Drone Radio Show

Randy Goers
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Drone Radio Show Podcast

The Drone Radio Show is a weekly show about drones and the people who use them for business, fun and research. Our guests share how they’re using drones to make a positive impact, build a business, lessons they’ve learned and insights that you can use to take YOUR interest in drones to the next level.

  1. AUG 27

    Mid-Air Collisions: What Drone Operators Need to Know: Juan Plaza, CEO Plaza Aerospace

    Juan Plaza is CEO of Plaza Aerospace, a Boca Raton based 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, 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 has more than 750 hours of experience in photogrammetry navigation and camera operation in various and holds a Commercial, Multi-engine Pilot certificate. December 30, 2023 a helicopter and a drone collided in midair in the vicinity of the Daytona Beach International Airport.  The FAA initially classified the accident as a collision with an object/terrain, but it was only after Juan contacted the FAA, on behalf of the pilot, that the real facts of the collision become known.  In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Juan talks about the mid-air collision and its relevancy for the drone industry and drone operators.

    31 min

  2. AUG 20

    Multi-Band Mesh Networking Technology in UAV Operations: Amol Parikh, Doodle Labs

    Amol Parikh is co-CEO of Doodle Labs.  Doodle Labs designs and produces industrial-grade wireless networking solutions. The company focuses on mesh networking for robotic systems, providing high throughput, long-range Mesh Rider solutions for a variety of government/defense, private wireless and other applications.  Doodle Labs has offices in the United States and Singapore, and has been named to Fast Company’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2024. Doodle Labs is a leader in providing industrial-grade wireless networking solutions.  Their radios are widely used in military situations, because of their anti-jamming capability providing drone operators with much improved signal strength and continuity.  Doodle Labs’ breakthrough development of multi-band technology can benefit several commercial applications, as well. In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Amol talks about Doodle Labs, its revolutionary mesh communication radios, and how multi-band technology can benefit military and commercial applications.

    36 min

  3. AUG 6

    How UAV Technology is Making Swimming Safer: Oliver Heys & James Bassam, Surf Life Saving NSW

    Today's guests are Oliver Heys and James Bassam of Surf Life Saving.   Surf Life Saving is Australia's premier water safety, drowning prevention, and rescue organization. With 129 Surf Life Saving Clubs and over 77,000 members, it's one of the largest not-for-profit volunteer movements in Australia, dedicated to saving lives on the beach.  A standout feature within Surf Life Saving is the Australian Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle Service, operating the largest coastal UAV surveillance program in the Southern Hemisphere. The Australian UAV Services uses drones to monitor sharks off the coast of New South Wales, enhancing bather protection while minimizing harm to sharks and other marine life. Oliver, Surf Life Savings Chief Remote Pilot & Capability Coordinator, oversees regulatory compliance and brings a wealth of experience since joining the organization in 2020. Oliver's dedication to the UAV industry earned him a finalist spot for the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Professional of the Year at the Australian Aviation Safety Awards in 2023. James is the Australian UAV Service Operations Manager for Safety and Compliance. With a background in crewed aviation and roles as a Commercial Pilot, Flight Instructor, and Head Teacher of Aviation, James leads the operational delivery team. He has spearheaded numerous projects to enhance the capabilities of the Australian UAV Service. In 2023, Surf Life Saving introduced long-range drones to monitor the coastal waters of New South Wales. This cost-effective, non-invasive technology has been successful in ensuring the safety of swimmers and surfers while minimizing the impact on marine life. The public response has been overwhelmingly positive, with increased confidence in water safety where UAVs are deployed. In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Oliver and James discuss Surf Life Savings, the use of drones to monitor sharks and the evolution of Australia’s long range UAV coastal monitoring program.

    39 min

  4. JUL 23

    AgEagle's Evolution in the Drone Industry: Bill Irby, CEO of AgEagle Aerial Systems

    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.

    22 min

  5. JUL 9

    Using Drones To Better Prepare For Major Disasters, Chris Sanders, Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team

    Chris Sanders is Senior Manager for Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team.  The Crisis Response Team is a national, rapid deploy, professionally trained team who solve routine and complex communication challenges in all environments. This team of multi-disciplinary provide on-demand emergency assistance to government agencies, first responders, frontline workers and communities—to help maintain mission-critical communications. Chris is the Verizon Frontline Senior Manager for Crisis Response for Georgia and Alabama, as well as the developer and leader of the crisis response UAS team.  He draws upon his experience from ten years on active duty in the United States Army where he served as a tactical air traffic control operator and senior noncommissioned officer to provide a calm demeanor during times of crisis. His experience also includes several years of work in the UAS industry working on mapping, photogrammetry, LiDAR, and beyond visual line of sight operations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in unmanned systems and robotics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master’s degree in Geographical Information Systems and cartography from The University of Southern California. Earlier this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Verizon Frontline have signed a three-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to explore new strategies to rapidly deploy uncrewed aircraft systems to collect and distribute imagery of damage resulting from severe storms such as tornadoes or hurricanes. As part of this partnership, the Verizon Frontline Crisis Response Team will provide the uncrewed aircraft system platform, sensor, and personnel resources needed to rapidly respond and collect aerial imagery of storm-damaged areas of interest identified by NOAA. The goal is to enhance the ability of NOAA’s National Weather Service offices to quickly conduct post-storm damage assessments, while also providing data for research conducted by the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory. This data will be used to help researchers better understand tornado behavior and impacts with a goal of improving warnings.  In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Chris talks about the Verizon Frontline Crises Response Team, the partnership with NOAA and how systematic data collection can aide local communities in redeveloping after a disaster.

    27 min

  6. JUN 25

    Swarming Drones Coming To A Farm Near You - Arthur Erickson, CEO of Hylio

    Arthur Erickson is CEO and Founder of Hylio Drones.  Hylio develops and offers innovative drone systems that automate precision agriculture treatments. Hylio is American owned and operated, and its drones are made in the USA with US and globally sourced components. Using Hylio’s technology, farmers/producers can now apply crop treatments directly to problem areas, allowing farmers to increase yields by addressing pests and deficiencies with more accuracy and efficacy Earlier this year, Hylio received first ever FAA exemption for 55+ pound drone swarms to fly over agricultural lands.  Under the exemption, Hylio has been granted permission to swarm up to three 55+ pound UAVs at a time with one pilot and no visual observer.  The drones will monitor crops using AI, plant seeds and perform spray applications of fertilizer, pesticides, and more.  This achievement sets an important precedent for the commercial UAS industry and lays the groundwork for other operators to file and obtain the same permissions.  Arthur received a degree in Aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. While working as a UAS researcher at UT, he started Hylio in 2015 alongside fellow students. Arthur has led Hylio from their early days of prototyping through the present.  Today, Hylio’s systems are owned and operated by hundreds of farmers and applicators in both the US and abroad.  In this edition of the Drone Radio Show, Arthur talks about Hylio, the FAA exemption for agricultural drone swarms and how this will impact the drone industry.

    29 min

  7. APR 30

    Drones Over Water: Marble’s Quest To Transform Coastal Monitoring - Mathieu Johnsson, CEO & Founder Marble

    How effective are drones in monitoring coastal areas? Mathieu Johnsson is CEO and Founder of Marble, a drone services company in England that provides maritime monitoring using fleets of high speed drones.  The drones are used to monitor coastal areas for illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, providing real time data to suit clients needs. Mathieu Johnsson's passion for aerospace began in childhood, influenced by his family of aviators and skydivers. During his aerospace engineering studies, Mat focused intensely on the future of aviation, from flying wings to hydrogen aircraft, often prioritizing personal projects over formal lectures. His dedication continued into his professional career at Airbus, where he converted his workshop into a makeshift bedroom to devote more time to building aircraft. His innovative work on 3D printing drones led him to a role in Airbus's secretive "Future Projects Office." Eventually, Mat’s ambition to drive change led him to found Marble, where for the past eight years, his company has been developing technology to deploy drones at sea on a large scale.  In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Mat talks about Marble and the use of drones to monitor coastal areas for a variety of marine situations.

    36 min

  8. APR 23

    Flying Forward: Zipline and the Future of Drone Deliveries: Keenan Wyrobek and Juan Albanell of Zipline

    How are advanced drone technologies revolutionizing global delivery systems?  For that question, we head to San Francisco to speak with Keenan Wyrobek and Juan Albanell of Zipline.  Zipline is the world’s first drone delivery service whose focus is delivering life-saving medicine to the most difficult to reach places on earth. The company designs, manufactures and operates the world’s largest autonomous logistics system. Used every day by businesses, governments and consumers, Zipline’s fully electric and autonomous drones reduce delivery emissions by up to 97% compared to gas cars. It has flown more than 70 million autonomous miles, and has delivered millions of items including more than 15 million vaccine doses. Keenan Wyrobek is co-founder and head of product and engineering at Zipline.  Prior to Zipline, Keenan was a co-founder and director of the Personal Robotics Program at Willow Garage. He was involved in launching and growing the Robot Operating System (ROS) and shipping PR2, the first personal robot for software R&D. Keenan has spent years delivering high tech products to market across a range of fields including consumer electronics, sportswear, and medical robotics. Juan Albanell is Head of System Engineering, where he has led engineering efforts to scale up Platform 1 across the world and is now focused on getting Platform 2 from prototype to first customer releases. Prior to Zipline, Juan led a small team at Apple working on taking emerging sensing and display technologies from lab bench to automated production lines. He has dedicated his engineering career on taking early stage concepts to reliable customer products through a focus on test and automation. In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Keenan and Juan talk about Zipline, its long-distance Platform 1 delivery service and the company’s plans to scale short-distance Platform 2 home delivery services.

    26 min
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4.4
out of 5
55 Ratings

About

The Drone Radio Show is a weekly show about drones and the people who use them for business, fun and research. Our guests share how they’re using drones to make a positive impact, build a business, lessons they’ve learned and insights that you can use to take YOUR interest in drones to the next level.

Information

  • Creator
    Randy Goers
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2024
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Drone Radio Show

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