What’s on tap for this year’s Commercial UAV Expo?

Jeremiah Karpowicz, Editorial Director of the Commercial UAV News, a leading source of news, insight and analysis for the commercial drone market.  The Commercial UAV News focuses on the use of drone technology in the heavy commercial sectors, such as surveying & mapping, civil infrastructure, power & utilities, mining, construction, emergency response and precision agriculture. 

At the Commercial UAV News, Jeremiah has spent over a decade cultivating communities of all different types, both in-person and online. He has created articles, videos, newsletters, ebooks and much more for these communities as a contributor and editor. He has also shaped and defined various conference programs. Today, Jeremiah is focused on defining what it means to take the engagement that happens in both the physical and digital worlds to the next level.

Each year, the Commercial UAV News presents the Commercial UAV News, a leading international trade show and conference focusing on the integration and operation of commercial UAS.  The Expo showcases the world’s leading commercial UAS technology from vendors from around the globe.  After two years apart, more than 130 exhibitors and 1,955 drone professionals reconvened in person in 2021 to learn, connect, and drive the industry forward.    

This year’s Commercial UAV Expo will be held on September 6-8 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas.

In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Jeremiah shares details on this year’s Commercial UAV Expo and his thoughts on the commercial drone industry.

How are drones used to monitor oil and gas transmission lines?

Didi Horn is Founder and CEO of SkyX.  SkyX is revolutionizing the way aerial data is accumulated, analyzed and actioned. By integrating Artificial Intelligence with purpose-built aerial systems, SkyX delivers actionable data so enterprise organizations can mitigate risks, assess situations faster and make intelligent and informed decisions.  The company’s services and technology is redefining long-range asset monitoring.

Didi has more than 15 years experience in aviation n, aerospace, and drones. He served with the Air Force for nearly a decade as both a captain and drone pilot.   In 2015, Didi established SkyX, which started with three employees with an idea to reshape oil and gas asset management and safety operations. 

It is estimated that the United States has 3 million miles of operating hazardous liquid, gas distribution, and gathering and transmission pipelines.   In 2019, there were 614 reported pipeline incidents in the United States, resulting in about $259 million in damages. 

Under Didi’s leadership, SkyX provides long range aerial asset monitoring that prevents potentially dangerous pipeline issues such leaks, sinkholes, vegetation encroachment, and theft.  Thus saving lives and better protecting the environment from spills.

In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Didi talks about SkyX, its long-range asset monitoring service and how its providing value and safety to oil and gas companies.

What’s New at the Northern Plains UAS Test Site? 

Trevor Woods is Executive Director of the Northern Plains UAS Test Site. The Northern Plains UAS Test Site was founded by the North Dakota Department of Commerce in 2013 as one of 7 FAA-designated UAS Test Sites. Its mission is to collaborate with FAA and industry partners to develop equipment, systems, rules, and procedures to safely integrate unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System without negatively impacting existing general or commercial aviation. 

Trevor started his career in aviation at the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Aviation Management, but he’s been flying since he was a teenager, spending his high school years working on obtaining a private pilot’s license. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree while working at University of North Dakota, doing flight training, which merged into UAS testing, research, and waiver and regulatory submissions to the FAA. 

Trevor has been with Northern Plains UAS Test Site since its inception, most recently as director of safety, working extensively with the FAA. He was instrumental to North Dakota being selected as one of ten participants in the UAS Integration Pilot Program, now the BEYOND program.  He participates in the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team and served as the Lead on the FAA’s BVLOS ARC Working Group 2.1. Trevor also played a pivotal role in the inception of Vantis, North Dakota’s beyond visual line of sight initiative. In January 2022, Trevor was named Executive Director.  He was the natural choice to take over as executive director and lead the test site into the next stage of making the impossible possible. 

In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Trevor talks about the Northern Plains UAS Test Site and gives us an update on Vantis and other initiatives where they’re leading in UAS operations and integration. 

How Are Drones Affecting The Food Delivery Industry?

James Shea is founder and publisher of the Food Delivery News.  The Food Delivery News is a multi-media business publication that covers the intersection of food, technology, supply chain and delivery. It covers the changing world of food and how it travels from the farm to the kitchen and finally to a consumer’s table.  The Food Delivery News is a division of Media Lab Studios, a content studio that works with small and large businesses, helping them tell their stories through a variety of media. 

James has over 20 years of experience in the media business and writes about the intersection of food and technology.

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, James talks about the Food Delivery News, what restaurants are looking for in food delivery, and how drones are filling that growing need.