creative, commercial or humanitarian perspective, tell us about your most memorable drone flight you have piloted thus far. It was right after the desert storm in Dubai, I decided to go on a off road into the desert and took a footage of the roads engulfed by sand. The feeling you get when you see back the footage was amazing... you truly feel the power of nature when its angry and how humans can never ever stop it What would you say to women and girls about the drone industry to spark their interest in getting involved? I think the more you share your passion, the more the community will grow and strive... What excites you most about more women joining the drone industry? Breaking the stereotype mostly... its not about gender or diversity, its more about passion... anyone can do it. On another note the more people join, the more we are able to share the beauty of the planet. I'm sure there are tons of places that are not represented where landscape is equally stunning. Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you? More than photography, I am super passionate about people; the reason why I have stayed most of my career in HR.. I don't think I can live without music and I can easily live in my car driving from one place to another. Hi I'm, Joumana. There are so many people in the world who never have the opportunity to pursue the career they love. I’m not one of them. I love what I do and since starting my career in Dubai around 14 years ago, I’m thrilled to say that I’ve learned from so many amazing professionals in my field. Super passionate about people and their dynamics, a strong believer in building organizations bottom up and have always worked the closest with colleagues who are in immediate contact with the customers be it while I was in a commercial role or a people centric role. I was born and raised in Beirut, was lucky enough to travel around with my family during the civil war and came back to settle in Dubai. My passion for travel and photography started since I was a child and continued to grow ever since. It has allowed me to see people and places from a completely different perspective, there are certain emotions that you capture while taking pictures that you can never do otherwise. I love driving around and going where the roads take me, I always stumbled on the most beautiful places while doing that... I started droning around 18 months ago, it's truly amazing the things you can see from a completely different angle. Proud mommy of 2 dogs :). #spotlightinterview #womenwhodrone #WOMENWHODRONE #interview #FEMALEDRONEPILOT

Less than a month from now, thousands of people from around the world will be gathering to participate in InterDrone 2018. From September 5th to the 7th, InterDrone will be holding their conference at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. InterDrone is an annual international drone conference and exposition that started in 2015, making this year the 4th conference EVER. It serves as a networking event where people in the UAV industry can connect with their peers and stay up to date with drone news. The conference is attended by drone pilots, UAV manufacturers, videographers and more. It is the largest commercial drone event in North America. At InterDrone, attendees can participate in courses, special events, and workshops. To keep you up to date in the latest drone news, there will be over 110 panels, sessions workshops, courses, and keynotes. Attendees can participate in special industry-specific tracks to personalize their conference experience. Even though the conference begins on Wednesday the 5th, On Tuesday, there is a pre-conference workshop led by Enrico Schaefer and tony Sauerbrey. It is an all-day session that focuses on essential focus areas of the part 107 certification test. To kick off the conference, Daniel K. Elwell and Michael Chasen will be this year’s grand opening keynote speakers. Elwell is the Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Michael Chasen is the CEO of PrecisionHawk. Highlights include the exposition floor and the Women in Drones Luncheon, which was spearheaded to connect women in the drone industry. InterDrone’s expo floor will house over 160 exhibitors, including drone manufacturers, sellers and solutions providers. The luncheon consists of a panel of leading women. On this year's panel will be Lia Reich (VP Marketing-Communications at PrecisionHawk), Sharon Rossmark (CEO and Founder of Women and Drones), and Mariah Scott (President of Skyward, A Verizon Company). Suzanne Lemieux will moderate the discussion. There is also the InterDrone Film Festival to look forward to. Each year InterDrone hosts a short film festival with submissions filmed using only drones. Submissions for this year’s competition closed July 9th, and winners will be announced at the InterDrone Film Festival reception on September 5th. Creators from all over the world submit their work in the following categories: Natural Wonders Cityscapes and Architecture Action/Extreme Sports Reel Real Estate & Resort Marketing Special Events (wedding, sweet 16, etc.) Breaking/Live News Best Overall Each category has its own winner, and there is a people’s choice winner. You can view last year’s winning submissions here. If you want to be a part of this year’s InterDrone, there are several types of registration for you to decide from. Passes range from $85 to $980 depending on what you want to get out of the conference. August 24th is the current cutoff for an early registration discount. Participants attending as students, on behalf of schools or nonprofits may be eligible special rates. Check pricing for passes here and register here. I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron

After a month long delay, DJI finally unveiled the bigger picture we have all been waiting for. With two new designs, incredible new features, cameras and longer flight times, the DJI MAVIC 2 is now on sale everywhere. Women Who Drone had the pleasure to attend the event in NYC today and we were ecstatic to get our hands on these new drones! We were even able to test fly them inside the warehouse out in Brooklyn. Elena Garcia, WWD's Social Media Intern holding the new Mavic Zoom With all of the newest features that were announced, this drone is by far the most exciting consumer drone on the market. The Mavic 2 features Hasselblad's iconic image quality on the Pro model and a high-performance zoom on the Zoom model. Additionally, the Pro model is equipped with a Hasselblad camera 1 "CMOS sensor, Adjustable opening, 10-bit D log M, 10-bit HDR videos, and hyperlapse with multiple modes. Photo by Elena Garcia Improvements on the Mavic Pro implemented into the Mavic 2 include enhancing the Obstacle avoidance feature, Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS), which helps the drone fly around obstacles versus only avoiding collisions. They also added lights to the bottom of the drone to assist with landing in low lit environments and the Active track feature is better than ever with its use of three on board front facing cameras to create a 3D map of its subject, predicting paths up to 3 seconds in the future. Image of Mavic 2 Zoom Now, if that doesn't get you, some other features we're extremely excited about is that the new Mavic 2 flies longer, faster and quieter with the battery life now capped to 31 minutes versus the 28 minutes the Mavic Pro had. DJI even enhanced the Advanced Electronic Speed Controllers (ESC's), giving the pilot more control and precision over her drone. Additionally, DJI added a feature called Dolly Zoom, which zooms in on an object while the drone flies in the opposite direction as well as a number of Hyperlapse shots which I've included below directly from their website: Free – pilots the drone manually while shooting a Hyperlapse video. Circle – automatically flies the drone in a circular pattern around a subject you select to create a timelapse video that captures the action. Course Lock – keeps the camera fixed on shooting subject while the drone flies in a straight direction to create a unique perspective. Waypoint – plans a complex flight path based on both altitude and GPS coordinates to capture complex shots. Photo by Elena Garcia These two exciting drones prices are not that bad with the Mavic 2 running at $1,449 and the 2 Zoom at $1,249, respectively. DJI also announced the DJI Fly More Kit, which includes two batteries, a multi-battery charging hub, extra propellers and a bag for a total of $319. The best part is there is no waiting game like there usually is when an announcement like this happens, you can purchase the Mavic 2 and Zoom today! We will have our hands on this drone shortly, so we're excited to write up our review to showcase to you soon! Until then, happy flying and stay tuned! Elena Buenrostro is the Founder and CEO of Women Who Drone as well as a Video Producer, Photographer, Part 107 Certified Drone Pilot and Instructor. As featured in The Washington Post, Fast Company and on DJI for her aerial photography and cinematography, Elena's passion for flying drones stemmed from her trip to the Great Wall of China. From there, her curiosity turned into a hobby and now a passion and career. Currently, Elena offers drone lessons via Airbnb Experiences in San Francisco, CA and Brooklyn, NY. Elena graduated with a B.A. in Media Studies & Theatre from the University of California, San Diego. See her work on Instagram, @elenabuenrostro.

Tell us your story. How did you get started in the drone industry and when did that happen? I have loved gaming on consoles and PC since I was a kid and I used to collect remote controlled cars (and break a lot of helicopters). I love using controllers, joysticks just make sense and they provide so much escapism. So, when I saw someone flying their drone at Rainbow Serpent Festival in 2016, I suddenly realized that I wanted to be that person with the high-visibility vest and the controller in their hands. What a job; flying amazing technology with professional camera's attached, and being surrounded by nature and people and art, and an amazing warm and energetic creative community. That is what inspired me to start droning, and now I am glad to call it my profession! I bought my first drone in the summer of 2016/2017 and I am now the owner of a growing collection. I fly every week and I now own a camper van (ie. a portable house!) which I use for adventures down the coast with my drone and surfboard. I own and run Skypan Australia, which is an aerial drone operations business. I am the Chief Remote Pilot and Director/CEO. I have my RePL, ReOC, and Public Liability Insurance up to $20 million. I specialise in videography and photography for events and festivals, which is my passion as I love the community and atmosphere at big events. They deserves to be appreciated from above, especially light shows at night! I also conduct real estate and landscape architecture photography and design plans (as I studied Landscape Architecture as a Bachelor and I have a Permaculture Design Certificate). I provide 3D point cloud mapping services and inspections. I love sports cinematography such as skating and surfing as well, and how dynamic you need to react in order to get the right shot in the moment. I also work in casually as a product specialist and as a remote pilot for D1 Store, the first and only authorised DJI Retailer in Australia. DJI honestly make the best equipment on the market and I am so satisfied with being surrounded in their merchandise and teaching people about their capabilities! What kind of drone(s) do you fly and what's your favorite thing about it? I love my DJI Phantom 4 Pro + Obsidian as it has the best camera that I can afford right now and it flies so well. I also love the 'Obsidian' colour as you can spot it further away than a 'White/Original' coloured one, and I highly rate the built-in Crystal Sky monitor. I want a DJI Matrice 210 RTK with an X30 and XT if I could have any drone I desired, or an Inspire 2 with an X7 lens! Have you learned any valuable lessons being in the drone industry you can share with our female drone community? I have learned so much already from my fellow community, particularly on Instagram and also with the Women Who Drone organisation, who have provided so many amazing opportunities for me to share my work. People are so encouraging and willing to share information if you ask for it and if you have confidence in your content. My advice is to find your unique style and find a way to communicate it in a way that is consistent and legible (whether its with color, content, or themes...). There are not nearly as many women as there are men in these STEM industries, so the more the merrier! Anyone can pick up a drone and fly it, and I want to see more women reaching out and linking up in the online drone community and producing content that inspires me. I love flying my drone as a career and I am grateful that I chose to follow my passion. If you do what you love everyday, you won't work a day in your life (as they say!). Whether its from a creative, commercial or humanitarian perspective, tell us about your most memorable drone flight you have piloted thus far. I was lucky enough to record the Mother's Day Classic in Melbourne this year, which is a run/walk which raises money towards breast cancer research and awareness. To date, the organisation has raised over $33.2 million dollars over 20 years. My mother passed away from metastasized breast cancer in August 2016 which was a big turning point for me in pushing me to do what I love in this short and beautiful life. She was always so supportive and excitable and active in the community, and I want to give back and share my energy just like her. It made me so happy to be involved in the event as a professional photographer and I look forward to returning next year. What would you say to women and girls about the drone industry to spark their interest in getting involved? I think the time is now to follow your dreams, and be a pioneer in the flourishing and fresh new drone industry. I want more women pilots in Australia to meet up with and be inspired by, so that the community can grow and so that we can make history! This is a movement and now is the time to be inspired by what you do and where you go. Photography is the art of saving moments of time and space in history, and someone needs to write that history book! Also, we need more women becoming talented remote pilots and FPV pilots. Drone racing is going to get huge in the next decade. The next Formula One. E-Sports is massive and drones bridge the gap between the physical world and online gaming world! What excites you most about more women joining the drone industry? I want to see the percentage of women drone operators in Australia growing to 50%, and same for the worldwide ratio. It is far too low. Apparently there are less than 100 in Australia! Drone's are a new industry and there is so much room for equal opportunity and equal pay. Like all creative industries, you need to know your worth and have the courage and confidence to ask for the price you deserve for your time. It is worth the responsibility for the freedom that owning your own business provides you. As a woman, to have a job with freedom and flexibility means so much as you can always decide to start a family and you can be assured in your independence. And as a person, freedom to live the lifestyle you choose, and independence from the churn of the corporate ladder, is a blessing in this day and age. Also, the more women e-sports representatives the better, as it will be another massive industry and I can't wait to see where it goes. Thanks for taking the time to read about me! I hope that you also wake up every day feeling passionate about life because you do what you love. The world needs passion and creativity and you need to start following your heart and find your niche. You only have this one life regardless of your scientific or spiritual alignment; and no one on earth is promised tomorrow. So be you! And try to fly a drone at least once, just for me! Sara is a certified remote pilot, landscape architect, DJI product specialist, and drone nerd located Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She is running her own aerial drone business and wears many hats as an influential individual in the droning world. #femaledronepilot #womenwhodrone #FEMALEDRONEPILOT #dji #spotlightinterview #interview

Over the past year, there have been headlines about the devastating economic situation in Venezuela and dissatisfaction with the current government. Now Venezuela is making headlines in regards to a recent assassination attempt. Saturday, August 4th, an alleged terrorist group took matters into their own hands as they attempted to assassinate the president using drones. Amidst already troubled times, Venezuelans witnessed an attempt on the life of their controversial president, Nicolas Maduro. The attack occurred in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, during the president’s speech for the 81st anniversary of the national guard. Seven national guardsmen were injured, but the president was unharmed. The failed assassination attempt was made using two drones. Loaded with C-4 explosives, it seems the perpetrators wanted these drones to detonate towards the president, but the Venezuelan military was able to electronically alter the course of one using signal blockers while the other crashed into an apartment complex. The New York Times reports that the incident is the first “known use of drones against a head of state.” Consequently, this news seems especially disconcerting for the United States as news outlets like the Chicago Tribune report that the U.S. could be vulnerable to a similar attack. Due to present limitations, officials believe that new authorities need to be made “to combat threatening drones.” Senior Homeland Security officials state that the attack in Venezuela affirms the need for increased measures when dealing with drones. Known methods of detaining drones include electromagnetic signals and the deployment of nets, but these have limited approved use outside of the military. Proactively, a proposal for remote identification technology is being finalized by the FAA with comments to come later this year. Presently, the Venezuelan government has arrested 6 people they believe to be the terrorists responsible for the attack on their president, and lawmakers are constructing ways in which such an attack could be mitigated here in the U.S. However, drones are easily accessible, and their involvement in an assassination attempt is still unnerving. It is uncertain if and when we will start to see changes being implemented, and how effective they could be. It is also uncertain how these security concerns will affect the futures of drone hobbyists and commercial pilots who earn their living flying drones. 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