Subsequent week is XPONENTIAL 2023, the huge, annual drone occasion placed on by the Affiliation for Unmanned Automobile Techniques Worldwide (AUVSI).

AUVSI is the world’s largest nonprofit group centered round drones. It’s bought its arms in FAA teams, it as an enormous seat on the desk in creating drone insurance policies, and folks flock to the annual AUVI XPONENTIAL convention, which is extensively thought of one of many top drone events in your entire world. An estimated 7,500 individuals are set to attend.

This yr’s XPONENTIAL 2023 is about to kick off on Monday, Might 8 and can run by way of Might 11 on the Colorado Conference Heart in Denver. Count on 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’ll be able to count on 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 dwell demos for your self, otherwise you’re tuning in at dwelling, listed below 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 in the 2023 AUVSI XCELLENCE Awards. In it, corporations and merchandise are damaged down into a couple of classes — Tutorial 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 checklist embrace Skydio, the Ocean Alliance (they tagging whales with drones), drone jammer infiniDome, and america Forest Service.

The winners will likely be introduced in a ceremony on Tuesday, Might 9, 2023 at 1 p.m. native time on the Innovation Theater stage on the Colorado Conference Heart.

2. Many of the XCELLENCE merchandise really on show

One of the-anticipated features of XPONENTIAL is its huge present flooring, the place tons of of exhibitors showcase their tech within the huge XPO Corridor. Whereas it’s onerous to slim down completely every part you need to see, place to begin is on the cubicles of these aforementioned AUVSI XCELLENCE Awards finalists.

Israeli startup infiniDome will likely be exhibiting 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 Elements & Peripherals for its first-ever product providing, the MatrixSpace Radar, shouldn’t be distant at sales space #3110. Their product claims to be the smallest, lightest and most moveable high-performance radar obtainable, opening alternatives for beforehand unaffordable or fully new functions. 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 Might 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, Might 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 Data Safety)

Wednesday, Might 10: Dr. Stephan Keller (Mayor of Dusseldorf, Germany), Performing Administrator Billy Nolen (Federal Aviation Administration), Amy Posey (Founder + CEO, Tremendous MEGA Boss)

Thursday, Might 11: Andrew Busch (Financial Futurist and the first Chief Market Intelligence Officer for the US Authorities)  and Michael Brasseur (Founder & Former Commodore, Activity Power 59, US Navy retired)  

See the full conference schedule featuring all the workshops, panels and speakers here.

4. The A2Z Drone Supply RDSX Pelican: a drone you’ll be able to really 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.

Not like most supply drones which can be 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 in case you can’t afford it, it appears as if you’ll be able to 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 knowledge offload & switch capabilities, permitting drones to mechanically cost with out bodily connection factors. Wi-fi charging begins upon touchdown, upon which knowledge, pictures, and video are transferred wirelessly in tandem.

It may both be used as a standalone pad or built-in into current UAV storage amenities (like drone hangars, trailers or truck beds). And in principle, it ought to help industries together with vitality, utilities, development, protection, and agriculture that have to conduct autonomous UAV operations over lengthy distances.

Test it out for your self, as this brand-new product will likely be on show on the AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2023 present flooring.

6. A dwell demonstration, that’s deliberately distant

Why would you journey all the way in which to Denver merely to look at an illustration occurring in a differentt state? That’s as a result of autonomous inspection and monitoring resolution supplier Percepto is internet hosting a dwell demonstration of the way it can function drones whereas being nowhere within the neighborhood.

On Wednesday, Might 10, it’ll remotely launch an autonomous drone 1,000 miles away at an vitality facility in Texas, all to reveal 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 the best way to handle amenities to be extra productive whereas boosting security and sustainability.

Percepto was named certainly one of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Inventions of 2021.

7. The Sony Airpeak S1

The Sony Airpeak S1 is certainly one of this yr’s most talked about drones. I only just got to see it for the first time this person earlier this year — and now you’ll be able to to.

AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2023 comes at an particularly opportune tune time for Sony, which simply this spring launched new, enterprise-focused Sony Airpeak products 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 kinds of networking occasions (plus meals and baseball!)

There isn’t any 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, Might 9 at 6 p.m.: This occasion comes with an extra charge ($125 plus a $10 processing charge), 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 Area, dwelling of the Colorado Rockies.

Positive, 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’ll be able to step as much as bat within the batting cages and take a look at your hand at pitching within the pace pitching cages. In fact, you’ll additionally beautiful mountain views whereas having fun with meals, drinks, and music.

Tuesday, Might 9 at 1:30 p.m.: Right here’s a networking occasion that really appears enjoyable and fruitful. Referred to as Take 5, attendees are requested to fulfill 5 new individuals to change concepts and finest practices or discover 5 good concepts you’ll be able to take dwelling. And in case you take part, you get a free snack, too.

Wednesday, Might 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 commonplace, one-year particular person membership to AUVSI prices $150, although there are reductions when you have sure affiliations (comparable to pupil or army), in case you even have a FAA certification quantity or in case you decide to greater than a yr upfront.

See a full rundown of all the XPONENTIAL 2023 networking opportunities here.

9. Video gaming, elevated through the Zephyr flight simulator

The oldsters from Little Arms Studios, a Virginia-based software program firm, will likely be providing demos of their Zephyr Drone Simulator, which is one of the best excuse it’s important 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 target drone racing).

Get some hands-on expertise with the simulator your self (and meet among the workforce behind it) at Sales space #2024.

Learn my full review of the Zephyr drone flight simulator here.

10. 2023 Regulation-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 Law-Tech Connect Workshop. It’s ideally suited 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. Try the total 2023 Law-Tech Connect 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 of us 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 Regulation-Tech Join Workshop, there’s a bonus networking occasion occurring on Sunday, Might 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 feels like there’s no technique 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? Try my information to the top drone events of 2023, which span your entire globe.

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