BVLOS updates, FAA administrator resigns and what the future holds for Drone Industry

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Timestamps

[02:05] BVLOS flight waivers from FAA – total automation and operations beyond human LOS
[08:30] Steve Dickson steps down as FAA administrator
[15:00] Do experts with heavy manned flight experience make a good choice for driving drone regulations from an FAA perspective?
[17:03] Potential nominees for the next FAA administrator and what is desired from an administrator for supporting the Drone industry.

ADU 01249: What is the best drone for getting close-up shots/video ?

March 9, 2022 by narinder

What drone should pilots choose if they intend on taking close-up aerial photos and videos?

With multiple drones available in the market today, what qualifies to be the preferred drone for pilots intending to take close up aerial images and videos?

Today’s question is from Earl who would like to know the preferred drone for close up aerial shots and videos. We answer Earl’s questions by first addressing the noise generated from a drone when performing close to subject missions for aerial photo shots and the absolute need for pilots to plan such missions considering all the subjects in the vicinity of the shot.

Next we discuss some options available to drone pilots taking close-up aerial shots and how these options can aid a drone pilot to take better aerial images. We then discuss some of the drone options available for pilots including the Mavic 3, Inspire 2 with X7, Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual Advanced. Paul also discusses some options available on the Mavic 3 relevant for close aerial shoots (more can be found on Drone U’s review of the Mavic 3).

Lastly, we discuss about Optical and Digital zoom and lens options that can assist drone pilots and the relevance of understanding editing vs no-editing option and how this can drive drone selection and how pilots can fly for logistical purposes.

Aerial Imagery and close shots are a requirement most drone pilots desire and you don’t want to miss this show to know all the options available !

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Timestamps

[09:20] Today’s question on best drones for close-up aerial and video shots
[13:45] Addressing the noise generated from drone flights during events and the importance of planning
[17:18] Shooting aerial photos and the options pilots have for aerial imagery

[18:17] Mavic 3 as a preferred drone for aerial photos

[18:43] Inspire 2 with an X7 and flight options available for pilots

[20:40] Optical zoom vs Digital Zoom and lens options

[23:22] Mavic 2 E Dual Adv and other alternatives for capturing aerial imagery

ADU 01248: Can Drone Service Providers get the high end tv and film drone jobs ?

March 8, 2022 by narinder

Are major TV and Film events now being captured by DSPs or do Media houses have their own drone crew?

Today’s show is about Drone Service Providers (DSP) and if they continue to be in demand to contract and fly for major events and film crews or if the market has shifted towards media houses staffing their own crew for such events.

Our question for today is from Ken in New Jersey, who would like to know if DSPs get the higher end tv and film drone jobs and to understand the opportunities available for DSPs.

A very relevant question in today’s context as events – major and local, are increasingly utilizing aerial shoots to enhance the experience of viewers. Considering the recent events such as Superbowl where a fleet of drones were used to provide aerial imagery and live entertainment.

Paul and Rob start responding to today’s question by talking about companies covering major events such as Super Bowl/ NASCAR races that continue to be DSP but how these DSPs have evolved over time. Specifically we address how drone skills are evolving, now that DSPs are increasingly adapting to meet such requirements.

We also discuss how Media houses are purchasing footage and why heavy team based DSPs are winning contracts.

Whether you are an individual drone pilot or planning to starting off as a DSP, You don’t want to miss this show !

Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF

Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Timestamps

[01:50] Today’s question from Ken in New Jersey, is if Drone Service Providers get the higher end tv and film drone jobs
[04:10] Paul talks about Beverley Hills Aerials who covered Super Bowl and NASCAR and who function as a DSP
[04:30] Evolution of drone skills in today’s modern DSP

[05:10] Jobs that DSPs are being offered and how types of DSPs in today’s drone world has evolved

[08:14] How Media is purchasing footage and why heavy team based DSP are winning contracts

ADU 01247: Is the FPV Flight Dynamics Book by Christian Mollica something regular drone pilots should read

February 24, 2022 by narinder

Is Christian Mollica’s book “FPV Flight Dynamics” a good read for drone pilots and how can it help them?

Today’s show is a quick one to respond to a question on whether Christian Mollica’s book is a good read for drone pilots.

We respond to Zane’s question, who recently viewed our podcast with Christian Mollica where we reviewed DJI’s FPV drone and also went over Christian’s book. Zane would like to know if Christian Mollica’s book “FPV flight dynamics” is a good and essential read for drone pilots and if it can help drone pilots improve their flying skills.

Christian Mollica is renowned in the Drone industry for his acclaimed book “FPV Flight Dynamics” and we discuss in specific what drone pilots can learn from the book. We also discuss the evolution of drone industry and the developments that helped shape the drone industry.

Order Christian Mollica’s book on Amazon today – https://amzn.to/3p8iS2i

You don’t want to miss this show !

Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF

Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Timestamps

[05:15] Is the FPV Flight Dynamics Book by Christian Mollica something regular drone pilots should read
[06:00] What pilots can learn from Christian’s book
[07:07] The evolution of drones over the last decade

[10:23] How can pilots improve their outlook to allow superior deliveries by reading Christian’s book

ADU 01246: What new applications can we see driven by advancements in Drone Software in the future

February 23, 2022 by narinder

As drone hardware reaches a plateau, can developments in Drone software drive the industry forward with new applications for drones?

Today’s show addresses a critical question which is if developments in drone software can lead to new developments and applications in the drone industry?

Our caller for today, Chris, would like to know what the future hold for drone software development and if this can lead to new applications for drones.

An excellent question relevant to today’s state of the drone industry which has seen hardware levelling itself in terms of drone configurations, parts and build.

In our answer to Chris’ question, we start off first by listing current hardware in the drone world and its development in the last decade while also expressing our view on how most drone software development companies have had limited impact in driving new applications.

Next we look at the automotive industry history as an analogy to the drone industry and how the automotive industry in its formative years started with many manufacturers but ended with only 3 manufacturers.

We then look into several drone applications that can rise due to software development which include autonomous flights to day-to-day community work.

Lastly we analyze where software can take the drone industry forward and review some current jobs that might be replaced by a drone should the software support it.

If you are looking to know what the future lies for the drone industry, You don’t want to miss this show !

Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF

Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Timestamps

[10:01] Today’s question from Chris on What the future holds for Drone software and what developments in software can we expect?
[12:20] The hardware side of drones and developments in hardware to compliment software development
[12:53] Software development lacking the understanding to address user problems
[14:08] A comparison of the automobile industry and its history to the drone industry today
[18:18] Balancing software, equipment, hardware
[18:58] the high demand for software development/developers in the drone world
[19:48] Where can software take the drone industry in the future?
[27:44] Reviewing current jobs in everyday life that can be replaced by a drone

ADU 01245: The TRUTH about the Mavic 3 and whether it has a global shutter or not

February 14, 2022 by narinder

Does the Mavic 3 possess a global shutter and what applications can it be used for?

Today’s show is a quick one to respond to questions from our earlier podcast on the Mavic 3 and whether the Mavic 3 possesses a global shutter or not.

We thank everyone for the overwhelming support and comments from our latest podcast on the Mavic 3. One question on everyone’s mind from the podcast was if the Mavic 3 possessed global shutter and we would like to clarify and clear these doubts and highlight the applications of the Mavic 3.

You don’t want to miss this show !

Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF

Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Timestamps

[02:15] Today’s question is if the Mavic 3 will work for mapping and its sensor
[03:04] Does the Mavic 3 have global shutter and can it be used for photogrammetry?
[06:11] Can the Mavic 3 sensor work as a global shutter? And what other applications can the Mavic 3 be used for ?

ADU 01244: How can I determine the pain points/needs of an industry?

February 11, 2022 by narinder

As pilots what are some of the best ways to know a market and understand its pain points?

Today’s show is about all the efforts that pilots need to put in to understand an industry better so to allow them to provide better service to their customers and increase their overall effectiveness for their business.

Today’s question for the day is from Robert who would like to know some ways by which he can enhance his knowledge about an industry and stay better informed about the problems faced by the customer.

We discuss if there is one single way to understand an industry or domain in the drone industry and if pilots can actually use one common methodology to identify customer pain points. While we do agree there is no secret sauce to do this, we address today’s question by what it really means to understand customer pain points and how pilots can go about doing this.

An integral component of understanding customer pain points involves actually having conversations with customer and we address how pilots can effectively performing this action in a domain of their choice while also highlighting how these help an individual better their skills, their business and their overall outlook in front of their customers.

We then provide Paul’s experience of interacting with an inquisitive individual who came across on the field to enquire about the drone industry and we also share Drone U’s Kevin who started his drone business and how he was able to scale up to taking up projects for Amazon just by interacting and learning from his customers.

If you are looking to know how you can better your drone skills, impress your customers and want to stay updated on your line of business, You don’t want to miss this show !

Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF

Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Timestamps

[01:55] Today’s question on how to determine the pain points/needs of an industry
[03:02] Is there a magic sauce to determining all details and aspects of an industry
[04:14] Talking to individuals working in the industry to understand the developments and pain points in the industry
[09:15] Paul’s experience on how an individual enquired about the drone industry and its pain points to start his business
[15:56] Learn about our DUE instructor Kevin Lederer and how he progressed his business from taking aerial images to taking up a project for Amazon

ADU 01243: Does the SD card you use really matter?? What are currently the best SD cards?

February 4, 2022 by narinder

How can pilots make smart SD card purchases and is it really worth it?

Today’s show is about a well discussed topic here at Drone U and also in the drone world. It’s about SD cards but it’s worth taking a look at SD card considering all the new developments in the tech world.

Our question for today, from Tom, who would like to make smart choice on the purchase of an SD card and how pilots can make informed purchasing decisions based on the configuration of the SD card.

First, we look into the most important aspect of SD cards, that of understanding and differentiating between read and write speeds and how knowing these can assist in making the right SD card purchase.

Next we look into why pilots should avoid purchasing SD cards from discount marketplaces such as Costco and the experiences of pilots (including Paul) who purchased SD cards from such stores. We also look into the meaning of ‘Classes’ for SD cards and how SD cards are labeled for Classes.

Lastly we understand why it is a good strategy to multiple SD cards for each drone application and how having sufficient backup SD cards can help drone pilots on the field.

You don’t want to miss this one !

Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF

Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Timestamps

[01:22] Learn about Drone U’s experience training
[02:09] Today’s question on making smart SD card choice for all purpose requirements
[05:15] Understanding the need to differentiate between read and write speeds
[06:33] Why buying SD cards from discount marketplace are a bad choice for pilots
[07:36] Class of SD cards and the markings on SD cards that matter
[08:50] UHS class and their significance for reading and writing data

[11:12] Buying separate SD cards and using backups for storing data reliably

ADU 01242: Does the latest firmware updates bring any improvements to the Mavic 3?

February 3, 2022 by narinder

Does the latest firmware update bring any improvements to the Mavic 3?

Today’s show is about the Mavic 3’s latest firmware update and if the latest updates bring significant improvements to the Mavic 3 and how pilots can make the best out of the latest updates.

Our question for today, from Tom, is about the latest update from DJI for its drone Mavic 3. Tom would like to know if the latest firmware update did actually bring about improvement for the Mavic 3 or if its better to stick to DJI’s last update for the Mavic 3

We respond to Tom’s question by highlighting the performance of the Mavic 3 when it first launched. We delve deep to understand DJI’s decision of timing the market with Mavic 3’s launch and how DJI possibly navigated through supply chain constraints and what it meant for the Mavic 3’s performance.

We then dig into the changes the new firmware update bring in to the Mavic 3 and how drone pilots can make the best of them by making purchases such as the FlyMore combo. We also look into how the Mavic 3, with all its updates, compares with drones such as the Inspire 2. Lastly we look into applications that the upgraded Mavic 3 would be great buy.

Tune In to learn more about the Mavic 3 upgrades from the latest firmware update..

Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF

Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Timestamps

[02:42] Mavic 3 performance when it first launched in the market
[04:37] Developments in the Mavic 3 that actually enhance its performance
[09:52] Today’s question on Mavic 3 firmware update and differences between the 300 and 400 firmware
[10:52] Changes in Mavic 3 flyability with firmware updates
[11:38] SD card slots on the Mavic 3
[12:03] Purchasing the FlyMore combo and its inherent benefits

[14:33] How large drones bring in a difference in perception as against the Mavic 3
[17:17] How the firmware updates are changing the performance in the Mavic 3
[19:17] Balancing the zoom vs yaw requirement for the Mavic 3

[22:55] Applications for which the Mavic 3 will be a great buy
[26:12] Learn more about the Drone U Experience training

ADU 01241: Do I really need to use sophisticated GCP’s

February 2, 2022 by narinder

What benefits does using sophisticated GCPs bring? Can naturally occurring markers replace them?

Today’s show is all about understanding the use and importance of sophisticated GCPs and their importance in ensuring quality deliverables.

Our question for today, from DeWayne, is about using sophisticated GCPs. DeWayne is observing his co-workers and team rely more on naturally occurring markers to make do with their mapping missions. He would like to know if they are indeed effective and if pilots can get away using naturally occurring markers or stand-in markers such as paints and pinstripes

A very valid question and we answer the question by first addressing the need for conducting effective geo-referencing in mapping projects. We then dig deep into the use of sophisticated GCPs and the rules that pilots need to consider while carrying out missions.

We then list out all the possible errors that can occur in georeferencing due to poor selection of GCPs and how it can impact final deliverables and follow it up by looking into effective ways to deploy GCPs and when pilots can actually use naturally occurring markers.

If you would like to better your deliverables by effective use of GCPs, do not miss this latest show of Ask Drone U.

Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF

Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/