‘End Of The Year and What A Year’

Dear All,

I cannot believe that the end of the year is approaching so quickly and with another trip to India in coming weeks, I thought that would take the time to reflect and thank everyone.

It has been a big year that has been filled with many milestones and achievements for The Institute for Drone Technology? and importantly, for the Drone industry. Since 2013, 15 Million Drones have now been sold and an additional 93 million more units are expected to be sold over the next five years* making it now a significant and game-changing solution for several industries.

We at The Institute for Drone Technology? have covered a lot of ground, developed material and have had the opportunity to participate in many defining projects. We were lucky enough to travel abroad to Europe early this year, and India more recently, to meet other Drone stakeholders, sign several memorandum of understanding’s (MoU’s) and make new friends within the Drone economy.

Today’s technology has allowed ourselves, our team members and our students to grow both the company and the Drone industry itself here in Australia and Asia. As our team gets ready for 2018 and this summer, they can rest assured that it will be a wonderful upcoming year as we look forward to delivering substantial memorandum of understanding (MoU) contracts, establishing a business in India and the ever-continuing involvement within the industry here in Australia, Asia and the wider world.

As we move in 2018 from being an Australian-based to a now-international-focused institution, there are some very important things that we plan to do this summer to help our success. We will take the time to listen to our clients and students, and make sure that we are meeting with them to understand how the Drone economy will evolve, notably with respect to the economic benefit and added value Drones can play, abreast of the regulatory framework which, in Australia and India, with pending changes will create opportunities in much-needed services and the ever-changing service provider capabilities of the industry (new and old) who also change and respond with a developing industry.

Looking forward, it’s likely that 2018 will bring some big changes to an already-dynamic industry: expect increased regulation (as Australia has shown, safety, security and privacy are big on the government agenda), the further development of technologies allowing Drones to communicate vital information and data, and of course, the development of new dynamic business models created to adapt to the evolution of this exciting industry.

If you go on vacation this summer, then I encourage you to look around and see the ‘Drones’, read an article/journal on them, and plan for how you will implement them in 2018, every day, as all of these things will help you lead to big successes the next year while this disruptive game-changing technology makes in impact.

It has been my pleasure getting to know you all this year, especially the folk in the Drone Industry from around the world. Having your support was an essential part of the year and I would like to personally thank Dr Joel Spencer and every one of the Institute team members, and my family with special note to my wife Virginia, for her patience and importantly her support that has not gone unnoticed in helping me personally deliver this past year.

Thanks again for a wonderful year. Have a fantastic and safe summer (or winter) where every you are.

Sincerely, 

Paul

*(data from CamhiH (2016) The UAV;s report BI Intelligence)