Los Angeles, CA—I
really looked forward to the first ever L.A.
Drone Expo. It happened today at the
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.
The exhibitors came with
products and displays. Hundreds of drone
enthusiasts stormed the venue and there was real excitement.
It was terrific to talk with
many of the engineers and inventors that have made contributions to this
specialized technology.
Products were for sale
everywhere and for the attendees it seemed like their first trip to
Disneyland.
Additionally there were
speakers on all of the creative and regulatory issues.
Speaking of regulatory issues
there are those that want cumbersome regulations and those like me that
don’t. It’s seems so un-American to use
regulation as a way to reduce competition by making things difficult for the
unwashed newbies.
This country was number one
in technology, design and innovation.
Somehow we made a Left turn and fell behind. FAA
regulation has already sent to much off our technology and revenue off shore.
We may never succeed in catching up.
This technology is moving
fast and furiously with new advances every day!
Now for the ugly:
Perhaps that’s unfair to
criticize here because this was the first such an event. The show management should have put some
rules in place for exhibitors.
I came to cover the event as
a journalist and get some important video interviews that were suitable for
broadcast. That proved absolutely impossible.
One of the larger exhibitors
hired a D.J. who flooded the exhibit hall with incredibly loud music. I like most music but this garbage sucked in
a huge way.
I was also very difficult for
the attendees to communicate because everyone was shouting at each other to be
heard over the DJ’s blaring speakers.
This drawback is a serious one
since no TV news organization would be able to gather broadcast quality
interview audio depriving exhibitors needed publicity.
The music disturbance did not
prevent me from meeting terrific people with similar interests and enjoying the
event.
I learned, more information that
I really about mapping and the affordability of using FLIR cameras.
I fully expect that next
years Drone Expo will be a lot bigger and a much larger venue will be needed. I also think the exhibitors learned they need
more booth space and workers to deal with the surprising number of
attendees.
I could not resist flying my
drone over the venue and sharing the video with you!
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