I am looking for a conference or expo aimed at professional drone operators in fields like agriculture and mapping.
I have seen Xponential and Commercial UAV Expo, but they seem more focused on manufacturers.
I’m mainly interested in learning about new technology and industry trends.
Any recommendations? Preferably somewhere in the USA.
Hi!
Absolutely, I can help with that! Here are a couple of conferences that might be more aligned with your interests in agriculture and mapping:
FAA Drone Symposium: This event, held in Baltimore, MD, focuses on various aspects of drone technology, including Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) operations, Remote ID, and type certification. It’s a great place to learn about the latest industry trends and regulatory updates.
Drones in Ag Conference: Scheduled for August 14, 2024, in North Platte, Nebraska, this conference specifically targets the use of drones in agriculture. It covers practical applications and the latest advancements in agricultural drone technology.
Iowa Ag Expo: This is one of the largest agriculture technology expos in the US, featuring the latest innovations in drone technology for farming and agronomy.
These events should provide valuable insights into new technologies and industry trends relevant to your field.
Xponential is for everyone. I visited the one in San Diego. It has everything from how to get a fleet of drones to do paid drone shows, to sellers (Drone Nerds had a table), to manufacturers to promote their products (I got to talk to RadioMaster about their Zorro, for example), and it’s super cool because it’s anything and everything autonomous that you didn’t even know existed. Autonomous dogs? There. Underwater drones? There. Ship drones? There.
Reminds me that I still have about 2-3 hours of content from the show to edit and upload. I strapped on a GoPro and strolled the entire show, which took me about 30 minutes.
When I was searching for conferences focused on professional drone operators, I also found that while Xponential and the Commercial UAV Expo are great for manufacturers, there are other events tailored to users and specific industries like agriculture and mapping. I came across the DroneFocus Conference and Agri-Tech East that often dive deep into technology and industry trends relevant to operators. Additionally, Drones Data Conference focuses on practical applications and advancements in drone technology for data and mapping, which might be just what you’re looking for. These events typically offer sessions and workshops that can help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations in your field.