Weekly Highlights: Drone News, Tips, and Resources
Peter Karanja
Freelance Content Writer, Licensed Drone Pilot, UAV Specialist, UAV/Drone Consultant, Drone Mapping, GIS Specialist, Transcriber, Founder and Freelancer at Captain K. Drone and Transcription Zone
I hope your week is going well! ? Here are this week’s industry updates, expert tips, jobs and exclusive insights from the industry.
DJI Disables U.S. Flight Data Sync and Global Thumbnail Previews
Starting June 12, 2024, DJI will stop U.S. drone operators from syncing flight records to its servers and remove this option by June 27. Globally, thumbnail previews will no longer be shown in the DJI Fly app. Users should back up their data as previously synced records will be deleted.
Revolutionizing Drone Operations: Wingtra Unveils WingtraCLOUD Software
Wingtra has launched WingtraCLOUD, a software that simplifies drone data collection and enhances collaboration. Key features include 3D planning, site-based file organization, and cloud storage syncing, streamlining operations for surveyors and pilots.
Green UAS: New Certification for Commercial Drones
Green UAS, a collaboration between AUVSI and DIU, certifies commercial drones to meet high cybersecurity standards, akin to the Blue UAS program. This accelerates market access, ensuring NDAA compliance and bolstering trust in drone technology.
More News
AirData UAV Supports Pilots Amid DJI Cloud Sync Discontinuation
AirData UAV offers seamless flight data management solutions for pilots affected by DJI's cloud sync feature discontinuation. With alternative sync options and dedicated support, AirData ensures uninterrupted flight tracking without reliance on DJI's cloud services.
Volarious Launches V-Scan: Drone Surveillance Tool
Volarious unveils V-Scan, a new drone surveillance tool exclusive to their app. It enables precise tracking of people and vehicles for various applications, including public safety, traffic management, disaster response, perimeter defense, and event management.
Featured Jobs
Here are the latest jobs from across the industry.
Radio Operator, Kenya
Join Zipline’s mission to revolutionize global logistics as a VHF Radio Operator in Chemelil, Kenya, ensuring efficient air traffic communication for a more equitable and resilient supply chain.
Agriculture UAS Pilot
Agriline Kenya is hiring a Drone Pilot for agricultural tasks using Agras drones. Preferred experience with Agras drones, but not required. To apply, email CV to [email protected] , [email protected] , and [email protected] , cc'ing all emails.
Trainee UAS Pilot
Cyberhawk, a leading technology company, seeks Trainee UAS Pilots for visual inspection and survey solutions. Responsibilities include conducting drone operations, ensuring safety, and assisting with job preparation.
UAS Flight & Ground Instructor
Kenya Airways seeks a UAS Flight and Ground Instructor in Nairobi to oversee UAS operations and training, ensuring compliance with KCAA regulations.
Content Marketing Tip of the Week
Considering AI for Content Writing in Your Drone Business? Here's How It Can Enhance Your Strategy.
The debate on AI replacing writers is an unending one. Some business owners have completely replaced writers with AI tools, while others have reduced their number of writers and used a few writers to edit AI-generated content.
If you own a drone business and are looking for ways to generate content, the question should not be on whether to utilize AI fully or whether to find human writers instead; it should be about leveraging the strengths of each. Below are some ways you can use AI to enhance your content strategy.
1. Generating outlines and drafts - It is not advisable to write whole blogs, case studies, or emails with AI. Instead, you can use it to brainstorm outlines and or create hypothetical customer personas and how you would target them. Here, you would still need some knowledge in marketing, or hire an experienced writer and marketer since they can gauge the AI's output and advise on it's accuracy. You can also generate drafts then edit and tweak to fit your voice and the message you want to communicate.
2. SEO-Optimization - You can use AI tools for keyword research and optimizing the written content. This helps you address user intent and rank higher for topics people who may need your services may be searching for.
3. Beat writer's block - There are times when you have topics to write about and are not sure the approach to take, or you just freeze and feel like you can't write anymore. As mentioned earlier, you ca use AI to brainstorm ideas, approaches, and outlines, speeding up your writing process. You can also use it to generate blogpost headlines, subtopics, and some sections of the post.
4. Repurpose content - If you have some existing content that has converted well or didn't work out and want to use it in a different way, you can use AI to repurpose it. This helps you be consistent in content output and ensures the content you write doesn't go to waste.
5. Data driven insights - Some AI tools can help you gauge your content, allowing you gain real-time insights on your blogs, social media posts, and even ads, allowing you to measure the success or failures, and come up with ways to improve.
While AI is a powerful ally, it's crucial to remember that the human touch remains irreplaceable in some types of content (at least not yet). Combining the ingenuity of human creativity with the precision of AI can yield extraordinary outcomes for your drone business
领英推荐
Blog Post Of The Week
Interested in joining the drone industry or are curious about the trajectory it’s taking? David Daly of Vigilante Drones recently shared 5 key trends to look out for;
1?? Increasing Commercial Adoption: Drones are no longer just gadgets; they're essential tools in various sectors like agriculture and infrastructure management, streamlining operations and increasing efficiency.
2?? Regulatory Evolution: Stay informed about regulatory changes and standardization efforts. Understanding airspace regulations is crucial for safety, compliance, and smooth operations.
3?? Evolving Drone Technology: Keep an eye on advancements such as obstacle avoidance and autonomous capabilities. These features are expanding the capabilities of drones, making them more versatile and reliable.
4?? Embracing Urban Air Mobility (UAM): Prepare for the emergence of pilotless air taxis and drone delivery services, which are set to transform urban transportation. This presents new opportunities for skilled pilots and operators.
5?? Harnessing Emerging Technologies: Explore how AI, ML, and 5G integration are enhancing drone performance and autonomy. Understanding these technologies can help you leverage drones more effectively in your work or business.
You can read more about it here - https://bit.ly/3yNlH08
Community and Events
Below are some upcoming events in the drone industry:
KCAA Stakeholder Engagement Meeting on Civil Aviation Regulations
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) invites stakeholders to the Civil Aviation Regulations Stakeholder Engagement Meeting from June 12th to 14th, 2024, at Panari Hotel, Nairobi. Participation is welcomed in person or virtually via Teams [here](Join Teams meeting). Feedback can be shared by emailing [email protected] .
Kenya to Host Elevate Africa Drone Summit
June 28th - 29th 2024
The Elevate Africa Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Summit is set to take place in Kenya from June 28 to 29, showcasing innovations in the drone ecosystem. Day one features a symposium and B2B networking in Nairobi, while day two includes an Expo with live drone tech demos at Konza Technopolis. Attendees can engage with industry leaders, government officials, and academia, explore drone applications, and connect with potential collaborators.
FAA Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Symposium
July 30th - August 1st, 2024
Join the FAA and AUVSI in Baltimore this summer for the 2024 FAA Drone and AAM Symposium, uniting stakeholders to discuss safety and emerging technologies for shared skies, featuring insights from regulatory and industry leaders.
ICAO Advanced Air Mobility Symposium 2024
September 9 - 12, 2024
Register for the ICAO-hosted symposium on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), highlighting current technologies, research, and commercial endeavors in the aviation sector. This year's focus is on global harmonization and interoperability, exploring challenges and opportunities in AAM.
INTERGEO 2024
September 24 - 26, 2024
Experience INTERGEO 2024, the world’s largest geoinformation conference at Messe Stuttgart from September 24th-26th. Explore exhibitions, lectures, and networking, with a focus on drone technology at the Unmanned Systems Stage. Featuring 342 exhibitors and lectures on drone laws, scanning applications, and more
Global Drone Conference & Exhibition 2024
October 23 - 24, 2024
Explore future possibilities and commercialization of drones at the 4th Global Drone Conference and Exhibition, co-located with the iNNOVATE Tech Show in Malaysia. Dive into deep sessions across various business verticals and witness launches on the Main Stage.
Courses & Resources
Ultimate Drone Pilot Guide
This free course teaches participants how to fly drones commercially and for fun. It covers the rules, licensing process, and ways to monetize drone use, making it ideal for hobbyists and aspiring professionals alike.
Summer Course for Part 107 Remote Pilot Exam Prep Offered in Scottsbluff
Nebraska Extension is offering one-day courses across the state to help individuals pass the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Exam for Part 107 remote pilot certification. The course in Scottsbluff will be on June 7, with a $275 registration fee covering study materials and meals. Pre-register by June 3.
DroneDeploy launches free video resource library
DroneDeploy launches DroneDeploy Insider, a free video resource library featuring past conference talks, podcasts, and downloadable PDFs on drone technology. Aimed at both aspiring and current users, it offers valuable insights on various topics like construction and agriculture.
ESRI MOOCs
Unlock new skills with SRI’s free online courses. Self-paced and ranging from four to six weeks, dive into topics, gain hands-on experience with ArcGIS software, and earn a completion certificate.
ADDA RPAT
Discover drone basics with the RPAT course, ideal for students interested in drone technology. Covering aerodynamics, flight operations, and safety practices, it requires no prior experience but benefits from an engineering or physics background.
And that’s it for this week. If you have any feedback or would like me to cover a certain topic, feel free to reply to this email.
Until next time.
Peter Karanja