Bill Irby is CEO of AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., a global technology innovator focused on enhancing situational awareness. The company provides customer-centric, advanced robotics solutions, beginning with autonomous drones that are high-value and solve mission-critical problems. Founded in 2010, AgEagle was originally formed to pioneer proprietary, professional-grade, fixed-winged drones and aerial imagery for the agriculture industry. Today, AgEagle is a leading provider of full stack drone solutions for customers worldwide in the energy, construction, agriculture, and government verticals.
Their eBee drone is autonomous, safe, ultra-light and easy to use. They are the first UAVs to be approved by the FAA for Operations Over People and Operations Over Moving Vehicles in the U.S. They are also the first drone to receive the European Union Aviation Safety Agency Design Verification for BVLOS and Operations Over People. The drones have performed over one million flights globally and are lightweight, hand-launched, and able to operate vast distances Beyond-Visual-Line-of-Sight (BVLOS).
Bill is a United States Naval Academy alum with more than 25 years of senior management experience in uncrewed air and maritime systems, actuation hardware, ISR systems, and communication systems.
He served as a Vice President at Northrop Grumman, one of the world’s largest weapons manufacturers and military technology providers, generating $30 billion annually. More recently, he was President of MTI and Steel Partners Holdings, a diversified global holding company with operations in industrial products, energy, defense, supply chain management and logistics.
Bill is also an active Board member of Ghost Robotics and Chairman of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International. He also served as President of VBAT after Shield AI’s acquisition and L3 Harris. Bill holds a Master’s degree in Technical Management from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the United States Naval Academy.
In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Bill talks about AgEagle’s evolution into a full-stack drone company, and he discusses recent deals that demonstrate the company’s success in the marketplace.
George Matus is CEO and founder of Teal Drones, a trailblazing U.S. company at the forefront of innovative drone technology for both commercial and military applications. With advancements in air control, data processing, and mapping technologies, Teal is revolutionizing operations for the military, public safety, and various commercial sectors. Its flagship Teal 2 Drone is a model of security, intelligence, and high performance that meets the stringent standards of the U.S. defense industry.
George started Teal Drones in 2014 when he was only a sophomore in high school. By 2023, he was named CTO of Red Cat Holdings, the parent company of Teal Drones. Red Cat is an end-to-end drone solutions company based in the United States that is accelerating the future of aerial robotics to transform the way we live and work.
In Episode 412, I interviewed Michael Robbins, Chief Advocacy Officer at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International or AUVSI. In that podcast, we explored the importance of U.S. competitiveness in the drone industry. In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, builds on this theme by highlighting the ascent of Teal Drones as a manufacturing leader and sheds light on the expanding opportunities for American drone companies in the global market.
Is India the next hot spot for unmanned business?
Ankit Mehta is Co-founder & CEO of ideaForge, India’s largest manufacturer of drones for defense, homeland security and industrial applications. IdeaForge was founded in 2007, with a mission to bring cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems to these industries. Over the past decade, the company has emerged as a leader in the Indian drone industry, with a focus on innovation, reliability, and safety.
IdeaForge is a pioneer in the UAV industry and has multiple IPs to its credit. One of the key factors that sets Ideaforge apart from its competitors is its focus on indigenous design and development. The company's drones are designed and manufactured entirely in India, which has helped it to establish a strong foothold in the domestic market while also making it an attractive partner for global clients.
At ideaForge, Ankit is leading the charge to deliver cutting-edge technology that is Made-in-India and second to none. One of those innovations is the SWITCH UAV, a first of its kind VTOL and fixed wing hybrid Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. SWITCH features advanced flight time, higher safety and simple operation with additional fail-safe redundancies. It is used for long duration operations, long endurance surveillance and security, inspection and photogrammetry. It is so good, the Indian Army selected the Switch above all others to strengthen its unmanned presence.
In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Ankit talks Ideaforge's journey, its approach to innovation and R&D, and its vision for the future of drones in India and beyond. We'll also discuss some of the challenges and opportunities facing the Indian drone industry, and the role that Ideaforge hopes to play in shaping its growth and development.
Does the drone industry offer a career path for individuals from marginalized communities?
Sedgrid Lewis of Atlanta, Georgia is Founder of The Hidden Pilot Project. The mission of The Hidden Pilot Project is to teach and train black returning citizens and citizens under the supervision of the criminal justice system how to become licensed drone pilots. Through The Hidden Pilot Project, individuals are provided with hands-on training to enter the unmanned systems industry.
Sedgrid Lewis holds an MA in Criminology from the University of West Georgia. He has worked in the criminal justice field for the past 20 years developing evidenced based social programs for juvenile courts and state agencies across the United States. He is also the owner of Blackhawk Aerial LLC. As a part 107 commercial drone pilot, he has flown for several national construction firms providing progression aerial photos.
Sedgrid has dedicated himself to helping others experience the benefits of unmanned technology. He provides drone technology workshops for at-risk youth across the state of Georgia. He is also a certified instructor and coach for US Drone Soccer, which is becoming a fast growing sport at the high school and college level. And, as the son of a third generation farmer, Sedgrid partners with black farmers across the south to provide technical training and farm drone technology demonstrations. Sedgrid promotes precision agriculture in order to sustain black farms and increase profit margins.
In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Sedgrid introduces us to The Hidden Pilot Project, drone soccer and how both are helping people from marginalized communities enter the aviation field.
What’s the market like for UAS in Latin America?
Juan Plaza is CEO of Plaza Aerospace, a consulting company specializing in crewed and uncrewed aviation, Latin American Business Development and GIS consulting. The company helps organizations reach their goals faster by selecting the right platforms and implementing the best deployment practices.
Prior to forming Plaza Aerospace in 2015, Juan spent more than 26 years as a Sales Director for companies such as Autodesk and Trimble Navigation, nearly all time in Latin America where he developed a network of software and hardware distributors willing and eager to represent new products in their respective countries.
Juan oversaw the implementation of some of the largest Geographic Information Systems deployments in the world and developed a reputation as a Project Manager with a fierce focus on finishing on time and within budget.
Juan received a degree in Geodesy in 1984 and a MBA in International Finance in 2004. He’s a commercial pilot flying Citation jets for photogrammetry applications in the Americas, and holds a Part 107 certificate
In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Juan talks about Plaza Aerospace, the market for UAS in Latin America and he provides insights into how companies and entrepreneurs can successfully establish a new business Latin American countries.
What’s the best way to bring harmony to your managed drone program?
Ed Boucas is the Founder and CEO of Votix, an American robotics company pioneering an enterprise software platform for orchestration, operation and automation of drones and robots. The platform addresses and solves drone program challenges such as productivity, safety and governance. VOTIX is a powerful and complete cloud-based software-as-a-service solution designed to support all drone manufacturers automating drone-based workflows. The solution is flexible and easy to use, reduces process time, optimizes resources and minimizes risk for a wide range of applications.
Ed is a technology entrepreneur and investor, with more than 20 years experience in creating and leading innovative companies. He started his entrepreneurial career as the Founder & CEO of Cipher in 2000, a global leader in the cybersecurity industry with operations in 15 countries.
Ed led two rounds of multimillion-dollar private equity investments and as the majority shareholder sold the company to Prosegur, a 5 Billion dollar European publicly traded company and leader in the private security industry. Ed is also the Founder & Chairman of Blockbit, a next-generation cloud and network security technology company with over 3,000 active corporate clients, over 1 million users and with presence in 10 countries.
In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Ed talks about Votix, the concept of drone orchestration and how Votix is helping companies more effortlessy manage, stream and fly their drones.
What’s the secret of longevity in the drone industry?
Cameron Chell is CEO and President of Draganfly, a leader in the professional drone industry for more than 22 years. The company is the creator of quality, cutting-edge drone solutions, software and AI systems that revolutionize the way organizations can do business and service their stakeholders. Recognized as being at the forefront of technology for the past two decades, Draganfly serves the public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections, security, mapping and surveying markets. The company is driven by passion, ingenuity, and the need to provide efficient solutions and first-class services to its customers around the world with the goal of saving time, money, and lives.
Cameron has been a technology entrepreneur for more than 30 years and has spent his career growing a diverse collection of high-potential ideas into revolutionary companies that have changed the way we experience the world. He takes a hands-on leadership role in projects, infusing innovation and adoption with the operational principles of clarity, alignment, and measurement into the culture of every team he works with.
I had the pleasure of meeting Cameron at this year’s Commercial UAV Expo, where the company unveiled three new cutting-edge North American-made technologies. Following the event, I spoke had a zoom call with Cameron to record this podcast.
In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Cameron talks about Draganfly, the new additions to the Draganfly product line, the company’s efforts to support Ukraine in its war effort and he offers several perspectives on the current state and direction of the drone industry and how Draganfly has remained leader in the industry for so long.
Can Drones Really Foster Economic Development?
Tom Swoyer is President of the Grand Sky Development Company. Grand Sky is the first and only fully operational commercial UAS research and development park in the United States. Strategically located on the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, Grand Sky is the hub of activities in the nation’s leading state for UAS flight testing, training and development. Since 2015, Grand Sky has been the site of continuous UAS industry advancements and milestones. Not only that, the investments in UAS at Grand Sky are now producing dividends in terms of new private development, jobs and tax revenues.
In addition to being President of Grand Sky, Tom is also the Founder. He developed the master plan fpr the design, construction, and operation of the infrastructure and facilities for Grand Sky. He has also worked alongside a litany of key stakeholders and partners including the Air Force, the State of North Dakota, Congressional Delegations and Grand Forks County in making Grand Sky a success.
In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Tom talks about Grand Sky, its UAS mission and vision and how the investments that have been made are yielding jobs, development and increasing the tax base. Thus proving UAS can provide community wide benefits.
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.
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.
What do investors look for in the UAS Industry?
Vadim Tarasov is founding partner of Advanced Autonomous Solutions Fund, a fund investing in unmanned solutions globally. The fund believes that automation will play a key role in transformation of the largest industries in the next 2-5 years and only a handful of companies will serve as a backbone for such automation. One of those companies is UAVOS, which specializes in the design, development and manufacturing of unmanned vehicles and autopilot systems, as well as components such as servo drives, pan-tilt platforms, rescue/emergency landing systems.
In addition to being a partner at Advanced Autonomous Solutions Fund, Vadim is also Chairman of the Board at UAVOS. He has more than 15 years experience as a board member, investor and executive leader with highly disruptive technology companies.
In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Vadim talks about Advanced Autonomous Solutions Fund, UAVOS and he provides an investor’s perspective into the UAV market and the future of autonomous operations.
Do Autonomous Drones pose ethical questions?
Jenn Player is Director of Regulatory Affairs at Skydio, the leading American drone manufacturer and world leader in autonomous flight. The company leverages breakthrough AI to create the world’s most intelligent flying machines for use by consumers, enterprises, and government customers. Founded in 2014, Skydio is made up of leading experts in AI, robotics, cameras, and electric vehicles from top companies, research labs, and universities from around the world. Skydio designs, assembles, and supports its products in the U.S. to offer the highest standards of supply chain and manufacturing security. At Skydio, Jenn collaborates with customers, regulators, and standards development organizations to unlock safe and effective autonomous and docked drone operations. Before joining Skydio, Jenn spearheaded an industry-leading regulatory program under the FAA’s Pathfinder Program, capturing a number of breakthrough BVLOS approvals. She has also played a key role supporting other leading industry programs in infrastructure inspection and package delivery.
Autonomous drones offer great promise, but there are also considerations. In many cases it boils down to how innovative decision-making and learning capability should be vested to an autonomous vehicle and for what purpose? In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Jenn talks about Skydio and the need to consider ethical implications of using autonomous unmanned systems.
What does the mailbox of the future look like?
Dan O’Toole is a serial entrepreneur and business leader who is among the first in the United States to secure patents for a smart mailbox designed to securely accept packages delivered by drone. With those patents he founded and is the CEO of DroneDek.
The phone, the automobile, air travel and all of the other conveniences of our day-to-day lives have been updated, but mailboxes have not been disrupted since 1858 when they were first introduced. Drone delivery will increase efficiency, lower costs, raise convenience and speed, but that only solves half of the equation. To complete the final mile solution there must be a safe, secure, weatherproof receptacle, that is capable of housing items and notifying customers of their delivery. That’s where DroneDekcomes in. DroneDek brings the mailbox into the 21st-century and completes the last mile solution through its smart mailbox, app-driven solution and marketplace.
In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Dan talks about DroneDek, it’s revolutionary mailbox for drone deliveries and how the technology is about to radically change our lives for the better.
Can a drone help build a better solar roof?
Sinuhe Montoya is CEO and founder of Drone Quote, a web-based solar roofing company. Drone Quote works with drone pilots throughout the country to provide easy and precise estimates of solar roof installation projects. After the solar installation is complete, the pilots conduct a final inspection flight to verify the quality of the work performed. The company’s unique approach is driving solar adoption and it illustrates just one more innovative way that drones are providing real value.
In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Sinuhe talks about Drone Quote, the use of drones to promote solar and how he built a successful drone based business.
How can using 3D model technology improve workflows of drone manufactures?
Patricia Hume is CEO of Canvas GFX, a company that develops visual communication and collaboration solutions. Canvas GFX is trusted by leading brands from verticals in aerospace and defense, automotive, commercial and domestic appliance, energy, and education. The company’s solutions bridge the divide between technical and graphics applications, empowering everyone to communicate and understand complex information with absolute clarity.
Pat’s career in software and high tech spans four decades. At Canvas GFX, she is responsible for creating and executing the company’s strategic vision. With a wealth of cross-functional experience and deep operational expertise across large companies and microcaps, she specializes in driving sustained growth and high-impact turnarounds.
Prior to joining Canvas, Patricia was chief operations officer at iPass, Inc., where she led global customer-facing activities until the company’s acquisition in February 2019. She has also served as chief revenue officer at Convio, senior vice president of Global Indirect Channels at SAP AG, group vice president of Avaya’s SMB Division, and CEO and president of VerticalNet Markets. She held numerous senior management positions during her 18-year service with IBM and Lotus.
In 2021, Canvas was selected by Zipline to optimize a range of visual documentation workflows. Launched in 2016 to deliver critical medical supplies, Zipline designs, manufactures and operates the world’s largest automated on-demand delivery service, which to date has made more than 200,000 commercial deliveries and has delivered millions of units of blood, vaccines and other critical medical products. Using the Canvas Envision platform, Zipline employees will have the ability to create rich, dynamic visual assets leveraging real 3D CAD data.
In this edition o f the Drone Radio Show, Patricia talks about Canvas GFX, the partnership with Zipline to create interactive 3D product models and the benefits of using new technologies to streamline workflows and communicate ideas.
Is India the next hot spot for unmanned business?
Ankit Mehta is Co-founder & CEO of ideaForge, India’s largest manufacturer of drones for defense, homeland security and industrial applications. Founded in 2007, the company has a consistent market share of over 90% in the Security & Surveillance segment. It is also the first company to indigenously develop and manufacture Vertical Take-off and Landing UAVs in India. IdeaForge is the pioneer in the UAV industry in India and has multiple IPs to its credit, including the then world’s lightest autopilot in 2009. The company has deployed over 1000 systems and has trained more than 1400 pilots in defense, public safety and security. The company is continually innovating and experimenting to transform its aerial platforms, to offer greater performance, higher reliability and autonomy.
At ideaForge, Ankit is leading the charge to deliver cutting-edge technology that is Made-in-India and second to none. One of those innovations is the IdeaForge SWITCH UAV, a first of its kind VTOL and fixed wing hybrid Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. SWITCH features advanced flight time, higher safety and simple operation with additional fail-safe redundancies. It is used for long duration operations, long endurance surveillance and security, inspection and photogrammetry. It is so good, the Indian Army selected the Switch above all others earlier this year to strengthen its unmanned presence.
In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Ankit talks about IdeaForge, the Switch UAV and how the company became India’s leading drone manufacturer.