2021 FAA Symposium, BVLOS Flights, World’s Smallest microLiDAR, Sony Airpeak S1, DJI News, DOD Clears Government Approved DJI Drones and Much, Much More…

In the first-ever edition of Drone Life News, we are joined by the incredible Miriam McNabb of DroneLife and JobforDrones to share with us some of the latest and most exciting news from the world of drones.

Our biggest story this week is about the 2021 FAA Symposium.

One of the most important events of the drone world, the 2021 FAA Symposium concluded last week. And one of the most significant developments from the symposium was the announcement of a new ARC for BVLOS flights. The FAA also shared some important information regarding remote-id and how they plan to ensure compliance.

Towards the end of the show, we draw interesting parallels between the drone industry and the automobile industry – and debate whether remote-id will lead to safer airspace. And result in wider adoption of drones.

Certainly, you do not want to miss this segment of the show.

Other topics discussed on today’s show include the all-new Sony Airpeak S1, the world’s smallest micorLiDAR, and some latest updates on the industry leader, DJI.

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Enjoy!

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Timestamps

• [00:00]We welcome Miriam from Drone Life to the first ever news edition!
• [01:05]Highlights of the 2021 FAA Symposium
• [01:55]FAA Admin announces new ARC for BVLOS Flights
• [03:32]Are BVLOS flights set to become reality soon?
• [04:30]Drone deliveries to finally take off in a big way?
• [06:33]DJI’s government-edition drones cleared by DOD
• [08:52]US government backs domestic drone industry to the hilt by treating it as “critical infrastructure”
• [11:20]The World’s Smallest microLiDAR to equip drones to “see better” in future?
• [14:52]Sony announces the Airpeak S1 – will it manage to compete with the likes of the Inspire 2?
• [19:04]Will law enforcement take over the reins from FAA?
• [21:00]Drones vs. automobiles – rather than manned aircraft, should we look at automobiles while formulating drone legislation?

A one-of-a-kind drone that can be used in law enforcement, firefighting, SWAT operations, and much, much more…

Today’s show is a special one as we are joined by Angad from Brinc Drones who explains to us the powerful capabilities of their newest drone, Lemur.

Lemur is a public safety drone with a difference. This heavily accessorized drone can be used as a law enforcement drone, as a firefighting drone, and by SWAT teams to conduct their operations with greater efficiency and safety.

One of the biggest USPs of this drone is its ability to fly in confined spaces. This Lidar-based drone comes with night vision and can be repaired easily in case you ram it into a wall. And that’s not all. You can even break glass, drop payloads, and open doors with the Lemur. The Lemur is powered by a Li-ion battery – which gives you a longer flight time. And is a far safer option compared to LiPo batteries. So, don’t miss this special show.

Tune in to learn more about this pathbreaking product designed by BRINC drones!

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/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

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Timestamps

• [00:30]We welcome Angad to the show
• [02:12]Learn about BRINC drones and their incredible law enforcement drone, LEMUR
• [05:48]What happens if the Lemur rams into a wall?
• [06:22]Does the Lemur come with night vision?
• [06:58]Is this a drone that can be fixed easily?
• [07:26]You can even open doors using the Lemur’s battering ram
• [08:12]Why the Lemur is a much better alternative to ground robots
• [10:00]Do law enforcement officers need training before flying the Lemur?
• [10:52]Why the Lemur can prove to be an indispensable accessory for SWAT teams
• [12:47]The Lemur – a far better alternative to ground robots
• [17:40]The terrestrial robot mount for scouting non-navigable airspace
• [19:34]How the Lemur was designed after extensive research during SWAT call outs
• [20:27]Another extremely useful accessory – the payload dropper
• [21:50]Lighting up the tactical scene using the Lemur
• [23:15]An elegant solution to break glass and ventilate buildings during structural fires
• [25:40]Why a Li-ion drone battery is a better, safer option compared to the traditional LiPo batteries
• [27:32]And that’s not it – Lemur is the only drone in the world with two-way communication

Today, we share some expert drone battery maintenance tips to ensure a safe flight.

Our caller for today, Derek from Ohio was finding it difficult to fly his Phantom 4 Pro in GPS mode. But no sooner did he replace his old drone battery with a new one, all his flight issues disappeared immediately.

So, Derek is wondering if he can accurately predict his drone battery life, and prevent such issues going forward. Among other things, we reveal the four rules of takeoff and the voltage at which you should immediately bring your drone back home. Thanks for the great question, Derek. Fly Safe!

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/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

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Timestamps

• [00:30]Today’s show is brought to you our in-person Flight Mastery and Operations class
• [05:53]Today’s question is about drone battery life
• [08:20]Will an old battery result in an improper flight?
• [09:22]The 3 rules of takeoff that every drone
• [10:22]Can you accurately determine your battery life and the number of flights that you can still fly?
• [11:00]At what voltage should you bring your drone back home?

Today’s show is about drones for agriculture and construction.

What are some of the best (and more affordable) options for applications like agricultural spraying, NDVI, and construction mapping?

Our caller for today, Peter, all the way from Hungary has an excellent question about using drones for agriculture and construction. Peter recently went through our Comprehensive Mapping course and is now keen to start a drone mapping business, and he is on a tight budget of $9,000. Specifically, he is planning on providing his drone services to the agricultural and construction sectors.

On today’s show, we first discuss the Phantom 4 Pro RTK. Is the P4 RTK a good choice for mapping large tracts of land? Can you expect to achieve cm-level accuracy with this much-hyped DJI drone? We move on to discuss the nuances of some other larger, more expensive drones like the DJI Agras, the Yamaha RMAX, and the P4 Multispectral.

Towards the end, we have an animated discussion about the traditional surveying industry as we know it – and why it is ripe for disruption. Enjoy!

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

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If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

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Timestamps

• [02:48]Today’s question is about drones for agriculture and construction
• [04:50]Are drone laws in Europe far more progressive compared to the US?
• [06:00]2D mapping and 3D modeling applications in construction
• [07:27]What is the commercial viability of drone models created without GCP’s?
• [08:11]The absurdity of drone laws in California
• [11:10] Best drones for agriculture – Why Phantom 4 RTK is not the right choice for agriculture and construction
• [13:06]DJI Agras vs. Yamaha RMAX helicopter – which is the best option for agriculture drone spraying?
• [14:50]Is Phantom 4 Pro V2 a good option for Peter?
• [16:00]Drone U member maps an Amazon distribution center
• [18:30]Is Aeropoints a good solution for Peter?
• [20:40]Which is the best drone for mapping large tracts of land?
• [20:53]What about the P4 Multispectral drone? Should you use it for agricultural drone mapping?
• [23:55]Should you use checkpoints for RTK drones?
• [24:41]Can you pair the Leica receiver with your RTK drone?
• [28:00]Why the surveying industry is ripe for disruption
• [31:43]Can you build a scalable drone business with the DJI Agras?

Our question for today is about the most affordable and best drones for high winds.

Our caller for today, Joe, unfortunately, lost two drones when he was out flying in windy conditions. Now, he wishes to purchase a new drone but he is on a tight budget of $200.

Additionally, his wishlist includes GPS, RTH, and of course, a drone capable of flying at wind speeds of 20 – 30 km/h. So, which are some of the best (and affordable) quadcopters for windy conditions? 

On today’s show, we discuss the Mini 2 and its smaller counterpart, the DJI Tello. Additionally, we also reveal the safe wind speed for flying your drone. the Tune in for some great insights. Thanks for the great questions, Joe. Enjoy!

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/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

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Timestamps

• [01:50]Today show is brought to you by over in-person trainings
• [02:09]Today’s question is about the best drone for high winds
• [03:10]Getting over your fearing of crashing your drone
• [05:00]Can you find a drone capable of flying in high winds?
• [06:35]Learning to fly the Mini 2 – how can we, at Drone U help you out?
• [08:28]Is it worth spending after the Mini 2?
• [09:13]Can you fly the DJI Tello in high winds?

Our caller for Tom has come up with a great question today. His question is about drone remote-id.

While drone remote-id is set to kick in only by 2023, FAADroneZone is already asking drone pilots to classify their drone as “remote-id” enabled when they attempt to register their drone.

Needless to say, this is resulting in a lot of confusion – and many drone pilots are preferring to avoid completing the registration process rather than inputting erroneous information.

So, should you classify your drone as “remote-id enabled” during registration?

Is your drone “remote-id” enabled? How can find out?

For all this and much more, tune in to our latest show now. Enjoy!

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/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

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Timestamps

• [01:52]Uplevel your skills with our in-person drone training
• [02:20]Today’s question is about remote-id compliant drones
• [03:17]When will remote-id become a reality?
• [03:58]Are you flying a remote-id compliant drone?
• [05:57]Should you classify your drone as “remote-id enabled” during registration?
• [05:50]Is the FAA confusing drone pilots? And is this affecting the registration rate?
• [09:55]Do not forget to check out Drone U’s roof inspection course
• [10:26]Are drones safe to fly? Do they pose any significant risk to the general public?
• [12:10]Will you end up voiding your warranty if you change your drone parameters?
• [12:46]How to register your drone when you are traveling internationally
• [13:10]As a part 107 pilot, do you need to register a drone weighing less than 250 grams?

Today’s question is about flying your drone over state parks.

Our caller for today, Tom from Wisconsin has a question about flying drones over state parks.

The state park that Tom wishes to fly over has a railroad and a residential area in the vicinity. So, firstly, can Tom get the required legal permission to fly over this state park? Do drone laws vary by state? Or is the FAA the ultimate and only authority when it comes to airspace and drone laws? For all this and much more, tune in to our latest show now.

Enjoy! 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/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

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

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Timestamps

• [02:26] Today’s question is about flying your drone over state parks
• [03:22] Do states have the authority to ban drones?
• [03:32] Not sure where you can legally fly? Download our Drone Advocacy Kit to understand the nuances of drone laws
• [04:14] Can you take off from private property and fly over a state park?
• [05:10] What are the rules for flying a drone over National Parks?
• [06:35] Why flying your drone over a railroad is not a good idea

Today’s show is about American drone manufacturers and the industry dynamics as a whole.

Our caller for today, Gordon is looking for some feasible alternatives to DJI. The US-China trade war and data security concerns have given a fillip to American drone manufacturers, who have, till now been unable to compete with the Chinese behemoth, DJI. And while homegrown manufacturers have managed to get their foot in the door, are they able to match DJI in terms of price and functionality? These are some of the drones that we talk about in today’s show:

AirPeak (Sony)

Bobby’s Watt’s Prism

The Autel Evo II

Parrot Anafi

Vantage Robotics Vesper (cheapest & flies the longest)

Skydio X2

And many, many more…

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/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

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YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Timestamps

• [01:56]This show is brought to you by our in-person trainings
• [02:53]Today’s question is about American drone manufacturers and the industry as a whole
• [04:25]Have American drone manufacturers priced themselves out of the drone market?
• [05:18]Do drone pilots really have any alternative to DJI?
• [06:50]Is the power-packed Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual Advanced the best drone you can buy for the money?
• [07:15]Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual Advanced vs. Autel Evo 2 – how do they compare?
• [08:51]Are there any American drone manufacturers who can match up to DJI in terms of capabilities and specs?
• [09:30]Prominent American drone manufacturers who are making a dent in the market
• [10:00]How has the ongoing chip shortage affected supply?
• [11:38]Have American drone manufacturers failed to come up with the right products for the mass market?
• [12:45]The Auterion system that powers most of the American drones
• [15:13]Are there any reliable NDAA approved aircraft that can be used commercially
• [16:00]A valuable Mini 2 hack to help you out
• [22:13]Is the Freefly Astro a feasible option right now?
• [23:50]The Quantum Systems Vector Scorpion – is this the right drone for mapping?
• [27:00]The TEAL Golden Eagle – another drone manufacturer vying for a slice of the market
• [29:50]Parrot Anafi – a drone that doesn’t quite live up to its potential
• [31:52]What are some of the biggest issues with the Skydio?
• [35:09]Why the Freefly Astro is miles ahead of the competition
• [37:10]Is the hefty price tag on the Autel Evo 2 Dual justified?

Today’s show is about drone industry trends for 2021 and beyond.

Our caller for today, Tom has come up with a great question that will surely interest all you drone enthusiasts out there.

Specifically, with the drone industry in a constant state of flux, Tom is wondering where things are headed in 2021? From micro-drones to recreational flying to the changing dynamics of the American drone manufacturing market, we discuss a lot in today’s power-packed show. Some of the things that we discuss today:

How large organizations are reorganizing their drone teams

Why DJI might fight it difficult to maintain its vice-like grip over the American drone market

How will recreational flying evolve in 2021

Will DJI finally replace the Phantom 4 with the much-awaited DJI Mavic 3 in 2021?

Thanks for the great question, Tom. Fly Safe! 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/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

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

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YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Timestamps

• [01:20]Why drone roof inspections are an untapped opportunity that every drone pilot should explore right NOW
• [02:39]Today’s question is about industry trends for 2021
• [03:33]Organizations looking to expanding their drone teams?
• [07:07]FAA’s TRUST program to introduce a UAS Safety test for recreational pilots
• [09:39]Will the FAA’s new TRUST program be applicable to those who fly in FRIA’s?
• [13:04]Why the Mini 2 is a MUST buy for Part 107 pilots; and, will the FAA introduce a new micro-drone rule in 2021?
• [16:09]Why the industry is not likely to step on the gas pedal in 2021
• [18:20]Are our drones becoming smaller yet more capable?
• [20:13]Will DJI Mavic 3 eventually replace the Phantom 4?
• [22:26]A continued flurry of M&A activity within the drone industry
• [22:38]Skydio vs. DJI – Will the homegrown, American manufacturer eventually trump the Chinese behemoth?
• [23:30]Will security concerns give a fillip to American drone manufacturers?
• [28:08]Will we see more LAANC-enabled airports? And, will it become easier to fly in zero grid areas?
• [31:38]Drones for STEM education – how this nascent technology can help our students perform better and catch up with their peers
• [36:11]How drones teach us spatial awareness

Today’s show is about flying your drone in cold weather.

Our caller for today, Shawn from Canada who flies a Mavic 2 Pro. Flying in Canada is particularly challenging because of the cold weather and high altitudes. So, what can Shawn do to get some extra flight time? And, how can he make flying in such difficult conditions a more comfortable experience?

On today’s show, we share some nuanced drone battery maintenance tips to help Shawn out. You will learn how you can prevent your iPhone from shutting down in extremely cold weather. Towards the end, we recommend some ND filters that can be used when flying your drone in the snow. This is a show you do not want to miss.

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/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

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

Follow Us

Site – https://thedroneu.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu

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

Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Timestamps

• [03:08]Today’s question is about flying your drone in cold weather, at high altitudes
• [05:22]What are some of the biggest problems of flying your drone in cold weather?
• [06:43]Drone battery maintenance tips for those flying in extreme weather
• [07:00]Heating your iPhone in cold weather
• [07:15]Using self-heating batteries for longer flying time
• [08:20]How to keep your hands warm when flying in cold weather
• [09:25]How often should you deep cycle your batteries?
• [13:23]Recommended ND filters for Mavic 2 Pro