While there has been no empirical data released to verify or debunk the validity of that broad observation, as an attendee for the past 3 Xponentials, I have to say it seemed valid. The halls of the George Brown Convention Center appeared to be less populated, even during the peak of the show — mid-afternoon of day two. If one were to venture into the heart of the show’s exhibition floor, they would find booths seemingly piled on top of one another in what I can only assume was an effort to give the exhibition floor a more “jam-packed” feeling. However, when one took the time to work out towards the edges, they would find what was once a packed-to-the-gills affair had now afforded plenty of breathing room and empty space around the outside of its epicenter.
Category: Hot Takes
Concerned About Drones? Here’s What You Should Know…
This article is for folks who are looking for answers to some common questions I get about drone laws and uses as well as how they can properly protect themselves against potential bad actors who may deploy drones for inappropriate and illegal purposes. After reading this piece, you will come away with a newfound understanding of the legality of drone operations; how you can best handle drones when they fly past you, your family, or your property (legally); and hopefully an appreciation for the technology as a whole.
Best GPS Drones for Beginners: 2024 Edition
We're at about the halfway point of the calendar year and it's time to take look at the top-five GPS drones for beginners in 2024...
An Open Letter to American Drone Manufacturers
I'm here to offer cautionary advice to you, the very people who have been advocating for (if not fully endorsing, supporting, and financially incentivizing) DJI to be removed from the US market on how you can win back the industry's end-users in this extremely tumultuous time...
10 Things You Need to Making Building a Drone Easier
Whether you are getting ready to build your very first drone or if you are just curious as to what goes into building one, by the end of this article you will be better-prepared than I was to get started and have a much better chance at initial success.
Why Does Everyone Hate Chinese Drones? | Expanding upon my article for The Droning Company
We are at a critical moment in the world of drones, my American friends. The decisions made over the next year are going to dictate what kind of industry we have here in the States, but more importantly they are going to dictate who has access to drone technology and the ability to utilize it however they please. The institution of the American Drone Security Act of 2023 prohibits the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by the United States federal government that are manufactured or assembled by certain foreign entities, including entities subject to influence or control by China -- beginning in 2026.
Drone Pilot Flies Illegally in Las Vegas, Lands on Monorail Track
A drone pilot based in Nevada has found themself in hot-water from the larger drone community after posting a video of their alleged flight near the newly-installed Las Vegas Sphere.
Pivoting on Remote ID: Josh Bardwell Set Me Straight
It has been two weeks since I posted that response video and in that time I have inundated myself with all things Remote ID. During my inundation, our FPV lord and savior, Joshua Bardwell posted a video that resonated with me and made me realize that maybe I need to be even less rigid in my stance on Remote ID and how it impacts the community. I will link Josh's video at the bottom of this blog if you would like to watch it, but in the meantime if you have any vested interest in how it changed some of the nuances of my stance on Remote ID, keep reading...
The Death of XDynamics: A First-Hand Account
I was put into contact with XDynamics about conducting a review for The Drone Geek and The Droning Company, I was chomping at the bit. Here we had a company that, for years, suffered from bad press on their original design. Now I had an opportunity to help them right the ship with some good press, should they be worthy of it...but were they?