Skyfire | Labs

We've remained intentionally neutral towards the debate about country of origin regarding drones and sensors. That changed yesterday with the introduction of the, "Drones for First Responders Act", by Office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. In the current climate of grandstand politics, we think this proposed legislation is a measured and well thought out approach to a real problems facing our first responders; and we applaud Rep. Stefanik and her staff for doing something about it. #dronesforgood https://lnkd.in/eZtutQEB Stephanie Buesser Patrick Hester Michael Robbins

Today marks the beginning of the rest of the drone industry! Big congratulations to the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization act, and setting the stage for true progress in the drone industry! Once the President signs it into law, the clock will officially begin ticking on Part 108 and #BVLOS implementation, which means the ability to deliver lifesaving goods and services with drones will become codified into law; rather than be handled by waiver or exemption. This is a true inflection point, and operators, manufacturers, investors and other industry watchers take note — this is the day the world changed with #dronesforgood

Extremely exciting development! Bravo Zulu, Skyfire Consulting and BRINC!! #DFR #dronesforgood #drones

#AI and #dronesforgood: the time has arrived. Terrific article in the latest APCO journal on drone deployment; one key area: drones and AI. Key takeaways from the “DRONES AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE” section: 1/ Autonomous navigation: a synthesis of navigation telemetry to enable deployment and aerial navigation, avoid obstacles, and accomplish the mission with little direct operator oversight. 2/ Object detection and tracking: sensor integration, computer vision, creating a synthesized view of the mission objective (think visual, RF, thermal, etc. integration into a composite UX enhancing situational awareness). 3/ Environmental monitoring: air quality, water quality and temperature, and more: highly effective for real-time disaster management. 4/ Security and surveillance: autonomous patrolling – think perimeter security, critical infrastructure surveillance. And one more, not in the article: 5/ Flying more than one drone simultaneously by a single operator. In other words, a #SWARM. I am proud and humbled that Echelon | Ai AI is working on all of these. Much of what makes it possible for us to drive this vision forward is our collaboration, backing, partnership and support from AI Fund and Andrew Ng, for which we are deeply grateful. #dronesforgood #drones? #dronetech? #dronetechnology? #firstresponders? #uas? #publicsafety #dfr Skyfire Consulting Ryan Cunningham https://lnkd.in/gpPqf2hX

So much is bang-on in this terrific piece by Steven Cook, with the Council on Foreign Relations. One insightful passage in the beginning sets the tone: "Washington’s trepidation-fueled foreign policy stems from over-learning the lessons of America’s ambitious efforts to transform the Middle East in recent decades. That searing experience combined with the politics of the social media age, which political entrepreneurs of?neo-isolationist?Right and Left have leveraged to great effect, have contributed to the making of a self-deterred superpower." #nationalsecurity #defense #foreignpolicy #nationaldefense National War College Echelon | Ai

The #SWARM will change everything: "the?drone?will change the face of warfare when employed in swarms directed by AI....dozens or hundreds of?drones?in AI-directed swarms will have the capacity to overwhelm defenses and destroy even advanced platforms." Think of Ukrainian drones taking out Russian tanks ... or seaborn versions sinking the $70 million Russian warship Ivanovets .... or Hamas drones, costing less than $7,000, disabling a $3.5M IDF Mark IV Merkava. Now imagine 10,000 such drones operating in unison. Excellent piece by Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis. #drones?#drone?#dronetech?#dronetechnology #nationalsecurity #defenseinnovation #defensetech #defense #navy #dronewarfare AI Fund Echelon | Ai Skyfire Consulting https://lnkd.in/e236Bwrc

I have met few humans more #inspirational than Christina Mallon, who I had the privilege to work with at Kinetic Social - when she first experienced the effects of a motor neuron disease that ultimately paralyzed her arms. Christina never, ever let it stop her from pursuing her dreams: she is a rising leader at Microsoft, and a successful #workingmom with a young daughter. And while she pursues her dreams, she is also redefining the understanding of what can be done with a disability along the way. "It wasn't the 'hacking of my life that was the hardest,' Mallon says; it was the 'pre-existing ideas around what a good life looks like and then what a disabled person should be doing and if a disabled person should be a mom.'" This post is about celebrating Christina and her leadership, but as least as importantly her cause of increasing accessibility and reducing stigma associated with disabilities. Several years after first meeting her, I had the honor to meet and work with people like Thomas Wlodkowski at Comcast, working to achieve similar objectives. And now the good works of ProFound and Meredith Sadoulet working tirelessly in the same space. Through the efforts of leaders, experts and advocates like this, I have learned so much, and become inspired to do what I can to help. Thank you all. And Christina: you inspire more people than you may know! #a11y #Accessibility #Leadership #Network #disabilityinclusion ProFound #inspirationalleader #inspireinclusion Nate Armstrong Chris D'Orazio Charlie Nowaczek Michelle Schiano Rocky Appiah Megan Gall

$1 Billion announced for Replicator for ’24-’25. If you are Taiwan, this is welcome news indeed….. Maybe more importantly even: “It is my fervent view that … Replicator… is about what the services are going to be able to do on autonomy once we’re able to lower those barriers through that initial investment” - Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks. The next phase of Replicator will emphasize software, which is the genuine US comparative advantage here..... Echelon | Ai Sven Brueckner Skyfire Consulting #replicator #taiwan #uspacom AI Fund #drones #dronesolutions #defenseinnovation Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) https://lnkd.in/gc9yNjFe

My first Commanding Officer used to say, "Take care of your people, and they will take care of you." I asked him once, "But sir, if it is so simple, why doesn't every leader do it?" His answer: "It isn't simple, and by the way, you can't fake it..... and your folks will see right through it if you do. Your either care or you don't." Rudy Glocker I thought of this conversation when I read your post. Bravo for caring, and it is a privilege to know you and admire your progress with Burgeon Outdoor. I believe you nailed it sir..... #leadership #startup #startupinsights AI Fund HBS Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship Harvard Innovation Labs #mentors Echelon | Ai Skyfire Consulting

#Policestaffing is at crisis levels across the US. Is it a surprise that violent crime remains higher than before the pandemic? That property and auto theft are higher (8% and 11% respectively y/y)? That hyper aggressive driving and auto fatality rates have increased? Drones – #DFR – can help. 1/ Drones, equipped with advanced technologies, offer significant advantages in policing and law enforcement. With their ability to carry cameras, thermal imaging, and more, drones can assist in search and rescue operations, locating missing persons or suspects in areas difficult to access by foot or vehicle, active shooter situations, and more. ? 2/ Drones can also play a crucial role in traffic monitoring, accident investigation, and crime scene analysis, capturing high-resolution images and videos that can be used as evidence. ? 3/ Drones also enable police to assess and manage situations without putting officers directly in harm's way, thus enhancing both public and officer safety. ? 4/ And we need the help. ?The NYPD was more than 1,200 officers below the budgeted headcount in March of this year; the SFPD is down more than 600 officers (30%); Phoenix is down 500 officers; and the Washington DC PD is?smaller than it has been in 50 years. The problem is repeated all across the country. #drone?#firstresponders?#drones?#dronesforgood?#policeofficer?#safety?#community?#dronepilot Echelon | Ai Skyfire Consulting