Today's question is about affordable drones that can be used for creating content for social media. Specifically, we discuss the DJI Mavic Mini 2, DJI Mavic Air 2, and DJI Mavic Pro 2 in today's show. Our caller for today, Emily has come up with a great question. Specifically, Emily needs a drone for posting to social media. And, she is wondering if the DJI Mavic Mini 2 is a good option for her. Is this small sub-250 gram DJI drone capable of generating captivating photos and videos? How does th...
Jan 01, 2021•30 min
Today's question is about drone cameras with regular (EO) and thermal capabilities. Which is the most affordable set-up for drone pilots that generates good results? Our caller for today, Dave is on the lookout for a drone camera with EO and thermal capabilities. However, he is on a tight budget. So, which is the most affordable drone camera that will get the job done? Does he absolutely need a radioactive camera? Options discussed today include the DJI Mavic Enterprise 2 Dual and the Inspire 1 ...
Jan 01, 2021•8 min
Today's question is about police drones. Which are some of the best drones for law enforcement? And, what are some of the most important things that the department should consider when setting up a new drone program? Our caller for today, Officer Abrennaman is calling from Montgomery County, Ohio. His police department has recently kickstarted a drone program, and Alex is wondering if they have purchased the right drones for their program and if they are moving in the right direction. In today's...
Dec 10, 2020•33 min
DJI's New FPV Drone To Be Released This Christmas?, Police Drones, Troubles Compound for DJI as Senior Employees Jump Ship Our biggest story this week is about DJI's new FPV drone. If you are a regular ADU listener, you must be aware of all the latest industry rumors pertaining to this new DJI drone. Now, you shall be enthused to learn that DJI's has submitted their FCC filings for this new drone, the remote controller, and the FPV goggles. Does this latest development indicate that DJI is geari...
Dec 09, 2020•36 min
Our biggest story this week is about a Philadelphia drone pilot and YouTuber, Mikey. FAA's decision to slap a mammoth $185,000 fine (!) on Mikey for his 123 infractions has been met with disbelief and mixed reactions by industry stake-holders. While there are some who feel that Mikey had it coming after blatanty ignoring FAA's many warnings, there are yet others who feel that this fine is too harsh. Whichever side of the fence that you are on, this incident again highlights how our current syste...
Dec 05, 2020•36 min
In today's show, we attempt to decode what navigable airspace truly means. Getting to the bottom of this can help drone pilots navigate the confusing maze of drone rules and laws to clearly understand where they can and cannot fly. Back in 1946, United States vs. Causby (1946), a Supreme Court decision abolished "ad coelum". "Ad coelum" stated that a person who owned the soil also owned all of the airspace above it. But, while, the Courts abolished ad coelum, they also rejected the government's ...
Dec 03, 2020•43 min
Today's show is about renewing your Part 107 certificate in the wake of COVID. With most CATS centers shut down due to a second lockdown, how can drone pilots renew their Part 107 certificate? In normal circumstances, Part 107 pilots need to visit a testing center to renew their Part 107 certificate. However, this renewal procedure has changed in the wake of covid. With many areas announcing second lockdowns and with the FAA yet to issues any new directives, how can you remain current with your ...
Nov 19, 2020•9 min
Drone Gift Ideas for Christmas |DJI Mavic Mini 2 Our question today is about the DJI Mavic Mini 2. You will learn why this newly launched, sub-250 gram micro-drone is the BEST drone that you can buy for your kids (PERIOD!). An ADU listener needs our help. He is thinking of buying a drone for his kid, and is totally confused by the myriad of options. So, what would you look for in a drone that you are buying as a gift for your kid? Ability to take great pictures? Safe to fly? Awesome features? Wh...
Nov 17, 2020•14 min
Today's question is about getting your Wide Area Airspace Authorization (WAAS). Do you need WAAS if you are planning on flying in controlled airspace at twilight? Our caller for today, Kevin has come up with a great question that has not been asked on Ask Drone U before. Kevin's question is about getting approval to fly in controlled airspace at twilight. Recently, while flying a job for Amazon, Kevin was unable to get LAANC approval for the same. So, in this scenario, do you need to apply for y...
Nov 12, 2020•16 min
Today's question is about getting airspace approval from an airport that is not LAANC-enabled. Our caller for today, Chris has a question about getting permission to fly near an airport without LAANC. As per the FAA, getting airspace approval from a non-LAANC enabled airport can take up to 90 days. Clearly, this is not a feasible timeframe for most drone pilots. So, is there any way to speed up the approval process? Paul reveals how cultivating relationships with the ATC can possibly help Chris ...
Nov 11, 2020•10 min
Today's show is about fixing your drone after a crash. What is the best and most reliable place to get your drone fixed in event of a crash? Our caller for today, Jon bought a new Phantom 3 Advanced and crashed it soon after. Jon is looking for some recommendations to get his drone fixed. How can you figure out the extent of damage on your drone after a crash? Should you attempt to fix your drone at home? Or, is this something that you should leave to a retailer or technician? Additionally, we a...
Nov 11, 2020•18 min
DJI Mavic Mini 2, DJI Mavic Mini 2 Specs, DJI Mavic Mini vs. Mavic Mini 2 Our biggest story this week is about the DJI Mavic Mini 2. DJI has launched this new drone which is a significant improvement over the original Mini. The new Mavic Mini 2 comes with 4K capabilities and Occusync - features originally found in more expensive drones like the Mavic 2 Pro. Additionally, Haye managed to get his hands on this new drone and compared the drone footage with the original Mini. Can you replace your Ma...
Nov 07, 2020•23 min
Drone Crash | How To Avoid Getting into Vortex Ring State Today's question is about getting your drone into a vortex ring state and crashing your drone. As drone technology becomes more and more sophisticated, do you need to worry about getting into a vortex ring state at all? Our caller for today, Sean is a regular ADU listener and has listened to us talk about the dangers of getting your drone into a vortex ring state many times in the past. Now, Sean flies a Mavic 2 Pro, and he is wondering i...
Nov 06, 2020•20 min
Today's quesiton is about drone remote id and micro-drones like the DJI Mavic Mini 2. Our caller for today, Adam has a question about Remote ID. If you are a regular ADU listener, you might be aware of this contentious issue that will greatly impact the drone industry as a whole. Now, Adam is wondering if he needs to comply with these restrictive remote-id rules at all if he flies a micro-drone weighing less than 250 grams. DJI recently launched the DJI Mavic Mini 2 which comes with 4K capabilit...
Oct 30, 2020•21 min
Today's question is about drone mapping. What are some deliverables that you can offer without scale constraints and GCP's? Our caller for today, Marc has come up with a great question about drone mapping. Specifically, Marc is wondering if there are any drone mapping uses that do not require the use of GCP's and scale constraints. As you may be aware, marking GCP's requires expensive GPS equipment costing thousands of dollars. Can you venture into drone mapping even if you are not in a position...
Oct 22, 2020•24 min
Today's question is about drone mapping opportunities for DSP's in large organizations. Are large organizations more prone to training in-house drone teams? Our caller for today, Michael has a question about drone mapping. Specifically, Michael is wondering if large businesses are prone to hiring drone service providers for their mapping jobs or not. Are large organizations more likely to develop their in-house drone teams? Whether you are thinking of getting into drone mapping or an established...
Oct 20, 2020•18 min
Today's question is about using drone mapping for digitally recreating historical buildings and streets. Our caller, Robert has come up with a unique question that has not been asked on ADU before. Robert's question is about digital reconstruction. Robert is wondering if he can use drone mapping to digitally recreate the old era via visual story-telling. Certainly, this is an excellent idea. Visual story-telling is one of the best ways to preserve our history and culture. But, is this even posis...
Oct 19, 2020•22 min
Our biggest story is about Skydio 2. When Skydio came out with the Skydio 2 after the Skydio R1 last year, many thought that the American manufacturer could be the DJI alternative that many were waiting for. But, Skydio's marketing language and strategy off late is not befitting of an industry leader that is aspiring to be. From filming a marketing video in Yellowstone National Park to promoting fully autonomous flights, we discuss Skydio's latest industry moves. Tune in and let us know what you...
Oct 17, 2020•30 min
Today's show is about pricing strategies for drone pilots. How can you negotiate with a client, and avoid getting underpaid for your services? Our caller for today, John is just starting out. Luckily, he managed to bag a huge drone job which involves taking aerial shots, drone mapping, and creating progression reports. What are the typical rates for such deliverables? What are some pricing strategies that John should follow to get what he truly deserves? Great question. And one that drone pilots...
Oct 16, 2020•32 min
Today's question is about dealing with unscrupulous clients who refuse to pay up. Are there any legal steps that you can take that will force your client to pay up even after you deliver your drone footage? Our caller, Roy from Salt Lake City has come up with a question that has not been asked on ADU before. His client is refusing to pay up even though he is using Roy's copyrighted images to market his business. Not surprisingly, the client is avoiding Roy's calls and refusing to respond back to...
Oct 15, 2020•41 min
DJI Mavic Mini 2 Important Updates, DOD Releases List of Approved Drone Manufacturers in Their Blue sUAS Program, Drones for Environmental Conservation, Drones for Good Our biggest story this week is about the National Defense Authorization Act which bans the use of "Chinese Drones" for federal use. Now, DOD has released a list of approved drone manufacturers courtesy of their Blue sUAS program, and drone manufacturer's like ANAFI and Skydio have made the cut. Ironically, while these drones are ...
Oct 10, 2020•23 min
DJI Mavic Mini 2 Updates, Skydio 2 For Drone Mapping?, FireFighting Drones, DJI News, DJI Rumors Our biggest story this week is about the DJI Mavic Mini 2. Regular ADU listeners might recall that last week we had shared some industry reports which revealed how DJI was planning to come out with a 4K-enabled, DJI Mavic 2. Apparently drone billionaire and DJI boss, Frank Wong is unhappy with the video quality on the DJI's sub-250 gram drone, the Mini. In today's show, we share some more updates fro...
Oct 09, 2020
Today's show is about drone crashes. Specifically, ADU co-host, Rob shares how he ended up crashing his drone last week, and some of the biggest lessons that he learned from this. After so many years of hosting ADU, the flying bug has finally bit Rob. Last week, Rob was our flying in beautiful New Mexico when he crashed his Mavic 2 Pro into a tree. In today's show, Rob shares his experience and reveals some of the biggest lessons that he learned from this experience. Towards the end, Paul chimes...
Oct 08, 2020•17 min
Our biggest story this week is about the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. This act will ban the use of Chinese drones as well as Chinese-made drone parts for federal use. The passage of this act will not just affect DJI but also other popular manufacturers like Skydio, 3DR and GoPro. With manufacturing being the Chinese's strong suit, do you think that this ban is a wise move? Do you think an American competitor can step up to cater to the needs of the drone industry? Our next story is a...
Oct 02, 2020•32 min
Step-By-Step Workflow for Getting Starting in Drone Mapping Today's question is about drone mapping. How can you learn the nuances of this field and scale up your drone business to another level? Our caller for today, Jaime is thinking of venturing into drone mapping for the construction industry. Wise decision. Especially, after COVID, demand for drone mapping and modeling has gone through the roof. Today, Jaime has some interesting questions about drone mapping software. Specifically, which is...
Sep 29, 2020•36 min
Today's show is about federal employees who wish to unlock their DJI drones. Our caller for today, Sid has a question about unlocking DJI drones. Specifically, Sid is wondering if DJI has any mechanism that will allow federal employees to unlock DJI drones. In today's show, you will learn about DJI's Qualified Entity Program (QEP) for public safety officials. Additionally, we also discuss if Sid can get rid of geo-fencing and fly in Atti mode by simply hacking his drone. Thanks for the great que...
Sep 28, 2020
Our biggest story this week is about drone remote ID. Regular DU followers might recall that FAA's NPRM attracted more than 50,000 comments from concerned industry stakeholders. However, it seems that the FAA is planning to go ahead with a restrictive drone remote ID as planned. In his talk at the Commercial UAV Expo, FAA's Steve Dickson shared how FAA plans to introduce drone remote ID by the end of 2020. Our next story is about flying drones in NYC. As you might be aware, an old avigation law ...
Sep 24, 2020•37 min
Today's question is about the best GPS solutions for drone mapping. Is there an accurate GPS solution that does not burn a hole in your pocket? Our caller for today, Andy is drone mapper who has a question about GCP solutions. Specifically, Andy does not wish to spend thousands of dollars to purchase a GPS system. Yet, he does not wish to compromise on accuracy. So, what are some affordable GPS solutions that are a good fit for Andy? In today's show, we reveal the GPS solution that we, at Drone ...
Sep 23, 2020
Our question for today is about flying in restricted airspace. Our caller, Fred has come up with a creative possibility for flying in restrictive airspace. While we know that the law does not permit us to fly in restricted airspace, what if we take off from mid-air? Are there any loopholes that let you legally fly in restricted airspace? Tune in for another fun and informative show of Ask Drone U. Thanks for ingenious question, Fred. Fly Safe! Whether you are just getting started or looking to i...
Sep 21, 2020•18 min
Main Benefits of Flying in Atti Mode Today's show is about flying in Atti mode. When you can away by flying in GPS mode, why should you bother learning to fly in Atti mode at all? Our caller for today, Earl from Texas is into drone photography and videography. Earl hates flying in Atti mode. He shares that he is able to grab some great footage while flying in P-mode or GPS-mode. And sees no reason to master flying in Atti mode. So, what are some of the main reasons that a drone pilot should lear...
Sep 17, 2020•19 min
