Subsequent week is XPONENTIAL 2023, the huge, annual drone occasion placed on by the Affiliation for Unmanned Car Methods Worldwide (AUVSI).
AUVSI is the world’s largest nonprofit group centered round drones. It’s bought its fingers in FAA teams, it as an enormous seat on the desk in creating drone insurance policies, and other people flock to the annual AUVI XPONENTIAL convention, which is extensively thought-about one of many high drone occasions in your entire world. An estimated 7,500 individuals are set to attend.
This yr’s XPONENTIAL 2023 is ready to kick off on Monday, Could 8 and can run by way of Could 11 on the Colorado Conference Heart in Denver. Anticipate a large wave of drone product launches, company bulletins and extra.
Listed here are some cool “stats”AUVSI by the numbers” figures estimated to come back true at this yr’s occasion, offering a glimpse of simply how a lot you possibly can anticipate to see:
- 165 hours of academic programming
- 21 workshops
- 78 standalone shows
- 46 panel discussions
- Roughly 500 exhibitors
Whether or not you’ll be there in-person to see the brand new merchandise and get stay demos for your self, otherwise you’re tuning in at residence, listed here are 11 of the highest issues to look out for at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2023 earlier than it kicks off subsequent week:
1. The official winners of the 2023 AUVSI XCELLENCE Awards
A pair months again, AUVSI gave us the names of the finalists within the 2023 AUVSI XCELLENCE Awards. In it, firms and merchandise are damaged down into just a few classes — Educational Analysis, Innovation, Know-how and Mission (a few of which have their very own subcategories) — and to this point 43 finalists have been decided. Main, notable names on the finalist record embrace Skydio, the Ocean Alliance (they tagging whales with drones), drone jammer infiniDome, and america Forest Service.
The winners will probably be introduced in a ceremony on Tuesday, Could 9, 2023 at 1 p.m. native time on the Innovation Theater stage on the Colorado Conference Heart.
2. A lot of the XCELLENCE merchandise truly on show
One of the crucial-anticipated elements of XPONENTIAL is its huge present flooring, the place a whole bunch of exhibitors showcase their tech within the huge XPO Corridor. Whereas it’s laborious to slim down completely the whole lot it is best to see, a great place to start out is on the cubicles of these aforementioned AUVSI XCELLENCE Awards finalists.
Israeli startup infiniDome will probably be displaying off its newly-released GPSdome2 at sales space #3113 within the cybersecurity pavilion.
MatrixSpace, which discovered a spot in AUVSI’s XCELLENCE Awards within the class of Enabling Parts & Peripherals for its first-ever product providing, the MatrixSpace Radar, is just not distant at sales space #3110. Their product claims to be the smallest, lightest and most transportable high-performance radar obtainable, opening alternatives for beforehand unaffordable or utterly new purposes. The corporate’s Chief Income Officer, Lori DeMatteis, will even be there to host a panel titled “The Subsequent Frontier – Autonomy and Edge Sensing”, being held on Tuesday Could 9 at 2 p.m. native time in Room 108.
3. Days of panels and keynotes
Talking of panels, XPONENTIAL has no scarcity of them. There are additionally eight keynotes scheduled, all centered across the subject “Blueprint for Autonomy” and every supposed to discover core themes within the design, operationalization, integration and safeguarding of uncrewed and robotic applied sciences.
Listed here are every of the keynotes, damaged down by day:
Tuesday, Could 9: Brian Wynne (President & CEO, AUVSI), Alex Stamos (Former Chief of Safety at Fb & Professor at Stanford), Michael Robbins (Chief Advocacy Officer, AUVSI) and Tobias Whitney (Vice President of Technique and Coverage, Fortress Info Safety)
Wednesday, Could 10: Dr. Stephan Keller (Mayor of Dusseldorf, Germany), Performing Administrator Billy Nolen (Federal Aviation Administration), Amy Posey (Founder + CEO, Tremendous MEGA Boss)
Thursday, Could 11: Andrew Busch (Financial Futurist and the first Chief Market Intelligence Officer for the US Authorities) and Michael Brasseur (Founder & Former Commodore, Process Power 59, US Navy retired)
4. The A2Z Drone Supply RDSX Pelican: a drone you possibly can truly purchase for your self
Los Angeles-based drone maker A2Z Drone Supply simply introduced the discharge of its newest flagship industrial supply drone, the A2Z Drone Supply RDSX Pelican. With the RDSX Pelican’s new hybrid VTOL design, A2Z has prolonged the vary and payload capability to deal with as much as 5 kg payloads on as much as 40 km routes.
In contrast to most supply drones which are made in-house and never obtainable to most people, this one is one thing you should purchase for your self. Hopefully you’re wealthy although. Costs begin at $29,000.
Even if you happen to can’t afford it, it appears as if you possibly can nonetheless contact it. A2Z Drone Supply will first show the brand new RDSX Pelican on the upcoming AUVSI XPONENTIAL convention at sales space #1830.
5. WiBotic’s PowerPad Professional
Simply yesterday, Seattle-based WiBotic launched the PowerPad Professional, a charging platform with built-in wi-fi information offload & switch capabilities, permitting drones to robotically cost with out bodily connection factors. Wi-fi charging begins upon touchdown, upon which information, pictures, and video are transferred wirelessly in tandem.
It may well both be used as a standalone pad or built-in into current UAV storage amenities (like drone hangars, trailers or truck beds). And in concept, it ought to assist industries together with vitality, utilities, development, protection, and agriculture that must conduct autonomous UAV operations over lengthy distances.
Test it out for your self, as this brand-new product will probably be on show on the AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2023 present flooring.
6. A stay demonstration, that’s deliberately distant
Why would you journey all the way in which to Denver merely to look at an illustration taking place in a differentt state? That’s as a result of autonomous inspection and monitoring resolution supplier Percepto is internet hosting a stay demonstration of the way it can function drones whereas being nowhere within the neighborhood.
On Wednesday, Could 10, it’ll remotely launch an autonomous drone 1,000 miles away at an vitality facility in Texas, all to display Percepto’s AI-powered evaluation and perception capabilities. Attendees can view the demo at Percepto sales space #3409, close to the doorway to the exhibit corridor.
Simply previous to that, it’s additionally internet hosting a panel dialogue round how automated inspection is shifting handle amenities to be extra productive whereas boosting security and sustainability.
Percepto was named one among Time Journal’s 100 Greatest Innovations of 2021.
7. The Sony Airpeak S1
The Sony Airpeak S1 is one among this yr’s most talked about drones. I solely simply bought to see it for the primary time this particular person earlier this yr — and now you possibly can to.
AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2023 comes at an particularly opportune tune time for Sony, which simply this spring launched new, enterprise-focused Sony Airpeak merchandise that remodel what was as soon as supposed to be a cinematography drone into an industrial powerhouse. New merchandise embrace a dual-band RTK, light-weight gimbal, and better capability batteries.
See it for your self at Sales space #4324.
8. All types of networking occasions (plus meals and baseball!)
There isn’t a scarcity of networking alternatives at AUVSI. There are the usual espresso breaks, in addition to some invitation occasions. However among the finest occasions are opening to anybody, and are set to have some nice meals. Among the many high occasions inside XPONENTIAL:
Monday, Could 9 at 6 p.m.: This occasion comes with a further price ($125 plus a $10 processing price), however it’s set to be epic. It’s the XPONENTIAL Kickoff Celebration hosted by the AUVSI Rocky Mountain Chapter, and it’s being held at Coors Discipline, residence of the Colorado Rockies.
Certain, you’ll get to fulfill different attendees, however for individuals who care about baseball only a sliver of as a lot as they care about drones, you possibly can step as much as bat within the batting cages and check out your hand at pitching within the pace pitching cages. After all, you’ll additionally gorgeous mountain views whereas having fun with meals, drinks, and music.
Tuesday, Could 9 at 1:30 p.m.: Right here’s a networking occasion that truly appears enjoyable and fruitful. Referred to as Take 5, attendees are requested to fulfill 5 new folks to alternate concepts and finest practices or discover 5 good concepts you possibly can take residence. And if you happen to take part, you get a free snack, too.
Wednesday, Could 10 at 4:30 p.m.: Referred to as Uncrewed Brews, present as much as this occasion on the AUVSI Member lounge for swag giveaways and free drinks. That is open to anybody so long as you’re an AUVSI Member. A customary, one-year particular person membership to AUVSI prices $150, although there are reductions when you have sure affiliations (resembling scholar or army), if you happen to even have a FAA certification quantity or if you happen to decide to greater than a yr upfront.
See a full rundown of all of the XPONENTIAL 2023 networking alternatives right here.
9. Video gaming, elevated through the Zephyr flight simulator
The oldsters from Little Arms Studios, a Virginia-based software program firm, will probably be providing demos of their Zephyr Drone Simulator, which is the very best excuse you need to play video video games out work. This drone pilot coaching simulator is designed to focus on enterprise and industrial drone flights (versus different sims that concentrate on drone racing).
Get some hands-on expertise with the simulator your self (and meet among the group behind it) at Sales space #2024.
Learn my full overview of the Zephyr drone flight simulator right here.
10. 2023 Legislation-Tech Join Workshop (the day earlier than)
Right here’s incentive to get to Colorado early: Whereas the convention doesn’t formally kick off till Tuesday, there are a variety of co-located occasions that occur the day prior. Amongst them is the 2023 Legislation-Tech Join Workshop. It’s preferrred for attorneys and policymakers, because the workshop will cowl updates within the legal guidelines surrounding multidomain uncrewed industrial and army operations, AAM infrastructure, counter-drone, public-private partnerships, mental property and privateness. Take a look at the complete 2023 Legislation-Tech Join agenda right here.
Different co-located occasions embrace AUVSI Protection; AUVSI’s Trusted Operator Program Stage 1 Distant Pilot Certification workshop; and the DRONERESPONDERS Discussion board.
11. Mini golf at City Putt
After which for the tremendous keen people who can’t get to Denver quickly sufficient, right here’s maybe probably the most pleasant occasion of all of them. As a part of the aforementioned 2023 Legislation-Tech Join Workshop, there’s a bonus networking occasion taking place on Sunday, Could 7 from 7-9 p.m. on the City Putt on Denver’s 18th Avenue. City Putt is an upscale, indoor mini-golf course that includes a full-service bar with hand-crafted cocktails.
It seems like there’s no approach to kick off your XPONENTIAL 2023 week than through mini golf with drone nerds.
Can’t make it to AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2023 however hoping to make it to a different drone occasion this yr? Take a look at my information to the high drone occasions of 2023, which span your entire globe.
