Can Drones Keep Power Companies Safe From Wildfires?

Chris Beaufait serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Sharper Shape -- the market leader in delivering transformative inspection solutions for the utility industry. Chris is a proven business leader with extensive global experience and joined Sharper Shape from his role as Chief Operating Officer of Sarcos Robotics. He led Sarcos’ commercialization and development efforts for powered exoskeletons and teleoperated inspection robots. 

Before joining Sarcos, Chris led the Asia Pacific & China business as a Group SVP and President for Vestas, the world’s leading wind power and services company. For 16 years before Vestas, he worked for the General Electric Company in a variety of leadership positions.  Before GE, Chris served for 11 years in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Officer and certified nuclear engineer. He also holds multiple Six Sigma certifications. 

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Chris talks about Sharper Shape, its utility inspection services and how those services are help utility companies reduce risk of wildfires.

Can drones save the mining industry money? 

William Prior is a technology evangelist at Skycatch, a drone data and analytics firm.  The company provides aerial data capture automation, processing, visualization, and analysis tools. Complete with onboarding, training and support. Many of the world's largest companies use Skycatch across all of their work sites.  Mining companies use Skycatch to precisely measure how much dirt they’re moving.  By reducing the amount of time to capture and process the data, Skycatch clients have realized over $6M in savings for 1 year.

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, William talks about Skycatch, its focus on serving the mining industry and the benefits of using drones, autonomy and machine learning in mining operations. 

Ever wonder if you could be a drone racing pilot?

Today’s guest did just that and her story will inspire you.  Susan Smith is an FPV drone racing pilot from San Diego.  She is a member of the Safety Third Racing Club and the team pilot for NewBeeDrone, a company that is dedicated to supporting newcomers to the FPV drone racing world.  Susan picked up drone a few years ago, and after a few months of crashing and thrashing, she found her groove and today she is one of the top female drone racing pilots in the world. In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Susan shares her story of becoming the best at what she does racing drones.

Are big commercial entities ready for drone delivery?

Anthony Vittone is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of DroneUp.  DroneUp provides end-to-end aerial data collection services for large, autonomous missions; leveraging their patented Mission Match platform. DroneUp matches missions with small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) pilots. They locate, qualify, and deploy single pilot or multi-pilot crews according to their client’s requirements. The company is committed to providing a comprehensive network of pilots while maintaining a steadfast commitment to safety and responsible operations.  Recently, the company completed a series of drone delivery flights for Walmart and Coca-Cola, in what may be the start of drone delivery adoption by major retailers.

In addition to being Executive VP and COO, Anthony is also an accomplished lawyer and business executive.  At DroneUp, he oversees business operations and finance, legal, HR and contract fulfillment. He has extensive experience in working with and developing businesses in a variety of disciplines. 

In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Anthony gives us an update od DroneUps efforts in drone delivery. 

How have power companies used drones during Covid-19?

For that question, we head to Nice, France to speak with Kevin O’Donovan, founder of the boutique technology consultant company, A Bit of This & That ...  The company is focused on the intersection of technology and the Energy Industry, delivering innovative technology consultations, sales advisory, speaker & B2B Influencer services.  Being a bit of a storyteller, Kevin has been evangelizing how new technologies can transform the way we do things throughout his career. Kevin has a proven track record of 'bridging the gap' between the capabilities a new technology can bring and the practicalities of bringing that technology to market.  He has held senior leadership Technical Sales & Sales Management roles at Compaq, HP and most recently at Intel, where he was Intel’s Worldwide Sales Director for the Energy Industry. 

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Kevin talks about power companies have used drones during the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain operations and more importantly keep the lights for all of us.

What are the current trends in academia related to drones?

Christian Janke is Assistant Professor in the College of Aeronautics at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.  Embry Riddle Aeronautical University is the largest accredited university system specializing in aviation and aerospace programs, with its main campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona.  It also has numerous online programs and academic programs offered at satellite locations.

In addition to being Assistant Professor, Chris is also Program Coordinator for the Bachelor of Science in Unmanned Systems Applications program. 

Following his assignments as a helicopter pilot in the German Armed Forces, he moved into research where he coordinated national and international research projects in the aerospace field. He is a trainer for Human Factors & Crew Resource Management, Instructor for Safety Management and Risk Assessment in Aviation and Auditor for Quality Management.  He has ten years of first-hand market experience advising industrial clients in the fields of aviation, electromobility and security technology. He supports startups in the founding phase and is a member of the Dronemasters Academy platform, which teaches STEM topics to children and young people using small drones and robots. 

In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Christian talks about the use of small drones in education, the safe integration of uavs into the airspace, the potentials of Urban Air Mobility, and the prevention of drone misuse.  

How many tries does it take to bring down a rogue drone? 

Sharone Aloni is vice-president of research and development of Smart Shooter, a world-class designer, developer, and manufacturer of innovative fire control systems.  The company’s SMASH Fire Control system significantly increases the accuracy and lethality of small arms and provides end-users with a "One Shot – One Hit" capability across multiple mission areas. Thus, creating a significant advantage for the infantry soldier and ultimately revolutionizing the world of small arms and optics. 

The SMASH Fire Control System was originally designed for use against ground units, but recently, the Dutch Army tested it in a live-fire counter-drone trial.  The test took place in the Austrian High Mountains, as part of the Dutch Defense Department examination of different ways to combat small unmanned systems.  Tested at a range of up to 200 meters, in harsh weather conditions, fog, and blowing snow, the SMASH Fire Control Systems proved to be highly effective in shooting down drones. It made no difference whether the drones were stationary in the air or moving. 

In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Sharone introduces us to Smart Shooter, the SMASH Fire Control System and how its become one of the easiest and most reliable counter drone solutions for the military. 

Are you ready for the Boston Drone Film Festival?

Jovan Tanasijevic and Jamie Wiener are with the Boston Drone Film Festival.  Jovan is founder of the festival and director at Above Summit, a production studio specializing in drone cinematography.  Jamie is the Festival Director.  

The Boston Drone Film Festival celebrates the creative pursuit of international drone cinematographic and drone photographers from around the world.  Serving as a platform for talented drone content creators, the Boston Drone Film Festival hopes to inspire a new generation to push the limits of what’s creatively possible with the technology. 

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Jovan and Jamie talk about the history of the Boston Drone Film Festival, this year’s schedule and how we can attend and participate in the virtual event. 

What Are Terra Drone's Plans for Inspections & UTM?

Teppei Seki is Chief Operating Officer at Terra Drone, a leading commercial drone services company with headquarters in Japan and presence in more than 20 countries. Terra Drones provides innovative drone solutions like aerial surveys, infrastructure inspection, thermal mapping, UAV data processing for a wide variety of industries.  Teppei joined Terra Drone in 2016, after 10 years with parent company, Terra Motors, Japan’s leading electric vehicle manufactures.   Terra Drone’s world wide operations are huge, much more than I could cover in a single podcast.  So in this edition of the Drone Radio Show, we focus on Terra Drone’s recently announced plan to provide automated inspection and air mobility solutions to INPEX, a leading energy company in Asia.  We compare Asia and European markets and we touch on Terra Drone’s UTM solutions.

How difficult is it to stop a rogue drone?

Charles-Hubert Dufour is Commercial Director of CERBAIR, a French company that produces a complete anti-drone solution.  The company’s advanced radiofrequency technology is the foundation of their anti-drone systems, giving users the power to successfully detect, characterize and neutralize drone intrusions in real time. Charles is trained as an engineer, and has more than 12 years in the wireless communications, defense and security industries.  In 2019, Cerbair introduced its redesigned of their anti-drone solution, called Chimera.  The kit is unique in that it allows for a single operator in the field to detect and neutralize nefarious Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.  It’s also much more compact and 10% lighter than previous models.

I caught up with Charles, via phone, at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi.  IDEX is the only international defense exhibition and conference in the Middle East and North Africa region demonstrating the latest technology across land, sea and air sectors of defense.

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Charles introduces to the Chimera anti-drone kit and shares insights into the drone-defense industry.

How can small U.S. drone manufactures compete on the world stage?

George Matus is CEO and founder of Teal Drones, a U.S. manufacturer of specialty drones for the commercial and military sector.  Based in Salt Lake City, Teal is focused on pioneering new uses for drone systems beyond the “flying camera” applications so often seen in use today. The development of complex air control, data processing and mapping technologies housed in rugged, high-performance drones allows Teal to transform how the military, public safety organizations and commercial enterprises operate.

George started Teal Drones in 2014 when he was only a sophomore in high school.  Today, Teal is making headlines with it’s signature product, the Golden Eagle drone, a secure, intelligent, rugged and high-performance drone system produced to exacting U.S. defense industry standards.

The company found a financial partner in Decathlon Capital earlier this year, a revenue-based financing firm, which provides a funding model that ties a company’s loan payments directly to the amount of revenue they make. The funding agreement comes as the innovative unmanned aerial systems company expands its product line and grows partnerships with the U.S. military and commercial enterprises for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and public safety applications." 

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, George introduces us to Teal Drones, the Golden Eagle Drone and shares how a young high school student is now competing globally in the drone industry. 

What Do Dragonflies Have to do With Drones?

Researchers at the Imperial London College recently published a study that revealed that dragonflies use an inbuilt righting mechanism when they are thrown off balance. The findings add to current knowledge of how insects fly and keep stable in the air. They could also help to inspire new designs in small and micro-unmanned vehicles.

The article reminded me of an interview I did a few years ago with Alex Caccia, CEO of Animal Dynamics, a company based in Oxford, England that was working on a miniature drone modeled off a dragonfly. I did a little research and found that tiny micro drones, produced by Animal Dynamics and Flir, are finding their way into military and certain commercial applications.  I dusted off the interview with Alex, made a few updates and what we have today is discussion of how dragonflies can influence drone design and how micro drones are becoming a reality.

Alex Caccia is a serial entrepreneur, with start-ups in hardware, software and sports equipment. And as I mentioned, he is also the CEO of Animal Dynamics, a spinout company from the Department of Zoology at Oxford University.  The company designs super-efficient systems inspired by the deep study of evolutionary biomechanics and based on the movements of high-performance animals. The project that we’re discussing today is the Skeeter Drone, a micro drone with flapping wings based on a dragonfly. 

What do you get when you cross the built environment with geospatial technologies?

For that question we head to Portland, Maine to speak with Jeremiah Karpowicz, Editorial Director and Lee Corkhill, Group Events Director for Diversified Communications. Diversified Communications is a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities, and digital and print publications.  The company connects, educates, and strengthens business communities in over 14 industries including technology, food and beverage, healthcare, natural and organic, and business management.

In February 2022, Diversified Communications will present Geo Week, a new brand name of previously stand-alone events like AEC Next Technology Expo & Conference, International Lidar Mapping Forum, and SPAR 3D Expo & Conference.  The move reflects the increased integration between the built environment, advanced airborne/terrestrial technologies, and commercial 3D technologies.  UAV technology which continues to provide a tool to these segments is sure to featured during Geo Week, illustrating the growth of the technology in advancing the work by geospatial professionals.

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Lee and Jeremiah talk about Geo Week, the geospatial industry and how drones are gaining increasing popularity in the geospatial segment.

Can Drone help in averting a TV Frequency Famine?

Phil Larsen is Vice President of the QForce, the Airborne Division of Q communications.  QComm is a professional engineering company that assists TV Stations in converting analog to digital operations, ensuring compliance with transmission regulations governing signal strength and reach.  This is all part of the FCC “Repack” program.  Qforce uses unmanned aerial vehicle technologies to provide efficient, accurate and cost-effective measurement solutions.  As the demand and opportunities for free digital tv services increase, the need for TV broadcasting stations to maintain FCC compliance will grow.

Phil is one of the leading subject matter experts in vertical inpections by way of UAV in an RF environment.  His career includes more than a decade of experience designing solutions and advising the telecommunications industry on the benefits of using UAVs. He previously worked for the DoD, NSA, CIA, Navy and other government agencies globally, and brings with him an exceptional background and understanding of the safe, accurate and overall benefits of UAS technology to the digital broadcast industry.

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Phil talks introduces to the Airborne Division of Qcomm, why measuring TV broadcast fields is important, and how drones can help TV stations and tower owners maintain FCC compliance efficiently and safely.

Who’s ready to bet on the Drone Racing League?

In early January, the Drone Racing League (DRL) announced a deal with DraftKings to make the sports technology and entertainment company an Official Sports Betting Partner of DRL.  With that deal, DRL drone races became the first aerial sporting event upon which fans can wager. Mobile sports betting on DRL drone races is now legal in Colorado, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Tennessee and West Virginia with regulatory approvals pending in additional states. This partnership promises to elevate the popularity of DRL’s drone racing to higher levels.

2020 DRL SIM Cup Champion Christian "Amari" Van Sloun is my guest today.  Amari is 25 years old from Ames, Iowa.  He joined the 2020 DRL Allianz World Championship season as a rookie and has continued to dominate all season. 

He earned his spot in the league by winning DRL's largest ever open DRL SIM Tryouts, beating out thousands of pilot hopefuls and winning 10 out of 10 total heats in the Finals. He then went on to win DRL's first pro fantasy, virtual drone racing competition, the 2020 FanDuel DRL SIM Racing Cup, donating his prize earnings for Covid-19 relief efforts. 

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Amari talks about the Drone Racing League, the Draft Kings sports betting partnership and he provides insights into DRLs final two races of the 2020 DRL Allianz World Championship Season scheduled for January 26 and January 30. 

Can clean energy power our drones?

Desmond Wheatley is CEO of BEAM Global, a CleanTech leader that produces innovative, sustainable technology for electric vehicle charging, outdoor media, and energy security.  It does this without the construction, disruption, risks and costs of grid-tied solutions.  Desmond joined BEAM as a consultant in 2010 when it was Envision Solar, and has served as the Company’s CEO since 2011 and as Chairman of the Board since 2016. He has two decades of senior international management experience in technology systems integration, energy management, communications and renewable energy.  Desmond has founded, funded and operated four profitable start-up companies and was previously engaged in M&A activities.

In 2020, Beam announced the development of the UAV Arc, the first solar-powered, drone recharging network, which provides en route charging for unmanned aerial vehicles.  The ability to recharge on a network of UAV ARC™ products deployed on rooftops, undeveloped regions or at sea should dramatically increase the potential range and utility of UAVs. Each UAV ARC™ unit generates and stores all its power from renewable sources so drones will receive clean renewable electricity with no cost-per-unit of energy. The units are completely independent from the power grid, allowing them to provide charging during grid outages and in remote locations.

In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Desmond talks about Beam Global, its patented CleanTech Solutions and how the UAV ARC is poised to support the drone delivery industry.

Should States and Cities get more involved in managing low altitude airspace?

Brent Skorup is senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.  The Mercatus Center at George Mason University is the world’s premier university source for market-oriented ideas—bridging the gap between academic ideas and real-world problems. The Center advances knowledge about how markets work to improve people’s lives by training graduate students, conducting research, and applying economics to offer solutions to society’s most pressing problems.  In addition to his role as senior research fellow, Brent is also a member of the Texas Department of Transportation’s Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Task Force. He has authored several articles for National Affairs, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and others. He’s appeared on TV and radio for news outlets like C-SPAN, NPR, CBS News, ABC News and CNBC Asia. 

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Brent talks about the current federal-centric model governing traditional aviation as it relates to unmanned traffic management. To avoid gridlock with states and the risk of civil suits from landowners, Brent believes the federal government should recognize state and local government authority over drone airspace.

Is a Jet Powered Drone the Future of Medical Supply Delivery?

Alexander Taits is CEO & Founder of Fusion Flight, a manufacturer of the Jet Quad, the world's smallest and most powerful jet-powered drone with vertical take-off and landing capabilities. It is like an unmanned, scaled-down version of the Harrier-Jump Jet.  With its high speed capability, the company aims to be the leader of autonomous UAV medical delivery. 

Alex begun his career in Mechanical Engineering performing structural analysis for rocket engine and nuclear reactor components. He holds a Master's in Mechanical Engineering from USC and is self-taught in the areas of Control Systems, Software, and Electrical Engineering. Over the years, he has worked in a diverse set of industries including military jet propulsion, semiconductors, robotics and micro-satellites.  

In this edition of the drone radio show, Alex talks about Fusion Flight, the company’s Jet Quad and how the jet powered drone will revolutionize the medical delivery industry. 

Are we close to seeing drone highways in the skies?

Nicholas Flom is Executive Director for the Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site.  The North Plans UAS Test Site was designated by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct critical research into the certification and operational requirements necessary to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace system.  Recently, the Northern Plains Test Site unveiled Vantis, a platform set to become the nation’s first statewide network for drones. Think of it as a highway in the sky for UAS. 

Prior to becoming the Executive Director, Nick was the Director of Safety responsible for chairing the Independent Safety Review Board for the Test Site, implementing their Safety Management System and ensuring that safety is the test site's highest priority.

In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Nick talks about the Northern Plains Test Site, the Vantis UAS system and how it will safely open the skies to unmanned vehicles. 

What Happens when the GPS goes Out?

Sanjiv Singh is CEO of Near Earth Autonomy, a Pittsburg based company that is creating a future where autonomous flight is commonplace and safe.  Near Earth’s technology allows aircraft to autonomously take-off, fly, and land safely, with or without GPS. Their solutions enable aerial mobility and inspection applications for partners in the commercial and defense sectors.

Sanjiv leads the technical and business strategy for the company. He brings 25 years of experience in autonomous ground and air vehicles operating in extreme environments. Key area of his expertise are in perception and planning for air and ground vehicles. In addition, he specializes in the coordination of human and robotic teams. Sanjiv obtained his PhD in Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University in 1995 and has since been on the faculty at the Robotics Institute. Sanjiv is the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Field Robotics. 

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Sanjiv talks about Near Earth Autonomy, the company’s ground breaking technology and the future of robotic flight.

Can Machine Learning Advance Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations?

Iris Automation is a safety avionics technology company pioneering Detect-and-Avoid systems and aviation policy services that enable customers to build scalable Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations for commercial drones.  The cutting edge software solution uses machine learning and computer vision to continually fine tune its capabilities on a low size, weight, and power hardware module that integrates easily onboard Unmanned Aircraft Systems allowing them to fly safely at long distances and without human intervention.

Jon Damush is CEO of Iris Automation. Jon has over 30 years of extensive aviation technology experience and executive leadership, building upon his technical background in engineering, software development and systems integration. Most recently he led new business ventures at Boeing NeXT. Before that he was Chief Growth Officer at Insitu, Inc., a Boeing subsidiary, developing novel aircraft and UAS innovation including detect-and-avoid. He was also a Boeing executive liaison and board observer to SkyGrid, LLC, a joint venture between Boeing and SparkCognition. 

James Howard is a mechatronics engineer, roboticist and entrepreneur. James worked at Boeing and Insitu Pacific on computer vision research for drones such as the Scaneagle. At Spire Global, he helped build and launch their first four commercial satellites, seeing first hand the insides of a successful, highly technical aerospace startup. Additionally, in his first year of university he co-founded AniRevo Events as Director of Sales and has helped it grow successfully to a 14,000+ attendee annual event that is expanding globally. 

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Jon and James talk about Iris Automation, the company’s innovative Casia detect and avoid technology, and how machine learning can help make the skies safer for UAS operations.

Can a coaxial drone deliver exceptional service and performance? 

Peter Fuchs is CEO and co-founder of Ascent AeroSystems.  Ascent AeroSystems designs and manufactures unique "coaxial" drones that are more portable and durable than conventional multi-rotors. The rugged cylinder-shaped vehicles scale to any size and are ideal for industrial, public safety and military markets where mission-critical operations in tough environments are the norm.   A life-long enthusiast of anything related to aviation, Peter began his career as a professional pilot, and since leaving the flightdeck his experience includes roles in finance, operations, management consulting, mergers and acquisitions and corporate strategy.

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Peter talks about Ascent AeroSystems, the company’s new Spirit Arrow coaxial drone, and how it offers an alternative to mission critical UAS applications. 

Can a drone save lives by delivering organs for transplant?

Anthony “Tony” Pucciarella and Ryan Henderson are with MissionGO, a leader in next-generation transportation logistics and communications.  Earlier this year, the MissionGO team completed an historic drone test flight, carrying a human kidney and corneas across Las Vegas via UAS. The demonstration fights showcased the real potential that drones could have in supporting life saving medical procedures involved organ transplants.

Tony is a pilot and veteran in the aviation and aircraft industries and is the President of MissionGO.  He is certified as an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and is rated in aircraft ranging from the iconic B-25 to the fastest business jets flying today. Ryan is a certified manned and remote pilot and currently MissionGo’s Lead Pilot.  Both individuals have significant expertise with transportation logistics.  Tony has an established background in manned and unmanned aviation, engineering, aircraft systems integration, operational testing, and business.  And Ryan has extensive knowledge in flight control systems, command and control links, and radio relay. He is a subject matter expert on airworthiness analysis and has participated in global operational deployments including disaster stricken and harsh environments.

In addition to being President of MissionGo, Tony is also the Founder and CEO of AlarisPro. AlarisPro is a UAS fleet management company enabling enterprise UAS operators and fleet managers greater visibility, monitoring and management capabilities.

Where do Commercial UAS Operators Go for UAV Service and Repair?

Andy Osantowske is Director of Operations for Robotic Skies, the only global network of certified UAS maintenance centers.  Robotic Skies offers comprehensive turnkey field service programs designed to keep UAS flying safely, efficiently and affordably around the world. Founded in 2014, the company has more than 200 independently owned and operated repair stations in more than 40 countries.  The network provides maintenance, repair, operations and support services for commercial UAS.  Before joining Robotic Skies, Andy gained experience in the integration of UAS into the national air space. First, as a subject matter expert on air traffic for Evans Incorporated, a contractor to the FAA, then as a member of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization team that worked on the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability  or LAANC for Part 107 operations. He holds a private pilot license, remote pilot license, and aircraft dispatcher license.

In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Andy gives us an update on the company’s UAS maintenance and repair service, provides insights into some interesting partnerships and an outlook on the UAS service sector.

What’s a heavy lift drone and how can it help transport cargo or support industrial applications?

For that question we head to northern California to speak with Joshua Resnick, co-founder and CEO of Parallel Flight Technologies, an industrial grade drone company with a mission to deliver unmanned systems to save lives, property and the environment.  Based La Selva Beach, California, the startup company has developed patent-pending drone technology that will allow drones to carry heavy payloads for over two hours, making it ideal for use in fighting wildfires, search and rescue, healthcare and other mission-critical logistics applications. As CEO of Parallel Flight Technologies, Joshua leverages his years of composite RC airplane and helicopter experience, his background in hybrid and electric power train, as well as his love of new technologies.   Prior to founding Parallel Flight, he led system architecture and electrical engineering for the Tesla Semi Truck program. He previously led state-funded research for the State of Alaska developing hybrid electric commercial fishing boats.

In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Joshua talks about Parallel Flight Technologies’ Heavy Lift Drone and how it's set to revolutionize the public safety, healthcare and industrial applications.