What an unforgettable few days in Las Vegas at InterDrone 2018! This year’s conference was an incredible opportunity to learn about new innovations and connect with powerful influencers in the UAS industry. We’re already counting down until next year.
Here’s a recap of some of our favorite highlights at InterDrone:
Take Charge: Battery Life Innovations on the Horizon Panel
Callie Mortimer, FlightWave’s Director of Business Development, joined Phil Robinson of Protonex, Julian Hughes of Intelligent Energy, and Patrick Sherman of Roswell Flight Test crew on stage to discuss battery life innovations on this riveting panel. Callie explained, “When it comes to batteries, the increases in efficiencies aren’t good enough which is why we’re looking at hydrogen fuel cells and solar solutions as well.” She continued, “Hydrogen is more expensive up front but once you make the investment, you’ll save money with hydrogen vs. batteries. That’s why we built the Jupiter with swappable energy sources. You can buy it with a battery, then upgrade to hydrogen later.”
How TV News Benefits from Drones Panel
FlightWave’s Marketing Maven Heather Newman joined Michael W. Den Hartog of Air Operations Inc. and Soaring Sky Commercial Drone Solutions and Douglas Spotted Eagle of Sundance Media Group, Inc. and VASST to discuss the intersection of journalism and drones and the important regulatory, technical and ethical considerations the industry faces. Heather spoke to the importance of getting local enforcement involved in news operations to avoid potentially messy or harmful situations, saying, “Life is about relationships. Business is about relationships. Get to know local law enforcement, get to know the fire department if you are going to do this kind of work.” Overall, the panel provided valuable insights on the future of drones in journalism and best practices moving forward.
Women in Drones Luncheon & Panel
We were so inspired by the incredible women paving the way for the UAS industry this year. One of our favorite parts of the whole show was the 201o8 Women to Watch in UAS awards. In fact, we were lucky enough to sit right next to Dale McErlean who received an award for her contributions to the industry. Our friend Sally French aka @TheDroneGirl (yet another industry-leading woman) lists all of the 2018 Women to Watch award winners here. Be sure to check it out.
