Scott Simmie is a career multi-platform journalist now specializing in drones and other technology content creation.
He’s worked at senior levels for CBC National News and the Toronto Star, reporting from such locations as China, Russia, Thailand, Ethiopia and more. While at The Star, he covered the X Prize in Mojave – the competition that led to Virgin Galactic and sparked space tourism. He has reported from multiple conflict zones, as an EMMY Nominee, and is the co-author of three best-selling, non-fiction books.
Scott has been working in the world of drones since late 2014. His clients have included DJI.
Follow Scott on Twitter @scottsimmie
OK. We’ll admit that headline might not hook all of you. But with drone Fleet Management tools and autonomous deliveries, it’s a big issue for the industry – and it made for a fascinating panel discussion on the closing day of this year’s XPONENTIAL online conference.
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One of the challenges regulators have is getting across their message. In this example, the folks from the comms department of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have really nailed it.
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AUVSI’s big XPONENTIAL conference is continuing for another day. We took in an expert panel discussing the challenges – and the promise – of Beyond Visual Line of Sight.
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The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International has announced a list of finalists in multiple categories up for AUVSI XCELLENCE awards. This is top-tier industry recognition, and anyone who made the list has achieved something worth of note.
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Skydio, the US-based drone company that emphasizes Artificial Intelligence and automation in its drones and work flows, says the next chapter in the evolution of drones is all about software and autonomy. The company outlined its position, as well as some new products, during the online AUVSI XPONENTIAL Conference, which is this week.
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Zipline, the company that’s been flying automated medical delivery missions in Africa since 2016, believes fully automated drone fleets are the future. It made its case during a keynote presentation at the online XPONENTIAL conference, running today through Thursday.
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You’ve no doubt heard of Spot, the Boston Dynamics robot that looks vaguely like a dog. And you’ve likely heard of drones being used for security purposes. Now… what it you put both these technologies together?
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The largest drone company in the United States that sells to consumers, Skydio, has announced it will commence shipping its X2 series drones. These machines are purpose-built for Enterprise/First Responders and the military – and are suitable for rugged deployment scenarios where enhanced capabilities are desired. Skydio also has news on the software side of things.
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Transport Canada (TC) has announced the formation of CanaDAC – where those last three letters stand for Drone Advisory Committee. The committee will serve “as a national forum for industry stakeholders to inform priority policy and regulatory areas of focus for TC.” Let’s see what it’s about.
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An American storm chaser captured some astonishing video over the weekend. He managed to intercept a tornado with a drone, and the footage is something else.
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Something super cool went by on Twitter today. At first we were mesmerized. Then we thought: Were drones involved? The answer is yes. Yes, indeed.
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Looking to up your skills as an aerial cinematographer/photographer? This might just be the ticket.
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Let’s say you had an issue while on a recent drone flight. Maybe you were a mission and a manned aircraft dipped below 400 feet. Maybe the drone had a flyaway. What to do? Well, the FAA is encouraging you to report it, using an anonymous and largely non-punitive system.
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We thought we’d step back for a moment and look at the rules for sub-250 gram drones. Why? Because some pilots are under the impression that none of the rules apply… and that’s not the case.
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Ever wish you could drill down into the trends behind drone hardware sales? Wish no longer. A new report from DroneAnalyst has the scoop on hardware and data-based projection for where this sector will be headed from 2021-2026.
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Yesterday, we wrote about an issue that’s been floating around with the Mini 2 batteries not discharging properly. Today, word from DJI that a fix is underway.
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Well, well. FPV pilot extraordinaire Jay Christensen has done it again.
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Must be fun to be Nurk. Not only is he an amazingly good First Person View pilot and builder, but he always seems to be up to something cool. Come along; we’ll prove it to you.
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One of the amazing things about drone technology is how people have quickly found other applications for its use. And one of those areas that really grabs our attention? Hoverboards.
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A new movie release involves a promotion that will bring pop-up drone missions to many major cities in the world. The movie? Without Remorse – based on Tom Clancy’s work.
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Think back – way back to December 2019. At that time, Zero Zero Robotics released a video. It showed CGI of a forthcoming drone called the V-Coptr Falcon. And wow, was it cool.
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Some owners of DJI’s flagship sub-250 gram drone, the Mini 2, are reporting an issue with the its batteries. Apparently in some cases, these intelligent batteries are not discharging if left in the drone or the factory smart charger.
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DJI has just launched a contest that will definitely appeal to many of our readers. The challenge? Impress the judges with an “Impossible Shot.”
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Bills introduced in several US state legislatures have the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) concerned. The reason? Such bills could restrict where you can fly your drone – and potentially even charge fees.
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