Drone News: Remote ID Rollout, NYC Drone Laws Update, Helicopter Crash

September 24, 2020 by narinder

Our biggest story this week is about drone remote ID. Regular DU followers might recall that FAA’s NPRM attracted more than 50,000 comments from concerned industry stakeholders. However, it seems that the FAA is planning to go ahead with a restrictive drone remote ID as planned. In his talk at the Commercial UAV Expo, FAA’s Steve Dickson shared how FAA plans to introduce drone remote ID by the end of 2020.

Our next story is about flying drones in NYC. As you might be aware, an old avigation law makes it illegal to fly drones in NYC. Because of this, building inspections are still done using the traditional method where construction workers use scaffolding to access areas at higher elevations. Needless to say this is both dangerous and costly. As per the latest update, a new study has been initiated which might make flying drones in NYC a possibility in the near future.

Other topics discussed in today’s show include DIY ADS-B receivers, drone search and rescue, and DJI Mavic Mini crash with a helicopter.

Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your revenue stream, our drone service providers are ready to help you achieve your most ambitious goals. Check out all our classes for 2020 by going here – http://bit.ly/mapclass2020

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Timestamps

[01:25] Important points from FAA’s Steve Dickson’s talk at the Commercial UAV Expo
[02:22] Is drone safety a concern? What do past statistics indicate?
[02:57] Has archaic legislation prevented the drone delivery industry from taking off?
[03:17] Is the FAA doing its bit when it comes to using drones for children’s education?
[03:57] FAA to go ahead with restrictive drone remote-id by the end of 2020?
[09:03] Will remote-id result in non-compliance and hence endanger airspace safety?
[14:00] Is a lack of representation within the FAA hurting the small drone service provider?
[16:30] YouTuber Bruce Simpson a.k.a. XJet builds a handheld ADS-B receiver
[19:27] 2019 stats show how much safer drones are compared to manned aircraft
[22:03] Are large corporations influencing drone legislation in a big way?
[23:42] Study explores the feasibility of using drones for building facade inspections in NYC
[27:49] Innovative Drone search and rescue tactics deployed to find a 3-year old in Western Australia
[31:50] DJI Mavic Mini blown away by a helicopter’s prop wash in Grand Rapids, Michigan

ADU 01132: Which is the Best and Most Affordable GPS Solution for Drone Mapping?

September 23, 2020 by narinder

Today’s question is about the best GPS solutions for drone mapping. Is there an accurate GPS solution that does not burn a hole in your pocket?

Our caller for today, Andy is drone mapper who has a question about GCP solutions. Specifically, Andy does not wish to spend thousands of dollars to purchase a GPS system. Yet, he does not wish to compromise on accuracy. So, what are some affordable GPS solutions that are a good fit for Andy?

In today’s show, we reveal the GPS solution that we, at Drone U, use for our mapping classes. We also compare RTK and PPK systems so that you can determine the option which works best for you. Coming to the main topic for today’s show, Paul reveals why the HC3 GPS Data Collector might be a good option for Andy.

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!

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Timestamps

[02:00] The Basics – Setting up GCP’s
[03:08] Today’s class is brought to you by Drone U’s virtual classes
[04:10] Today’s question is about the best budget GPS solution for you
[04:50] Why we prefer using Emlid Reach RS for our mapping classes
[06:38] Why the HC3 GPS data collector can be a good option for those seeking an affordable yet accurate GPS solution
[08:37] "]How accurate is drone mapping?
[11:34] Why you should use natural markers for GCP’s
[13:17] RTK or PPK GPS – Which is the best option for you?

ADU 01131: Can I Take Off From a Restricted Area If I Do So From “Mid-Air”?

September 21, 2020 by narinder

Our question for today is about flying in restricted airspace.

Our caller, Fred has come up with a creative possibility for flying in restrictive airspace. While we know that the law does not permit us to fly in restricted airspace, what if we take off from mid-air? Are there any loopholes that let you legally fly in restricted airspace?

Tune in for another fun and informative show of Ask Drone U. Thanks for ingenious question, Fred. 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/.

Timestamps

[03:06] Today’s show is brought to you by Drone U Virtual classes
[07:00] Today we explore the possibility of taking off in a restricted area form “mid-air”
[08:15] Can you really take off from mid-air?
[09:53] Should you attempt to find loop-holes in the law?
[11:16] Are you allowed to fly in restricted airspace?
[14:20] How can you get permission to fly in restricted airspace?
[15:24] What if you jump and catch your drone mid-air?

ADU 01130: Why Should I Bother Learning to Fly in Atti Mode At All?

September 17, 2020 by narinder

Main Benefits of Flying in Atti Mode

Today’s show is about flying in Atti mode. When you can away by flying in GPS mode, why should you bother learning to fly in Atti mode at all?

Our caller for today, Earl from Texas is into drone photography and videography. Earl hates flying in Atti mode. He shares that he is able to grab some great footage while flying in P-mode or GPS-mode. And sees no reason to master flying in Atti mode.

So, what are some of the main reasons that a drone pilot should learn to fly in Atti mode? What are some of the things that can go wrong while you are flying in GPS mode? Paul shares his own experience – both as a coach and as a pilot, and reveals how you can overcome your fear of flying in Atti mode.

We hope you enjoy 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/.

Timestamps

[01:08] Today’s question is about shooting in Atti Mode?
[02:00] Can you reliably fly in P-mode?
[03:33] Can you shoot action sports while flying in GPS mode or P-mode?
[05:25] Along with drone safety, does flying in Atti mode help you become a better pilot? And help you grab better footage?
[08:08] Why are most people averse to flying in Atti Mode?
[16:10] Virtual classes vs. In-person classes – which is the better option for you?

ADU 01129: As Per Part 107, Is there a Minimum Age Requirement for a VO (Visual Observer)?

September 11, 2020 by narinder

Today’s show is about visual observers (VO). Does Part 107 mandate a minimum age for a Visual Observer?

Our caller for today, Jay is a Part 107 certified pilot. He wants to know if he can get his boys along as VO’s when he is out flying. As per Part 107, is there a minimum legal age for VO’s (Visual Observer)?

Great question, Jay. Taking your kids as VO’s is a great way of introducing them to the joys of flying. We reveal the Part 107 rules in this short but informative show. Additionally, you will also learn how you can maintain seamless and constant communication with your VO.

Tune in for some great information! 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/.

Timestamps

[01:33] Today’s question is about age requirements (if any) for a Visual Observer
[02:19] Can you take you kids along as VO’s? Are they capable of making the right decisions in stressful situations?
[03:22] As per Part 107, is there any minimum age requirement for a VO?
[04:27] What is the minimum legal age for registering a drone?
[06:06] How can you ensure seamless communication with your VO?

Tags: drone, FAA, part 107 rules, quadcopter, Safety

BONUS: Is Prism, the new Commercial Drone Platform by Watts Innovation the DJI Alternative that the Industry Has Been Waiting For?

September 11, 2020 by narinder

Today’s show is a special one as we are joined by Watts Innovation founder, Bobby Watts. Bobby shares some detailed information about his new commercial drone platform – the Prism, an all-American product that comes with variable propulsions and flexible payloads.

Prism is a “Transformer Drone” that can be flown both as a quad and as a co-axial setup. When you transform this bird from a quad to a co-axial set-up, you can increase the maximum takeoff weight from 35 pounds to 55 pounds. Additionally, the ability to create propulsion ID’s and accessory ID’s allows you to change propulsion systems and gimbals.

All these plug-and-play features means that you can use the Prism for aerial photography, autonomous mapping missions, and for making drone deliveries. Tune in to learn more about this exciting new drone.

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/.

Timestamps

[00:28] Paul welcomes Bobby to the show
[01:28] Bobby shares what inspired to come with an all-American drone, the Prism
[03:28] "]What inspired Bobby to come out with his new drone, the Prism?
[04:00] A versatile drone which allows you to plug and play different propulsion systems for varying applications
[08:33] Is there any advantage in going down from a co-axial bird to a quad?
[11:05] Can you replace your existing drones with the Prism?
[11:55] How a foldable design makes transportation really easy
[14:50] Be sure to check out this demo video for more detailed information
[15:06] Why did Bobby opt for a PixHawk Cube flight controller over a DJI flight controller?
[15:45] Is the Prism a 100% American-made drone? Any DJI parts on this drone?
[16:30] What sort or remote does the Prism come with? Can you fly the Prism with your own radio setup?
[18:42] Does the Prism come with a removable or integrated battery?
[19:29] How accessory ID’s on the Prism allows you to attach different gimbals
[21:42] Why the Prism is a great option for drone mapping
[23:27] "]How the current political climate has opened the door for an all-American drone manufacturer
[24:30] If you are not an experienced drone pilot, which is the best plug and play gimbal for the Prism?
[28:43] What sort of landing gear does the Prism come with?
[34:16] Is the Prism a good option for large drone teams?
[35:20] Does the Prism fly with different drone batteries as well?
[41:29] What about availability? Can you order a Prism right away?

Tags: dji alternative, drone, new drone 2020, quadcopter, uav

WEBINAR REPLAY: Stress-Free Productivity with “Getting Things Done”

September 11, 2020 by narinder

Originally Aired: Saturday, Sep 05, 2020, at 4 pm Mountain Time
In today’s webinar, Drone U co-founder Tim shares HOW you can get MORE done without taking undue stress. Tune in for some great productivity hacks!

ADU 01128: How Can I Use 3D Models to Inspect Rebar Walls?

September 11, 2020 by narinder

Drones in Construction | Using 3D Models for Inspecting Rebars

Today’s question is about using drones in construction. Can you build accurate drone models for inspecting steel rebars?

Our caller for today, Jon is using a Phantom 4 Pro to map a construction site. He wants to know the best mapping workflow so that the steel rebars can be accurately inspected by the project management team.

To help Jon out, we first reveal some expert data acquisition tips. Will a orbital flight help you capture better data? And can you build an accurate drone model without using GCP’s? Next, we move on to data processing. Paul reveals some interesting details about Pix4D Cloud and reveals why it is a better option compared to Matterport and Drone Deploy. You will also learn some great tips for building an easily navigable drone model.

Towards the end we discuss if the Inspire 2-X7 combo is a good set up for drone mapping.

Thanks for the great question, Jon. 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/.

Timestamps

[02:23] Our question for today is about acquiring data for inspecting rebar walls on a construction site
[03:29] How COVID has resulted in rising usage of drone inspections
[04:50] What is an orthomosaic? Paul explains in simple terms
[05:20] What is the best workflow for flying a construction site and accurately capturing data?
[06:10] How to use Drone Deploy and Pix4D for creating am an easily navigable 3D model
[06:42] Can you lose access to your data if it stored on the cloud?
[08:43] Should you use GCP’s to build a drone model for a construction site?
[09:40] Can your replace Matterport with Pix4D Cloud?
[10:25] Does DroneDeploy offer cloud processing? Paul explains how you can exert better control using Pix4D Cloud
[15:15] Using Pix4D Cloud, what sort of information is available that is not available in Matterport
[17:08] Why is the Inspire 2-X7 a great combo for drone mapping?
[20:23] We have some interesting virtual mapping classes coming up soon. Check them out now!

Tags: 3D modeling, drone model, drones in construction

ADU 01127: How Much Should I Plan Before I Start Offering My Drone Services?

September 8, 2020 by narinder

Today’s show is about starting a drone business. How can you come up with a proper business plan to maximize your chances of success?

Our caller for today, Forrest is keen to start his drone business after recently passing his Part 107 test. Now, Forrest is a perfectionist and a compulsive planner who prefers to get all his ducks in a row before embarking on a new venture. But, while planning is necessary, over-thinking leads to “analysis-paralysis” – and sometimes you fail to even get off the starting block.

So, what is the best way forward for Forrest?

Should Forrest aim for complex drone jobs from the get-go? Or, should he start off by taking up easy-to-execute but low-paying jobs? While Forrest can work as a freelance photographer, should he form his business LLC right away? To help Forrest out, Rob and Paul share some of the most important entrepreneurship lessons they have learnt over the years.

If you are an aspiring drone pilot, tuning in to today’s show will be particularly useful for you.

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/.

Timestamps

[00:57] "]Want to learn how you can start and grow a profitable drone business? Check out our Business Course for expert tips and tricks
[02:34] Today’s question is about overcoming the challenges of starting a drone business
[04:59] How can you come up with a “Minimum Viable Product/Service” for your drone business?
[07:15] Why do most startups fail?
[07:47] How to balance planning and flexibility when coming up with a business plan
[08:44] Some jobs that you should AVOID when you are just starting out
[10:09] What are some critical factors to consider when coming up with a business plan?
[11:28] How did Rob “wing it” when he started his mortgage company years back?
[13:51] The [80:20] rule – Why you should always choose progress over perfection
[15:30] Should you work as a freelance drone pilot when you are just starting out?
[15:59] The Five Rules of Entrepreneurship
[20:14] Importance of seeking help from peers and mentors
[20:59] What is the ONE ridiculously obvious thing that helped Rob and Tim gain traction with their mortgage company?

Tags: drone, drone business, Drone Uses, FAA, quadcopter

BONUS: Drone News – The All-New Freefly Astro Drone, Flying Drones in NYC, NYC Drone Laws, Non-Compliance

September 7, 2020 by narinder

Sneak-Peek – The New Freefly Astro Drone, Flying Drones in NYC, Drone Industry Updates, Ban on Chinese Drones

Our biggest story this week is about the all-new Freefly Astro drone. Freefly is known for its super-expensive and heavily-engineered Alta series of drones which are used mainly in big productions. Now, it is heartening to note that this American drone manufacturer has decided to target a wider audience with their new Astro drone. But, are the specs on this new drone comparable (or even superior) to the likes of DJI, Autel, and Skydio? And with such specs, can we expect this new drone to be launched at an affordable price point? For the latest scoop on this new drone, tune in to this segment of the show.

Our next big story is about flying drones in NYC. As most of you might be aware, an old avigation law makes it illegal for pilots to fly drones in NYC. Notwithstanding this law, a drone pilot recently posted a breathtaking video capturing the beauty of Manhattan on Facebook and YouTube. Because of COVID, the streets below were quite empty which resulted in a safe flight. There are many NYC drone pilots who are disregarding laws and just taking to the skies. Do you think it is high time that the FAA should change such drone laws? Do such archaic drone laws serve little to no purpose?

Other stories covered in today’s show include drone industry updates, how the ban on Chinese drones and spare parts is affected industry majors, reasons why remote-id is set to become a reality soon, and the marked difference in FAA’s attitude towards manned and unmanned aircraft.

We hope you enjoy 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/.

Timestamps

[01:07] Are there any drones that are truly made in the USA?
[01:38] Are industry majors like Autel, DJI, and Skydio gearing up to make drones that are completely made in the USA?
[03:47] Can the new Freefly Astro drone be termed the “Honda Civic of Drones”
[05:22] How does the new Freefly Astro drone compare to Freefly’s Alta series of enterprise drones?
[07:32] What are the specs for this new Freefly drone?
[07:55] Can we expect the new Freefly Astro drone to sell at an affordable price point?
[08:38] Will the new Freefly Astro drone come with remote-id capabilities? What about the flight controller?
[11:15] "]New Facebook video capturing the beauty of Manhattan raises questions about the current avigation law which prevents drone flight in NYC
[13:53] To date, how many drone pilots that have been pulled up for flying illegally in NYC?
[19:00] Are archaic drone laws resulting in non-compliance?
[22:50] Can we expect remote-id for drones to become a reality anytime in the future?
[27:17] Is there a marked difference between the FAA’s attitude towards manned and unmanned aircraft?
[31:20] Will mass non-compliance eventually force the FAA to introduce more progressive drone laws?