How do you foster innovation and collaboration in the UAV community?

1 Join online platforms and forums

One of the easiest ways to connect with other UAV users and creators is to join online platforms and forums where you can share your ideas, questions, feedback, and projects. There are many websites and social media groups dedicated to UAV topics, such as DIY Drones, UAV Coach, Drone Pilots Network, and more. You can also participate in online events and webinars hosted by UAV organizations and influencers, such as Drone U, Women Who Drone, and Dronecode. These platforms and forums can help you stay updated on the latest news, trends, and best practices in the UAV industry, as well as network with potential partners and collaborators.

2 Enter competitions and challenges

Another way to foster innovation and collaboration in the UAV community is to enter competitions and challenges that test your skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. There are many UAV competitions and challenges organized by various entities, such as universities, companies, governments, and NGOs, that offer prizes, recognition, and opportunities for learning and development. For example, you can join the Drone Racing League, the AUVSI SUAS Competition, the DroneDeploy Mapping Challenge, the NASA UTM Challenge, and more. These competitions and challenges can help you improve your UAV design, performance, and functionality, as well as showcase your work and talent to a wider audience.

3 Attend workshops and courses

If you want to learn new skills and techniques related to UAVs, you can attend workshops and courses offered by various institutions and experts. These workshops and courses can help you gain more knowledge and confidence in using, building, and programming UAVs, as well as provide you with hands-on experience and feedback. You can find workshops and courses online or offline, depending on your preference and availability. For example, you can enroll in the Udemy Drone Programming Course, the Coursera Robotics Specialization, the Drone Academy, the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University UAV Certificate, and more. These workshops and courses can help you enhance your UAV capabilities and qualifications, as well as connect with other learners and instructors.

5 Follow and engage with UAV influencers and leaders

Finally, you can foster innovation and collaboration in the UAV community by following and engaging with UAV influencers and leaders who inspire and educate you. These influencers and leaders are people who have achieved success and recognition in the UAV field, such as pilots, developers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and advocates. You can follow them on their blogs, podcasts, YouTube channels, social media accounts, or newsletters, where they share their insights, stories, advice, and opinions. You can also engage with them by commenting, asking questions, giving feedback, or reaching out to them directly. Some examples of UAV influencers and leaders are Gary Mortimer, Sally French, Lorenz Meier, Helen Greiner, and Raffaello D'Andrea. These influencers and leaders can help you learn from their experiences and perspectives, as well as motivate and challenge you to grow and innovate.