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Over the last few years, drones have been widely adopted for inspections. The primary way that inspectors use drones is as an inspection tool for collecting video footage and photos that show the condition of the object being inspected. In inspection terminology, these videos and photos are generally referred to as visual data. Another type of data inspectors commonly collect by drone is thermal data, which they get by using a drone’s thermal camera. In general, drone inspections can be broken into two categories—home inspections and industrial inspections. On the home inspection side, drone pilots are flying over homes to get visual data showing the roof's condition. This data can be useful for home inspections done during the sale of a house to show the roof's condition as part of evaluating the overall worth of the house. but it can also be used by insurance adjusters who are evaluating an insurance claim made after damage to a roof. On the industrial inspection side, drone pilots are flying both indoors and outdoors to inspect a vast array of industrial assets like boilers, pressure vessels, or storage tanks (to name a few). Using drones for these inspections presents several key benefits—here are the top seven. 1. Savings & ROI Drones are being used to take the place of people for inspections, saving companies huge amounts of money in the process. In home inspections, drones help companies save money by: Speeding up the process. Drones can collect visual data on the condition of a roof much faster than a person can by climbing onto it with a ladder or surveying it from the ground—and this increased speed means significant savings over time. In industrial inspections, drones help companies save money by: Cutting down turnaround times. Turnaround time (also called downtime) refers to the amount of time an asset—like a boiler—or even an entire plant—like a power station—is offline while inspections and repairs are performed. When people perform inspections, they often have to install scaffolding to stand on, which is time-consuming. Drones can remove the need to build scaffolding for inspections, which significantly cuts down the time the asset is offline, thus saving companies tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars an hour in lost revenue. No scaffolding. Scaffolding can be really expensive. The cost for scaffolding for a single inspection could be a few hundred thousand dollars—just for materials and labor. By using a drone to collect visual data instead of a person, companies can cut this cost entirely. Liability insurance. If you don’t send a person into a confined space, you don’t have to be insured for the accidents that could take place once they’re in there. Of course, you still need to have drone insurance, but that is much less costly than the insurance needed for confined space entry. 2. Improved Safety Inspections are inherently dangerous to conduct in person. Inspectors risk falling from a roof, cell tower, or other high areas, getting trapped in a confined space, and being exposed to harmful fumes. These life-threatening dangers can be eliminated by using a drone to collect visual data remotely instead of using an inspector to collect it in person. Some industries, like the nuclear sector, present unique safety benefits. In nuclear work, it is the duty of nuclear plant operators to reduce their employees’ exposure to radiation as much as they possibly can. This concept is codified by the phrase ALARA, which stands for As Low As Reasonably Achievable—and it’s actually a legal requirement for these operators to constantly seek new ways to lower exposure. Drones present a powerful tool for this mission. Nuclear plant personnel can use drones to collect visual data remotely, avoiding the need for them to collect it themselves, and thereby reducing their exposure to radiation. New types of drones with new sensors, like dosimeters or ultrasonic sensors, present the possibility of lowering radiation exposure even more by enabling plant personnel to collect even more data remotely. 3. Improved Access Access issues usually come up in industrial inspections when working indoors. In these scenarios, there are some instances where it is humanly impossible to do a complete visual inspection inside an asset. However, an indoor drone like Flyability’s Elios 2 (shown below) can often gain entry to these tricky, hard-to-reach places and collect visual data there reflecting the condition of the asset. Here are some scenarios where drones can provide greater access to visual data than people can: Bridge inspections Sewer inspections Amusement park infrastructure inspections Wind turbine inspections This list is just a starting place—once you start thinking creatively, you often find that the right drone can get you closer than a person can to the area you want to look at. 4. High-Quality Data Many professional drones these days come with amazing, inspection-grade cameras, which means the data they collect is very high-quality. This high level of quality is useful for both home inspections and industrial inspections. This high-quality output can be useful for inspectors who need to reference data for future inspections. It can also be useful to help pinpoint small defects and flaws in the visual data, which can be seen in crystal clear images captured. Further, a drone flight will typically capture video footage of an entire area or asset, so you have high quality data of the whole object—even parts of it you didn’t originally realize you needed to look at. Compare this to the visual record an inspector collects manually, where photos are only taken of problematic areas, and the difference is that the drone data is not just of a high quality—it’s also much more comprehensive. 5. Historical Records All this high-quality data provides a historical record of the condition of the asset at the time of the inspection, which can be crucial when doing investigations to determine the root cause of a problem, or simply for tracking the development of a defect over time to make maintenance decisions. For industrial inspections, visual data collected by drones can also be used to create 3D models or digital twins, which are so accurate you can zoom in and look closely at specific areas of interest. For industrial inspections, OSHA has specific guidelines on how to create accident reports, and having a detailed historical record can be invaluable in ensuring compliance with that kind of reporting. For home inspections, 3D models could also be used by realtors as another way to present a home they’re trying to sell. This use case doesn’t specifically meet an inspection need, but it is another way drone pilots can leverage drone data to increase sales. 6. More Inspections = Savings Over Time Because drone inspections are much less costly than in-person inspections, some companies are using them to do more frequent inspections. In construction, for example, drones are being used to quickly collect visual data on the progress of a building. Since work doesn’t always need to stop while this aerial footage is being taken, more frequent inspections can be conducted without disrupting progress. An increased number of inspections means that assets are well maintained and that a potential defect can be caught and fixed earlier. And this kind of improved maintenance means the asset is better cared for, and will probably last longer. This benefit doesn’t apply directly to home inspections, since they’re usually done as one-offs. But the ability to quickly collect visual data could also come in handy when trying to determine the extent of damage on a roof, or simply the existing condition of a roof. 7. Flying Is Better than Crawling—or Walking Drones are just one type of robotics solution being used for inspections. Of course, if a robot doesn’t fly, it will have to move along the ground—there are ground-based inspection robots that crawl, roll, or even walk (as is the case with Boston Dynamics’ Spot). But moving along the ground means the robot will face impediments. A flying robot, on the other hand, can maneuver more nimbly around obstacles, and fly straight to the place where the inspector needs to collect visual data. And that’s why, in the world of robotics, drones are often the best option for inspections.

The World of Drones and Robotics Congress (WoDaRC) is yet another conference featuring the latest drone and UAV innovations with the bonus of including robotics. Drones and robotics go hand in hand. They are both realms where innovative technology is flourishing for various industries and lining our steps into the future. Explore the latest innovations in these areas by attending the World of Drones and Robotics Congress. Conferences are a great place for discussions, networking, and learning what’s up and coming in your industry. Past Conferences The first-ever World of Drones Congress was held in 2017 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from August 31st to September 2nd. The conference drew over 630 delegates from the Asia Pacific and beyond and featured an Expo with over 30 exhibitors from Australia, China, and Japan. At this conference, the Premier of Queensland launched Australia’s first state-wide Drones Strategy. Notably, the event also included the first Australian National Drone Safety Forum. In 2020, WoDaRC held its 4th annual conference. Like many other events that year, it was a hybrid experience, offering physical and virtual aspects. WoDaRC 2020 featured virtual conference sessions and trade exhibitions broadcast to a global audience from the physical congress and exhibition in Brisbane. WoDaRC 2021 2021 marks the fifth year of the World of Drones and Robotics Congress. WoDaRC 2021 will be held from Monday, November 15th - Tuesday, November 16th, 2021. It will be hosted in the Boulevard Auditorium within the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre but will continue the trend of hybrid conference experiences. Participants can attend in person or register for “a high-quality digital experience.” Speakers WoDaRC 2021 will feature over 60 speakers, including Dr. Catherine Ball, Associate Professor in Engineering at the Australian National University. The conference will also feature physical and virtual exhibitors. Both exhibitors’ lists are extensive. Participants include Skydio, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Alphaswift, Flyfreely, Dronedeploy, Altitude Angel, and many more. Registration If you’d like to attend WoDaRC 2021, register using the code D25PC for 25% off. There are physical and virtual delegate registration options. Registration has Full, Day, and Half Day options, and there’s a student discount. For those who cannot attend, there is also a post-congress virtual on-demand option. Full registration includes perks such as access to all conference sessions, exhibition and conference materials, the Tech Expo, and on-demand post-event access to the conference sessions. Physical attendees will receive refreshments and lunch, a WoDaRC lanyard, a personalized name badge, and face-to-face interaction with peers and exhibitors. Virtual attendees will have online access to the Virtual Tech Expo and the meeting hub. Attendees who choose the other options will receive similar benefits but only for their allocated day and registered sessions. Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

Credit: DJI At this stage, it’s clear that DJI is leading the industry in consumer drone products. Known for their Mavic and Phantom series of drones, DJI produces high-quality camera drones for people and enterprises at multiple price points. However, their inventory expands beyond their aerial products. The company has also released educational robots, a Digital FPV System with goggles and a remote controller, various accessories, and action cameras. DJI Osmo is DJI’s series of action cameras, which come with different features and accessories. On November 2nd, 2021, DJI released DJI Action 2, the newest member of their action camera series of products. DJI entered the realm of action cameras in 2019 with their Osmo Action camera, the first in what would eventually become their Osmo series. Other members of the series include Osmo Pocket and DJI Pocket 2. With its clever design, new accessories, and advanced features, DJI Action 2 stands out from the others in its series and takes action cameras and the DJI brand to the next level. Design and Key Features DJI Action 2 is a wearable action camera. It has an aluminum alloy body that is lightweight but solid with a sleek, minimalistic appearance. Its magnetic locking design lets you interchange accessories easily, quickly, and securely so you can capture everyday activities such as walking in the park or extreme activities such as dirt biking and parkour completely hands-free. According to DJI, DJI Action 2 is their “most powerful action camera yet.” For optimal performance, they have even taken the shape and angle of the lens into consideration so that you can record more of your surroundings with “smooth, detailed footage.” DJI Action 2 shoots 4K/120fps video and offers an ultra-wide 155° Field of View. It features timelapse, 8x slow motion, digital zoom, and intelligent audio. It’s drop-proof, dustproof, and waterproof at depths of up to 10 meters. DJI Action 2 utilizes DJI’s latest stabilization technology, RockSteady 2.0 and HorizonSteady, to detect and correct camera shake and rotation in real-time. RockSteady was introduced with DJI’s first foray into the action camera market: the DJI Osmo Action. RockSteady combines electronic image stabilization (EIS) with complex algorithms to deliver stable, shake-free footage. HorizonSteady keeps your footage level. Accessories DJI also released some new accessories to go along with their new action camera. Get the most of DJI Action 2 with the following accessories: DJI Action 2 Magnetic Adapter Mount DJI Action 2 Magnetic Ball-Joint Adapter Mount DJI Action 2 Magnetic Headband DJI Action 2 Magnetic Lanyard DJI Action 2 Macro Lens DJI Action 2 Waterproof Case DJI Action 2 Remote Control Extension Rod DJI Action 2 Power Module DJI Action 2 Front Touchscreen Module You can use the Magnetic Mount to stick DJI Action 2 to smooth, flat surfaces at different angles to capture unique viewpoints. If you remove the adhesive base, you can attach tripods, extension rods, or other third-party accessories. The Magnetic Headband allows you to place the camera on your head and film in FPV. The Macro Lens is an optical glass lens with a multi-layer coating ideal for capturing creative and detailed close-up shots. The Waterproof Case offers protection at depths of up to 60 and has high-strength glass that ensures a clear display, even while underwater. It can house the Camera Unit along with the Front Touchscreen Module or Power Module. The Power Module can be attached to the Camera Unit with the magnetic lock. When attached, it extends the DJI Action 2’s battery life, allowing you to film for up to 180 minutes. In addition, you can use the Power Module with an external microphone. The Front Touchscreen Module gives DJI Action 2 dual OLED touchscreens. With this module, you can move between displays and take selfies with ease. Also, the battery life is increased to a maximum of 160 minutes. How to Buy DJI Action 2 is available in 2 combos: The Power combo and the Dual-Screen Combo. DJI Action 2 Power Combo The DJI Action 2 Power Combo is $399. It includes: Camera unit Power Module Magnetic Lanyard Magnetic Adapter Mount Power cable DJI Action 2 Dual-Screen Combo The DJI Action 2 Dual-Screen Combo costs $519 and comes with: Camera unit Front Touchscreen Module Magnetic Lanyard Magnetic Ball-Joint Adapter Mount Magnetic Adapter Mount Power cable The main difference between these combos is that the Dual-Screen Combo features the Front Touchscreen Module while the Power Combo features the Power Module. The Dual-Screen Combo also includes an added accessory: the Magnetic Ball-Joint Adapter Mount. Anyone interested can purchase DJI Action 2 and its accessories on the DJI website. If you’d like to support Women Who Drone with your purchase, you may use Women Who Drone’s affiliate link to make your purchase. Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

By Elena Buenrostro Elena with her DJI Mavic Zoom in front of a NYC sunset So, here we are! Had you told me four years ago when I came up with the idea to start Women Who Drone in NYC at a rooftop BBQ that I'd be growing an online drone community that would be impacting women and reaching people globally, I'm not sure I would have believed you, but knowing me, I'd be inclined to believe you. I'll tell you, it has been quite the journey. Four years can be a long time for some but very little to others, but I am so proud of all the things we've accomplished as a team. Of course, it all started on The Great Wall of China. That adventure is truly the moment I started my drone journey and little did I know where it would take me in the next four years. Elena on The Great Wall of China And oh did my drone take me places. From moving to New York and coming up with the idea to start Women Who Drone, shooting an FPV drone commercial in Lisbon, Portugal to capturing cruise ships in the Cayman Islands and being invited to speak at a Women's University in Dubai, UAE, starting Women Who Drone has been quite an adventure and a dream come true! Gallery of images where Elena has traveled to for Women Who Drone including Lisbon, Portugal, Dubai, UAE and the Cayman islands in the Caribbean. Fast forward to 2021, had you told me that I would move back to my hometown, San Diego, CA working, speaking and teaching solely online all due to a global pandemic without the pleasures of traveling like I did before, there is NO way I'd believe you! However, that is the case and we have remained strong throughout it all as an online community and platform. I will say the pandemic did teach us a few things. Mostly, the importance of hosting virtual events and educational workshops for our global community, which makes a lot of sense but did not quite click pre-pandemic as we were hosting in-person events without even recording them! Nowadays, as you all might know, every live event is recorded! Oh, how we have learned so much! Elena in NYC at the the Women Who Drone Office rooftop Now, a year and half later after shutting down our in-person workshops and lessons and closing down our office in NYC (sad face), we have found a new way to conduct business and have become more productive and efficient as a team and organization. In just one year, we've produced 15 online workshops available as part of our drone academy, an ALL NEW Women Who Drone website, 12 Pilot Spotlights, over 100 blog posts and recently started a WWD podcast series available on Apple and Google Podcasts, highlighting women who are using drones for difference reasons around the world. This is double the content we produced pre-pandemic. Talk about getting things done while working from home! The point is, even though the times have changed and we have been faced with some challenges and adversity, we learned and we continue to learn from the needs and wants of all of you, our community. We have learned how to share more content in a practical way so that we can continue to deliver more inspiring content, stories, education, news and resources to all of you that inspire us. And THAT is what drives me and this wonderful team of ours to continue to do the work that we do. So, I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for all of the support you've shown over the years and the continued support you continue to provide as followers, readers, brand ambassadors and partners, WE appreciate you all! On behalf of WWD, Elena, WWD Founder Appreciate the work we do? All of us do this work out of pure passion. Help support our mission and work by donating today! Donate

Credit: Mako Reactra To get a better idea of how real-life FPV pilots feel about drone simulators, I got in contact with Ryan Lindsay Lessard (aka Mako Reactra). Ryan is a drone pilot who is active in the FPV community and was last seen on our blog as a featured pilot in our Pilot Spotlight series. There, she briefly mentioned using drone simulators for practice: “Another way to practice is by using a simulator on the computer. There are some great options out there, like Drone Racing League Simulator (DRL) and Velocidrone. The best part is that when you fly SIM, you don't have to worry about damaging your drone! Keep in mind that SIM feels differently than flying a real drone, but it can be a fun way to get used to the controls. I actually fly better in real life.” She has also featured clips of her sim races on her YouTube channel. Ryan races with North East Racing Drones and is a team pilot for Hobbywing, Flightone, Ovonic Battery, Azurepower Prop, Diatone, and Runcam. Here’s what she had to say about SIMs: What is your favorite simulator and why? Credit: Mako Reactra Ryan finds it hard to play favorites when it comes to simulators. She has used 5 different simulators and likes them for different reasons. She notes, “Most people can’t set up a course to train on due to space, equipment, or other reasons, so getting the practice in via SIM is invaluable.” Currently, she is using Velocidrone and DCL the Game, both on PC. “I race FPV drones through MultiGP Drone Racing, so I like to use Velocidrone because I can download the tracks to practice.” Velocidrone has a ranking system for racers to see how they stack up against other pilots, which is also useful in training. DCL the game is a SIM that is available for PC and Xbox One. As a gamer, Ryan feels drawn to it because of its “improved graphics, unique courses, music, video intros, etc.” “My favorite tracks include diving a lit skyscraper at night and power looping hot air balloons.” A particularly useful training element in DCL the game are the Time Trials, which allow you to race against the “ghost” drones of professional pilots. DCL also has a draft selection process based on your results on specific tracks. Ryan notes, “You can even win a spot on an official DCL team.” What was it like learning how to use drone simulators? Were your real-life skills completely transferable? Ryan mentions that many people will start using drone SIMs “to get a feel for the controls and different flying modes (e.g. acro vs. level mode) before flying in real life,” but she did the reverse, flying in real life before turning to SIMs. “My real-life flying skills did transfer to some extent.” She advises, “If you are just beginning, try a lower camera angle and lower rates. You can switch between default profiles. The fear of crashing and destroying your gear is gone, so it can be a relief. However, it requires intense focus because your brain is in constant flight mode. Time will pass, and you’ll look down and notice you have your transmitter stick marks imprinted into your fingers, haha.” How well do you think simulators stack up against real-life FPV? Drone Simulators have to account for factors we may not think about if we aren’t consistently flying in real life. The environment you’re flying in and real-life physics are at play. Ryan notes that it is easier for her to fly in real life since she is used to her drone and how it interacts with its environment. “You’ll hear most people describe Simulators as feeling floaty. In real life, it takes time to adjust your drone’s settings and determine what works for you as a pilot.” Have you learned anything from playing simulators that translates into real life? Ryan was once advised to use SIMs to improve her racing: “I was told by one of the fastest drone racing pilots in the world that my flight lines were efficient and smooth, but I needed to get used to going really fast. He said SIM is the way to do that.” This method of practicing has stuck with her, and to prepare for real-life racing, she has downloaded the 2020 Global Qualifier track on Velocidrone to practice. “In free flight, I can practice certain elements of the track or fly against pilot friends in a session.” If someone was interested in competing, how could they get involved? Do you have any tips for people looking to get involved in drone simulators and competitions? Credit: Mako Reactra Ryan’s first piece of advice for getting involved with SIM competitions is finding the simulator that is right for you and joining their communities: “There are lots of videos and articles that review the simulators, but I recommend also joining their communities. Many have Discord servers, like Drone Racing League and Velocidrone. Discord is a social platform where people can communicate with each other via text, audio, or video. You can lurk and learn from others in the server or actually compete during one of the scheduled events. There are races at all levels, including rookie races.“ She also advises, “Before downloading a SIM, make sure that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements. ” Additionally, she says that the transmitter you use in real life can be used in SIM: “You can connect it via USB plug or use a wireless simulator adapter.” Is there an online community of simulator racers? Recently, Susan and Ryan created a Discord server for women in FPV: “We have SIM channels for pilots to join and SIM together. If you’d like to be a part of our community, please reach out to one of us, and we'll share the link! We’re an encouraging group of over 40 women.” Wonderfully, those numbers are rising. What do you hope to see in simulators in the future? Like many other female pilots, Ryan also hopes to see more women and girls in the drone community: “As far as I know, I’m the only female FPV pilot in my state, so I hope to see more women and girls flying! I hope that if more SIM, then more will fly in real life.” Tyesha Ferron is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Specializing in digital content, Tyesha loves exploring the new ways technology intersects with culture and how drones make things more efficient and accessible for artists, hobbyists, and industry professionals. As a novice drone enthusiast, she continues to be impressed by what the drone community and industry can accomplish. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron Twitter: @Tyesha_Ferron LinkedIn: Tyesha Ferron

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

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

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

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

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

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

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