The White House has issued a long awaited and sorely needed Counter-UAS National Action Plan. Following the announcement of this plan, legislation was introduced in Congress with a bill called the Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act.&nbsp; The Action Plan and the Bill acknowledge the well-established benefits from the proliferation of drones, but also express a significantly heightened level of concern about the concurrent associated risks from malicious actors weaponizing commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). The strategic goal is to safeguard the expansion of positive UAS activity while also safeguarding airspace by closing notable gaps in current laws and policies with new ground rules.While the Plan and Bill are quite detailed, comprehensive, and multifaceted, there are a few core elements which are at the centerpiece of both, and which warrant special attention.In particular, the policy recognizes the importance of devolution and extension of authority to maximize capability for UAS detection; related to this, accuracy of characterization deserves no less priority, to minimize potential for UAS misidentification. Regarding the critically key area of mitigation, the Plan and legislation appropriately reflects federal caution regarding mitigation technology that could carrying the potential for hazards, such as operational disruption or collateral damage. With these safety considerations in mind, the Plans do start to encourage appropriate technology adoption for more advanced mitigation options designed to address such safety concerns and any movement toward such innovation should be encouraged and extended.Extension of Detection: Devolution and Expansion of UAS Detection Authority to State, Local, Territorial, Tribal (SLTT) and Critical Infrastructure Levels&nbsp; SLTT law enforcement agencies are tasked with ensuring safety in many environments, use cases, and scenarios in which drones represent a tangible threat, including heavily populated mega-events such as concerts, championship games, marathons, and political rallies, as well as at sites such as local government buildings and other facilities.The easy accessibility and low cost of commercial drones make them readily available for malicious or careless actors to cause mayhem at events, damage to facilities, and harm to the local population. Drones can also be used to surveil law enforcement agencies, attack local authorities, and even target high-ranking law enforcement officials or other VIPs. Local first responders in dangerous situations could be targeted during a terror attack via drones. Malicious actors can use drones to prevent first responders from helping victims, or otherwise managing the situation.In these situations, SLTT law enforcement may often be the only resource available to contend with and prepare for such incidents.&nbsp;Granting UAS Detection Authority to these local level jurisdictions represents a major step forward in expanding the coverage and reach of security activity against rogue drones. The sheer numbers, locations, and resources of local law enforcement employing C-UAS detection technology would translate into a massive increase in the forces ready to contend with these threats and heighten the nation’s readiness and responsiveness in confronting the rapid increase in incidents and attacks.Having said that, extending the authority for detection alone will not fully address the problem, unless some degree of corresponding mitigation authority is also extended, which points to the next major pillar of the plan.Extension of Mitigation: Federal Pilot Program for Expansion of C-UAS Mitigation activity to SLTT Level&nbsp; Extending detection capabilities alone will be of limited benefit without also extending complementary mitigation authority. The reasons for extending detection capabilities to SLTT also apply to mitigation. Ideally, the proposed mitigation pilot programs will have clear performance indicators and success factors such that if these goals are accomplished, the localized and extended mitigation authority will become permanent and expand in scope, commensurate with the risk.Technology: List authorized detection equipment that avoids operational or communications disruption of airspace&nbsp; Spotlighting C-UAS solutions and promoting counter-drone technology is essential, ideally in a manner that helps the nation advance and move beyond the shortcomings of legacy detection technologies, and encourages innovation with an emphasis on safety, control, and continuity. Encouraging trial and adoption of new smart technologies, beyond legacy jamming and kinetic based equipment, will help avoid the associated risks of disrupted communications and collateral damage. The stated need to avoid or minimize adverse impact on the communications spectrum and on the National Airspace System (NAS) is essential, and this exercise should also point to next-generation approaches which overcome these legacy limitations. Traditional UAS detection technologies have performed well in certain environments and have a role to play in a layered defense, but also have drawbacks in sensitive and urban environments.&nbsp;Radar, for example, is known to often have a false positive problem, as it may falsely identify a bird or other flying objects as a drone. Optical solutions are ineffective without a clear line of sight, which is often the case in cities or hilly or mountainous terrain. Acoustic solutions are ineffective in noisy environments or with increasingly quieter drones. The recommended technology guidance should highlight and emphasize detection technologies that deliver fast and accurate detections without false positives and with no line of sight or noise constraint limitations required.Even more importantly, this exercise of authorizing and listing technology should cover mitigation technologies in addition to detection technologies, for obvious reasons. As with detection, legacy mitigation technologies also have major shortcomings and limitations in today’s sensitive and urban environments when confronting hostile drones.&nbsp;Notably, one of the most common techniques, various forms of jamming, is only temporary, which means the hostile drone pilot can regain control after the jamming stops. In addition, and to the points raised on the Plan and in the Bill, jamming may disrupt communications and airspace operations.&nbsp;The other alternative, multiple forms of kinetic solutions, all of which involve the physical shooting of some form of projectile, are highly risky in crowded situations and can cause severe collateral damage, either from the falling projectile or the downed drone.An authorized C-UAS Mitigation technology program could foster new generation C-UAS technologies, including smart, cyber-centric technologies that can disconnect, take over, and seize control of hostile drones, reprogram them to follow a safe route to a safe landing, and allow for total continuity, with no disruption to operations or communications, and which avoid the risk of collateral damage.Critical Infrastructure: Enable and oversee placement of C-UAS Mitigation equipment at critical infrastructure sites&nbsp; The emphasis on protecting critical infrastructure from hostile drones is encouraging and timely. The world has witnessed devastation from drone strikes on critical facilities such as oil facilities, power plants, and ports and harbors. The urgency around this step is obvious given the mission-critical role of these infrastructure sites combined with the fact that they often contain storage for hazardous and potentially explosive chemicals and substances.&nbsp;Allowing the placement of C-UAS mitigation equipment for use by authorized federal security agency staff, or potentially newly authorized SLTT personnel, would be another step to greater protection and coverage of the homeland from hostile drones. This could be a first step towards eventually also allowing the site’s own security staff similar or defined allowances with proper qualification, training, and approvals.&nbsp;In this environment and use case, it is imperative that the detection and mitigation equipment be based on the latest technology with an emphasis on safety, control, and continuity, avoiding any chance of operational disruption or collateral damage to critical infrastructure.Incident Tracking: UAS Incident Database&nbsp; Incident tracking databases can make a major contribution to better understanding the nature, changes, and trends that occur in the constantly changing drone threat. Such databases should track not only the obvious data like dates and locations, but also sectors, use cases, nature of the incident (attack, near collision, etc.) and if possible, the actual drone make and model.Conclusion – A Solid First Step Foundation for National C-UAS Protection&nbsp; The Counter-UAS Action Plan and recently introduced legislation both include many relevant and timely steps and mechanisms to address the rapidly rising danger of rogue drones. These components are promising in their capability to bring the nation’s C-UAS readiness to the next level of heightened urgency with a more systematic and comprehensive defense.&nbsp;The devolution and extension of drone detection and mitigation authority to more local levels; &nbsp;the support for new generation technologies that specifically address the problem in ways that emphasize safety, control, and continuity; the focus on the protection of critical infrastructure; and the tracking of incidents in a comprehensive manner all represent steps that should be adopted rapidly and applied in the broadest possible manner to maximize the value in reducing risk and achieving the widest homeland protection coverage possible. In all these steps, strong consideration should be given to extending mitigation possibilities to the same degree that detection responsibilities will expand, such that the full-incident lifecycle is covered for the safest possible outcomes.The Counter-UAS Action Plan and the Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act both bring many urgently needed countermeasures to address the rapidly rising danger of hostile drones. These steps promise to bring the nation’s C-UAS readiness to the next level of heightened urgency, and provide a more robust, systematic and comprehensive defense. Strengthening and expanding these authorities and plans, for both detection and mitigation, will enable the new drone society and economy to flourish, while safeguarding the homeland from the rapidly rising risks of rogue drones.Author: Jeffrey Starr&nbsp; Chief Marketing Officer, D-Fend Solutions&nbsp; JeffreyS@D-FendSolutions.com

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Devolution, Technology, Infrastructure, and Incident Tracking

Core Components of Counter- UAS Action Plan and Legislation

Expanding the size of the angel investor pool who understand realistic market timing and technical platform requirements is valuable for the whole industry ecosystem. There are two emerging aerospace industry areas that the UAS Angel Network focuses on, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility technology (AAM). Both of these platforms are beginning to accelerate the development of disruptive technologies at a rate not seen since the early days of traditional aviation.&nbsp;What we are witnessing is the convergence of commerce, big data, sustainability and transportation ecosystems, and the revelation of previously unknown business models. &nbsp;Even if we only look at the current UAS and AAM markets, it’s not difficult to understand both Main Street and Wall Street’s growing interest over the last few years. According to Deloitte, the AAM technology market in the U.S. alone is estimated to reach $115 billion annually by 2035, employing more than 280,000 high-paying jobs. &nbsp;Looking at LaunchPad’s Drone VC feed, the UAS market has raised more than 1.8 billion dollars of capital through May of 2021. &nbsp;&nbsp;Founders seeking to build and grow companies in this market face serious headwinds in the startup’s early life cycle. Hardware heavy platforms require a strong technical team and sufficient R&amp;D funding to realize a minimum viable product. Vehicle certification processes require a lengthy capital runway and increased investor patience. On top of these hurdles, market timing and the associated regulatory and rulemaking constraints mean that capital resources must be significant enough to weather pressures outside of the company’s control. Many startups will simply not reach commercialization or miss out on valuable market share because seed capital constraints were just too much to overcome.&nbsp;Angel network is a broad term. They take many shapes and forms, but generally, we define them as organized groups of high-net-worth individuals passionate and dedicated to the very exciting, and often risky, early phase of the startup life cycle. Many times, these investors are unknown outside the founder’s early startup team, but can wield significant influence and provide valuable mentorship during those early turbulent days. The majority of angel investors we’ve had the pleasure of working with have developed a very personal and fairly rigorous investment philosophy. They are, however, open to being flexible for the right opportunity if some personal connection can be made (industry area of expertise, hometown startup, previous founder relationship). Unlike venture capital fund managers, they are not beholden to a limited partner’s investment philosophy which allows them to pivot to changing areas of opportunity. I have yet to meet an angel that was comfortable investing in a company or industry where they did not have a solid understanding of the market or technology. Belonging to an angel group can provide a hedge against missing deals that don’t offer the individual investor level of comfort needed for a go-it-alone investment strategy. &nbsp;Using other members’ expertise and feedback can provide a level of real risk management.&nbsp;The normal catalyst for a robust and active angel investment ecosystem within an industry usually begins with founders from that specific industry growing great companies and reaching a successful exit. &nbsp;This newfound capital is then leveraged back into the industry startup ecosystem, as those previous founders now have the expertise, desire, and network to support the growth of new companies. It becomes a self-sustaining entity. We have seen this play out many times in software, biotech, fintech, crypto, and consumer tech. Unmanned and autonomous aviation systems, along with advanced air mobility technology, are truly emerging markets. Those first early tech founders who will accelerate the industry growth of angel investment are still in the throes of the startup lifecycle. What we have instead is a geographically dispersed set of investors that provided initial funding in support of promising and exciting technology, while at the same time, are still learning about the regulatory challenges, infrastructure constraints and market potential as it plays out in real-time. &nbsp;Raising startup capital is always challenging, even under the best circumstances. We continually hear from founders that the level of industry maturity, regulatory timing complexities, and dispersed core industry investment partners, means very long and inefficient capital raising timelines that suppress company growth. To combat that, the UAS Angel Network looks for opportunities by diligently building relationships with startups whose technology supports both unmanned systems and advanced air mobility platforms. At the same time, we strive to offer access to sophisticated angel investors with market experience and some level of industry knowledge. The number and types of technology that touch both UAS and AAM is constantly expanding. This creates new investment opportunities in some of those areas like: data management, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and smart city infrastructure. This expanding technology envelope is good for both the investor and startups.Startup founders have to get used to the word “No.” It is a natural part of raising capital. Most investors or groups they meet will, for one reason or another, choose not to move forward with an investment. &nbsp;Traditional angel investor networks come to a decision not to invest in a particular company, and that startup is quickly filed away and new deals come under review. The UAS Angel Network believes that those investors interested in an emerging market should consider some type of continued engagement, even for companies that may not have found investment through our group. With so many capital raising challenges specific to the UAS and AAM market, we believe there is value in providing some level of support and tracking necessary to identify future investment opportunities as startups find success or don’t. &nbsp;From the beginning, the vision of the UAS Angel Network has been to be both a connector and convener of angel networks and investors focused on catalyzing investment and startup ecosystem growth specific to the UAS and AAM industry. Our network does not manage a separate investment fund, take equity in startups, or co-invest beside our investors. This allows us to take maximum advantage of future partnerships and provide fully transparent support of founders working with our network. We are committed to building a pre-seed and early-stage capital funding pipeline necessary for companies to achieve the milestones required for future priced funding rounds they will need for long term growth and success.Author: Craig Mahaney&nbsp; Executive Director, UAS Angel Network and UAS Cluster Initiative&nbsp; cmahaney@dcnteam.com&nbsp; &nbsp;

2023-11-20 - Using Angel Networks to facilitate Seed Capital for UAS Startups (UAS Magazine)

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Expanding the size of the angel investor pool who understand realistic market timing and technical platform requirements is valuable for the whole industry ecosystem. There are two emerging aerospace industry areas that the UAS Angel Network focuses on, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility technology (AAM). Both of these platforms are beginning to accelerate the development of disruptive technologies at a rate not seen since the early days of traditional aviation. 

Using Angel Networks to facilitate Seed Capital for UAS Startups

For many years experts have predicted that futuristic technologies will disrupt the status quo and reshape our daily lives and society. One day we may all have flying cars just like George Jetson.The mass adoption of drone deliveries has been cast in a similar light – an obtainable objective, but not realistic in the present.&nbsp;But that is not actually the case.&nbsp;Certainly last-mile drone deliveries could be further along, but the drone industry is making massive strides toward nationwide adoption. Walmart recently announced it would expand its last-mile drone delivery network to potentially reach four million American households, across six states, by the end of 2022. Papa John's Pizza says some Americans could see their pies delivered not by a driver with the magnetic advertising cone on the top of their car, but by a drone.&nbsp;There are no shortages of challenges impacting the drone industry today, but there are also plenty of actionable solutions – and a realistic timeline for when we begin truly utilizing airspace as a limitless resource and start delivering goods to doorsteps.Solving the Scalability Question&nbsp; Transporting products from one destination to another via drone creates a brand new, previously untapped market segment virtually overnight. Yes, there are weight and size limitations when it comes to drones, but limitations exist in all forms of transportation and logistics. Only so many roads can be paved, railroad tracks can be laid, and shipping lanes available. However, the opportunity to transport an item in unrestricted airspace creates limitless possibilities.&nbsp;Airspace is an under-used resource which creates a prime opportunity for companies to rethink their business processes and product deliverability. The good news is the technology is already available, too.&nbsp;Previously, controlling a drone meant a human operating the machinery would oversee the drone’s takeoff, flight path and landing. A one-drone-to-one-person ratio is not scalable, however – and that is where the existing technology comes in.&nbsp;In the same way that DOS and Windows disrupted the PC industry by shifting the focus from the hardware to the business process it serves, the FlightOps cloud-based operating system is revolutionizing the drone industry by connecting an ever-growing variety of commercial platforms and hardware to real-life business applications that allow convenient, safe and scalable mobility.&nbsp;An automated flight process reduces the dependency on drone pilots to zero and dramatically increases safety. The OS (Operating System) software converts any UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) into a smart, cloud-connected robot with massive scalability. The introduction of predetermined flight plans leads to scalable solutions and onboard autonomy.&nbsp;Because this operating system is the “Android” of drones, its easy installation onto drone hardware can turn essentially any drone into a UAV. This technological breakthrough is not only disruptive, but it reinvents how goods can be transported safely and reimages the air mobility market landscape.Previously, it was not economical for a business to invest heavily in non-scalable drone transportation. A coffee company investing millions of dollars into delivering caffeinated beverages by drone is burning money if a franchise location only had one human controlling one drone. But with unmanned aircraft scalability, suddenly that latte could be delivered on the same street as the espresso doppio that was delivered a minute earlier, and so on.How Automated Drones Operate&nbsp; The OS solution works by installing robotic software onboard drones of any type, which then converts them into autonomous “robot pilots.” The drones then communicate with a cloud-based operation center through 5G networks allowing for an automated fleet in a shared airspace from anywhere on the planet.&nbsp;The software utilizes mission planning to create predetermined flight paths, eliminating the need for a human-controlled aircraft system. And with beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capabilities, the autonomous drones can now travel up to longer distances, such as 25 miles. When you consider a statistic such as 90% of Americans live within ten miles of a Walmart, then suddenly the possibilities seem endless.By developing a new market segment for delivering goods, it is not just last-mile deliveries that will be altered. Anything in the supply chain could suddenly be transported much quicker – and with a much lower operating cost and environmental footprint. For example, Orian, a global supply chain solution, recently transported cargo between distribution centers via drone, in Israel.&nbsp;If this is already being done in Israel, there is no question hundreds of major American businesses have already begun thinking about the impact air mobility can have on their processes and their respective bottom lines with the introduction of a more efficient, greener way to move product.&nbsp;So, how does that happen in the United States?Threats to a Scalable Drone Economy&nbsp; Understandably, regulations are the biggest impediment to a large-scale rollout of drone deliveries nationwide. It is currently illegal for drones to be fully autonomous, but we are beginning to see different laws and regulations passed that would allow a larger drone rollout. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun commissioning specified companies to test BVLOS flights on a limited basis.&nbsp;Drone highways, now discussed with regularity, would open the path to an increase in commercial drone use. However, an immediate drawback would be potential laws that vary from state to state throughout the country.&nbsp;The aviation authorities' concerns are valid. They wish to understand the risks and mitigate them, and technology and autonomy are the only ways to do that. In response to these concerns, FlightOps drone OS technology offers autonomous solutions for risky situations such as communication loss, GPS loss, sensing obstacles in the air and on the ground, and working with other drones or manned aircraft.FlightOps drone OS is already approved for BVLOS by the Civil Aviation Authority in Israel and recently by Transport Canada, which is responsible for Canadian transportation policies and programs.&nbsp;As further confirmation of the software’s ability to scale operations, in August, Volatus Aerospace became the first company in Canada to receive a BVLOS Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) from Transport Canada. This allows Volatus to operate drones without a visual observer by using the FlightOps remote software to conduct these flights. To put it simply, the Volatus CEO Glen Lynch said, “Commercialization begins now.”Yes, the wait continues for widespread adoption of commercial drone deliveries in the U.S., but companies deploying tests and rollouts reiterate the demand for implementing a new type of cargo transportation throughout the country.&nbsp;The technology will be readily available for scalability once the FAA updates its regulations to allow autonomous drone flights. The FlightOps OS is the “Android” of the air mobility market, allowing massive scalability from any drone operations by utilizing high levels of autonomy coupled with the power of cloud connectivity. Drone service providers can now scale-up their operations, flying multiple drones of multiple types, in a shared airspace.Author: Shay Levy&nbsp; CEO, FlightOps&nbsp; Shay@flightops.io

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Autonomous drone flights enable scalability while reducing operating costs and lowering the environmental footprint

Confronting Challenges Impacting Drones and the Air Mobility Market

The first step in addressing an issue requires understanding it. Recent studies from Deloitte, Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), and Boeing indicate that the aerospace industry is one of the least diverse industries in the United States. The first-of-its-kind diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) survey that focused on uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM), validated these same disparities in the UAS/AAM workforce. Here we explore the extent of the DEI problem in the uncrewed aviation industry and why DEI matters to its future. We also provide valuable insights into how one company tackles the problem, and what it takes to make positive changes in your own business.Houston...We Have a Problem&nbsp; Until recently, all workforce composition research and reporting focused on the aerospace industry in general, or the aerospace and defense industry specifically.&nbsp;For example, AIA’s annual workforce survey in 2021 noted that men occupied more than 75% of the positions in the aerospace and defense sector. One of the largest U.S. companies in that sector, Boeing, reported that men occupied 77.1% of its overall workforce and 83.4% of its engineer positions. The majority of the company's employees (68.8%) also identified as white.While this data loosely informs the current UAS/AAM sector, it fails to squarely address it. Last summer, Women And Drones - P3 Tech Consulting (P3 Tech) and the Diversity Development Network of Canada (DDNC) remedied the UAS/AAM diversity data gap when they jointly launched the first UAS/AAM DEI Survey.&nbsp;Survey responses indicated that even though a majority of organizations included diverse groups across their employee base, the white racial and female gender groups represented the highest proportion of employees. The white racial group occupied the highest concentration (at 50 to 100% levels); women ranked the next highest (at 25 to 49% levels).Comparing these lower organizational levels with leadership positions revealed interesting trends. In addition to dominating the overall employee base, the white racial group dominated the majority of leadership positions (75 to 100% levels). In terms of leadership positions, the LGBTQ community ranked second highest, just slightly above the female group.&nbsp;The data showed that individuals who identified as Asian, Hispanic/Latino/Spanish origin, Native American or Alaskan Native, remained significantly underrepresented at the top organizational tiers in comparison to their actual strength numbers.&nbsp;Individuals in the black or African racial identification category were the most underrepresented group at every organizational level.“We knew we had a diversity problem in the industry,” noted Women And Drones CEO Sharon Rossmark. She continued, “We wanted to understand the extent of the problem and gauge industry interest in changing it. Our survey and report scoped both of these things.”And Yet Diversity Matters&nbsp;&nbsp; Diverse organizations succeed. A 2020 McKinsey &amp; Company report encompassing 15 countries and more than 1,000 large companies stated, “The most diverse companies are now more likely than ever to outperform less diverse peers on profitability.” Diversity in the C-Suite, according to the McKinsey report, resulted in a 25% increased likelihood of above-average earnings.In 2018, Inc.com reported on a Boston Consulting Group study of women-run companies. Despite the fact that investors were less likely to support women entrepreneurs with their dollars, for every dollar raised, women-run start-ups generated 78 cents in revenue, compared to 31 cents for men. The report noted, “By that measure, if investors had put the same amount of capital into women-run companies as they did into the ones run by guys, they would have helped generate an additional $85 million in revenue.”These are just a few data-based indicators that validate the importance of DEI to business success. A study by Vertical Flight Society (VFS) indicates diversity may actually be existential to the AAM and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) industry. VFS, the world's only international technical society for engineers, scientists and innovators working to advance vertical flight technology, noted that 10,000 additional engineers in vertical flight will be needed over the next decade to meet the simultaneous demands of ramping up development of military rotorcraft plus electric VTOL aircraft. The current talent pool and pipeline is simply not large enough to meet these demands.&nbsp;Diversity, according to an OpEd by VFS Executive Director Mike Hirschberg, is the answer. “The ability to recruit and retain the highest quality of talent is critical to the industry,” Hirshberg wrote. “Addressing the talent crisis requires an ‘all-of-the-above’ approach,” he continued. “The vertical flight community must invest more time and effort into long-term payoffs of increasing the overall production of engineering talent and attract them to the VTOL industry, as well as take the steps necessary to foster diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The only way to win the war for talent is if everyone wins.”The UAS/AAM DEI Survey validated that, like Hirschberg, industry participants overwhelmingly agreed that DEI matters. More importantly, it showed that they truly care about it.&nbsp;Almost 75% of survey respondents said they felt moderate to extreme concern about the lack of DEI in the UAS/AAM industry in general. More than 80% of respondents expressed concern, ranging from moderate to extreme, about the lack of DEI in their own UAS/AAM or UAS/AAM-related businesses or organizations.Best DEI Practices&nbsp; On a positive note, the UAS/AAM DEI Survey also indicated that many UAS and AAM businesses and organizations also care about DEI. They already employ a variety of tools to recruit and retain diverse talent.&nbsp;Marlene Diels, President of DDNC, explained the purpose of seeking feedback on what companies are doing in this realm, as well as what employees desire. &nbsp;"We hoped, through this DEI Survey report, to do more than set the bar in establishing the industry DEI benchmark. We also sought to provide real understanding on what businesses and organizations are doing to foster DEI and whether or not this is working,” she explained. The project achieved those ends.&nbsp;Companies, according to responses, focused more on formal programs to retain diverse talent. But employees want a personal touch. The survey contained a write-in “Other Retention Tools” comment box that garnered over 3,000 responses. These ranged from company activities and environment; compensation; promotion and career mobility; benefits; recognition; training; team building and mentorship; and other best practices. The three main drivers of retention, according to the write-ins were: how the company treats its people, how the company compensates them, and the actual workplace environment (#1).&nbsp;What does this mean? DEI is a leadership issue. To attract and keep diverse employees, a company must simply treat them right.A Case Study: One Company Taking the Lead&nbsp; Skydio has established a strong reputation as a leading manufacturer of autonomous and cyber-secure American UAS. What many may not know is that the company also leads the way on fostering DEI by treating people right.&nbsp;Anna Wiesenthal-Birch, the company’s Vice President of People Operations, leads Skydio’s efforts to build its diverse teams and talent pipelines. She also creates the programs, practices, and accessible physical work spaces to retain them. To Wiesenthal-Birch, treating people right requires a consistent focus on their personal and professional development. Below are just three Skydio does this:Invest in People&nbsp; At Skydio, employee personal and professional development starts on day one, with a drone. “We want all our employees to learn and grow,” Wiesenthal-Birch explained. “We believe this starts by investing in our people to provide them with foundational knowledge about drones, and specifically Skydio drones.” Every employee gets a Skydio S2+ when they join the team. The company calls this “Drone on Loan.” Employees are literally up and flying within their first week on the job.The company also hosts monthly team-building gatherings called “First Friday Fly Day.” “We all know that flying, especially for newer pilots, can be intimidating,” said Wiesenthal-Birch. “So we host this monthly gathering where we all get together for a few hours to fly at a local park.”&nbsp;Skydio also encourages all of its 500 plus employees to get Part 107 certified. It supports employees to obtain this license through its own internal training courses, study groups, and by defraying the costs of training materials and testing. “A support system blossoms around our people and they succeed,” says Wiesenthal-Birch. To date, roughly 15% of all Skydio employees have obtained their license.Support Inclusive Groups&nbsp; Skydio has created a number of employee resource groups or communities. Given the success of these groups, it plans to foster the development of more.The Skydiennes group, Skydio’s women’s community, officially became its first employee resource group a few months ago. It started organically as a way for the women of Skydio to come together and have a space to talk about what they were working on, share their stories and provide a support system. The community started with ten participants back in 2019 and has grown along with the company, which now boasts over 500 employees. Among other things, the group holds a monthly Skydienne Coffee Chat, an informal opportunity for the community to forge connections. &nbsp;In 2021, on International Women’s Day, Skydio also kicked off a specialized Part 107 program for its Skydiennes with a fly day in Half Moon Bay, California. To date, approximately 65% of the women who participated went on to partake in the additional Part 107 training offered .In addition to its women’s group, Skydio has a robust veteran’s community, comprising more than half of its Federal team. As one of the first Department of Defense-recognized “Blue UAS'' companies, it provides significant support to U.S. military and coalition partners. Building on the successes of the Skydiennes, Weisenthal-Birch reported that Skydio will be supporting the creation of additional employee resource groups for its veteran community and others in the coming months.Serve Community Together&nbsp;&nbsp; Understanding the mission, and spreading the passion involved in it on a personal level, provides another outlet for employee excitement and growth. “We do a ton of work in the community,” explained Mira Marquez, who leads Skydio’s social impact efforts. Marquez leads other employees in helping to build current and future generations of drone enthusiasts.Last year, &nbsp;Skydio partnered with Wounded Eagle and Semper Fi America’s Fund to award the first Skydio Vehicle Scholarships to disabled and injured veterans. Both of these organizations focus on creating career pathways and providing educational opportunities for wounded vets through training, networking, and mentorship.&nbsp;The company also focuses on educating and connecting with community youth. According to Marquez, one of the most powerful things we all can do when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion is help build the next generation of leaders. Skydio employees directly connect with students, ranging from elementary to high school, both in the classroom and out in the field. The goal: to show them the possibilities in tech careers and the drone industry. “Our drones are pretty cool. Just spending a few minutes demoing what our technology can do creates a pretty captive audience,” said Marquez. &nbsp;This summer, the Skydio Team supported Pre-Flight Aviation Camps for middle school girls interested in aviation, in both Colorado and Texas. They donated drones and also had their own Skydiennes on the ground helping the girls learn how to launch and control the drones.&nbsp;Earlier this year, the company hosted a Youth Fly Day in partnership with San Francisco’s ICA Cristo Rey All Girls Academy. The 75 freshman students learned about everything from the design of a drone, how they are built, use cases, and the basics of operating a drone. The day ended with a panel discussion where women from across Skydio shared their stories. After the event, 30% of the students who attended said they were newly interested in pursuing a career within technology and drones. Skydio is continuing its partnership with ICA through its Corporate Work-Study program, offering their students the ability to apply and work with Skydio for the upcoming academic year.Taking Businesses Higher&nbsp; DEI is important to organizational success. The 2021 UAS/AAM DEI Survey validated a lack of diversity, particularly across industry C-Suites, the dire need for talent, the widespread concern about this and desire for change. So now what?Businesses can use this information to start their own transformational journey. Emulate some of these best practices. Seek additional information on DEI-related programming, skills-development training and initiatives, including other best practices and programs. “We are ready to now do the work needed to impact change, together,” said Rossmark.Creating a diverse, cooperative and cohesive workplace takes effort. Culture change starts at the top of any organization. The payoffs include increased employee satisfaction, company innovation, and profitability. Build a bigger and better tomorrow, today.For more information about diversity, equity and inclusion in the UAS/AAM industry, contact:&nbsp; Dawn Zoldi: info@p3techconsulting.com&nbsp; Marlene Diels: marlene@ddnc.ca&nbsp; Sharon Rossmark: sharon@&nbsp; womenanddrones.com&nbsp; For additional information about&nbsp;&nbsp; Skydio’s People Ops, contact:&nbsp;&nbsp; https://www.skydio.com/Author: Dawn M.K. Zoldi&nbsp; P3 Tech Consulting&nbsp; dawn@p3techconsulting.comDawn M.K. Zoldi (Colonel, USAF, Retired) is a licensed attorney with 28 years of combined active duty military and federal civil service to the U.S. Air Force. She is the CEO &amp; Founder of P3 Tech Consulting and an internationally recognized expert on uncrewed aircraft system law and policy. Zoldi contributes to several magazines and hosts popular tech podcasts. In 2022, she was listed as an advanced mobility leader in MOVE America’s “The Disruptors” white paper, received the Airwards People’s Choice - Industry Impactor Award, was recognized as one of the Top Women to Follow on LinkedIn and listed in the eVTOL Insights 2022 PowerBook. For more information, follow her on social media and visit her website at: https://www.p3techconsulting.com.

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Workforce Diversity and Development in the UAS Industry

Clear-Com Delivers Clear and Secure Communication for Mission-Critical Operations&nbsp; At the heart of delivering a successful unmanned systems mission is the ability for all crew members to communicate with each other quickly, clearly and seamlessly. But how best to link together this distributed team, from the Pilot Operator to the Sensor Operator, to Intel to Weather? And how best to ensure seamless connectivity from the Ground Control Station (GCS) unit back to the Squadron Operations Center (SOC)? &nbsp;Clear-Com’s solutions for Unmanned Systems offer an integrated, single-source system for all voice communications across different third-party peripherals including two-way radios and VoIP/SIP devices, all integrated with Clear-Com endpoints such as fixed intercom panels, virtual clients on PCs or mobile phones, and wireless beltpacks. Enterprise-wide communication systems are facilitated through IP connectivity across LANs, while local GCS units can quickly deploy analog or IP systems on existing networks.&nbsp;“We provide real-time full duplex voice communications for mission-critical situations,” says Kevin Broce, Government Account Manager, Clear-Com. “In addition, our communications are designed for everyone involved. &nbsp;With our broad portfolio, we can integrate any number of different workflows into a seamless, cohesive system. This includes physical workflows, such as stationary operators and physically mobile users, located in near and far locations, but also communication workflows, such as intercom, telephones, radios, or VoIP. &nbsp;We can even integrate multiple security domains into a single, seamless system.”Clear-Com is uniquely positioned to provide a better communication experience with multiple security levels using their Audio Multi-level Security solution, or A-MLS. This proprietary solution was developed for situations in which operators would benefit from the ability to listen to many nets, classifications or security domains, while simultaneously speaking on any one. Previously, operators in these environments were forced into simplex workflows, talk OR listen, often involving cumbersome situations wearing multiple headsets, each connected to isolated systems. Now, operators can work with an integrated and effective duplex workflow, talk AND listen, even transmitting on unclassified channels while simultaneously listening to multiple classified channels. This Audio Multi-level Security capability is accredited by the Sixteenth Air Force and available as a scalable à la carte solution, either integrating into existing Clear-Com deployments, or bolting onto third party systems. &nbsp;For more than 50 years, Clear-Com has led the industry with high quality intercom solutions that meet the critical communication needs of the military, aerospace, and government. Internationally recognized for the reliability and innovation of its voice communication systems, Clear-Com has been deployed in more than 100 countries worldwide and has improved collaboration, bolstered high productivity, and even transformed work environments. Not only is Clear-Com utilized by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Homeland Security, and every major U.S. government contractor, but also for space and missile defense programs, as well as missile test ranges and ground control stations for unmanned aircraft systems. Clear-Com delivers the right mix of experience, competencies, and flexibility to work with customers seeking to perform at the highest level.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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SPOTLIGHT: CLEAR-COM

As we come to the end of 2022, UAS technology is advancing at a rapid rate to meet military, commercial and social needs. These needs are also driving economic benefits of the UAS industry.&nbsp;To give you a few examples of the technology needs and growth, we are seeing advancements in helping the U.S. courier industry’s approximately $100 billion in annual revenue market, deliver goods to customers, both within the U.S. and around the globe. These advancements are one of the key factors in helping the U.S. and world unravel what has now become a complicated and bound up web of supply-chain channels, plagued with a massive number of bottlenecks. &nbsp;Currently, there are about 7.7 billion people on Earth, and by 2050, that number is expected to be 10 billion, and they need to eat. Once again, autonomous systems are going to be critical in becoming one of the solutions in helping farmers feed a growing population. We are even seeing groups exploring advanced agriculture technologies to elevate the future of the AgTech industry in space. Space agriculture and autonomous technology may one day be the catalyst for high-yield crop production, at the same time requiring less land and energy, ultimately helping farmers create more with less.&nbsp;Moving even faster are the developments within the military sector. The U.S. is focused on making major military advancements within the autonomous and hypersonic space. &nbsp;Recently, Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), a ranking member of the U.S. Appropriations Committee, along with U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) Director, George Rumford celebrated the DoD’s SkyRange initiative program launched at the Test Resource Management Center at GrandSky in Grand Forks, ND. The TRMC will be covering Global Hawk aircraft to aid in hypersonic missile testing. SkyRange is a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative to retrofit long-endurance unmanned aerial systems with advanced instrumentation to support high-priority DoD flight tests. The goal is to strengthen our nation’s defense and security, while bringing additional economic opportunities and jobs to the sector.&nbsp;This year’s UAS Magazine and directory are designed to support the 16th annual UAS Summit &amp; Expo. The event will showcase some of the most captivating entities within the UAS industry that are carting a path to assured autonomy by fostering collaboration and a testing environment that is uncovering new possibilities. The increased number of exhibitors is a prime example of how this ecosystem of learning and testing is growing. &nbsp;The exhibitors are excited to demonstrate how real-world challenges are being overcome through innovative technologies. The UAS Summit takes great pride in cultivating networking opportunities that help attendees share ideas, better understand challenges, and create stronger relationships and new partnerships.&nbsp;Through the stories and contributions within this issue of UAS Magazine, the new UAS Industry Directory, and the UAS Summit &amp; Expo, I believe the ecosystem of support and technological advancements are on full display. With existing and new markets expanding to meet advancement in technology, the information being provided within the magazine and at the UAS Summit &amp; Expo is very timely.&nbsp;I look forward to seeing what 2023 has in store and what technical advancements the UAS community will achieve. &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Author: John Nelson&nbsp; VP of Operations&nbsp; UAS Magazine and BBI International&nbsp;&nbsp; jnelson@bbiinternational.com

Creating a Powerful Ecosystem to Support Advancements in New Technology

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UAS Magazine 2022

UAS Magazine 2022

Columns

Creating a Powerful Ecosystem to Support Advancements in New Technology

Featured

Core Components of Counter- UAS Action Plan and Legislation

Using Angel Networks to facilitate Seed Capital for UAS Startups

Confronting Challenges Impacting Drones and the Air Mobility Market

Workforce Diversity and Development in the UAS Industry

Contributions

SPOTLIGHT: CLEAR-COM

UAS Magazine 2022.css-7jxktu{position:absolute;bottom:0px;left:0px;right:0px;height:3px;border-radius:3px;background-color:var(--chakra-colors-brandBlack);}

Columns

Creating a Powerful Ecosystem to Support Advancements in New Technology

Featured

Core Components of Counter- UAS Action Plan and Legislation

Using Angel Networks to facilitate Seed Capital for UAS Startups

Confronting Challenges Impacting Drones and the Air Mobility Market

Workforce Diversity and Development in the UAS Industry

Contributions

SPOTLIGHT: CLEAR-COM

UAS Magazine 2022