Ask Drone U

Latest Episodes:

ADU 01165: Best Pix4D Version for Roof Mapping Feb 22, 2021

Show notes

Today's show is about drone mapping software. Which is the best and most capable software to map a roof? Our caller for today, Garrett from Ohio is confused with the myriad of mapping software out there. He plans on taking up a roof mapping job and is considering using Pix4D. But, should Garrett opt for Pix4DMapper or Pix4D Cloud? Apart from Pix4D, we also discuss other options like DroneDeploy, Eagleview, and the latest entrant in the market, Skydio 3D Scan. You will also learn how your final deliverable and acquisition strategy impacts the choice of your mapping software. And we also share some great resources to help you out. Enjoy! Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Check out our comprehensive drone mapping guide - https://learning.thedroneu.com/what-is-drone-mapping-software/?v=1 Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [02:05]Our sponsor for today's show is Drone U's Virtual Mapping Class [02:20]Today's question is about Pix4D [04:40]Is there any major difference between a mapping job and an inspection job? [07:10]Check out our comprehensive drone mapping guide [07:30]How your final deliverable and workflow impacts your choice of mapping software [08:15]DroneDeploy, Eagleview or Pix4D - which is the best drone mapping software for you? [12:40]Is Skydio's mapping software a good option for mapping and modeling? [15:10]Why Pix4DMapper is the best option for Garrett [16:33]What are some of the biggest disadvantages of Pix4DCloud? [17:40]Determining your data acquisition strategy ??

BONUS: How to Run a Successful Wedding Photography Business with Kara Cavalca Feb 18, 2021

Show notes

On today's show, we have Colorado wedding photographer, Kara Cavalca who shares with us her wisdom on how to successfully manage and scale a photography business. Wedding photography is a tough and competitive business. But Kara has managed to grow and scale her one-woman show to the next level. You will learn how she is using an all-in-one software, Sproutstudio to manage all her business needs ranging from invoicing to digital storage. Additionally, this software, which is specially built for photographers is also capable of sending out automated emails so that you can follow up with your clients in a hassle-free manner. Having spent more than four years in this space, Kara shares how she differentiates herself in a crowded marketplace. She opens up her playbook to reveal what it takes to be successful in this business. This show is full of some great nuggets guaranteed to help you out. Enjoy! Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [00:15]Paul welcomes Kara to the show [02:42]How Sproutstudio can be an all-in-one integrated solution to manage your photography business [09:10]Can you drop ship prints using Sproutstudio? [11:53]How has Kara managed to scale her business inspite of being a one-woman show [13:50]Has the customer lifetime value increased after Kara switched over to Sproutstudio? [14:30]Leveraging scarcity and automated emails to increase sales [16:06]Charging your clients for digital storage [18:52]Building automated workflows for scaling your business [21:05]Pricing and working with high margin-low maintenance clients [26:48]What does it take to run a successful wedding photography business? [28:52]Is it a good idea to provide both photos and videos? [33:43]Can you use the same systems to manage your aerial photography business? [37:45]Kara shares her contact information ?

ADU 01164: Autonomous Drone Landing on Flatbed Truck Feb 17, 2021

Show notes

Today's question is about launching/landing a drone autonomously from a flatbed truck. Our caller for today, Renn is from Australia and has called in with an interesting question that has not been asked on Ask Drone U before. Renn's question is about launching/landing a drone autonomously from a flatbed truck. On today's show, we present two solutions to help Renn out. First, you will learn about a tethered drone system that can be flown from a moving vehicle. The next solution is particularly innovative as this technology can be used to autonomously fly DJI drones. We also speculate how autonomous flying can be used to significantly scale up powerline inspections and drone deliveries among other things. For all this and much, much more, tune in to our latest show now. Thanks for the great question, Renn. Fly Safe! Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [01:22]Today's show is sponsored by our new flight school, PROPS [02:57]Today's question is about landing/launching autonomously from a flatbed truck [04:43]What are some possible end-use cases for launching autonomously from a flatbed truck? [09:10]Paul shares details about a tethered drone system that can be launched from a flatbed truck [09:50]New technology for autonomously flying DJI drones

ADU 01163: Part 107 Rule Changes Explained Feb 17, 2021

Show notes

Today's question is about the new Part 107 rules for drone pilots. Our caller for today, DJ has come up with a great question about the new Part 107 drone rules. DJ is confused by these new rules and wishes to know how they impact him as a Part 107 pilot. The FAA recently announced some significant changes to Part 107 rules which might change the way you fly. On today's show, you will learn how these changes will impact 1) Part 107 Test 2) Part 107 Recurrency 3) Flying at Night, and 4) Flying over Moving Vehicles. We do a deep dive into each of these points so that you don't end up on the wrong side of the law. In light of these new changes, you will also learn why the DJI Mavic Mini 2 is the most valuable drone that you can buy right now. Thanks for the great question, DJ. Fly Safe! New Part 107 Drone Rules Makes Flying Easier - https://www.thedroneu.com/blog/new-part-107-drone-rules-make-flying-easier/ Drone Rule Changes Make Microdrones More Valuable - https://www.thedroneu.com/blog/drone-rule-changes-make-microdrones-most-valuable/ Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [06:05]Today's question is about new Part 107 drone rules [07:23]What are the MAIN changes to Part 107 drone rules? [09:30]Will you be able to fly your drone over moving vehicles? [11:05]Can we expect the FAA to ramp up enforcement? [13:28]FAA replaces recurrency test replaced with recurrent training [16:15]Flying at night to become easier? [17:45]Updated questionnaire for Part 107 beginning March 2021 [18:57]How do the new drone rules affect flight over people? [20:18]Why DJI Mavic Mini 2 is the most valuable drone for Part 107 pilots [25:18]Did FAA just legalize flight over moving vehicles? [27:15]Can you fly over moving vehicles right now? [30:42]How the new drone rules prohibit "sustained flight over vehicles" while allowing traversing

BONUS: Drone Mapping Trends in 2021 and Beyond with DroneDeploy’s Andrew Dennison Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

On today's show, we have Andrew Dennison, Director of Enterprise Services at DroneDeploy who shares with us the latest and most exciting trends from the drone mapping world. We start this show with Andrew sharing the workflow used by a majority of DroneDeploy pilots. You will learn how drones are being increasingly used as an image sharing tool in construction. We also discuss the big push towards onsite processings and future trends such as LiDAR. Andrew shares DroneDeploy's big plans for the indoor mapping space. And towards the end, he shares an untapped and lucrative opportunity that will surely interest enterprising pilots. Do not miss this special show. Enjoy! Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [00:37]Which is the best software for creating orthomosaics? [01:12]Paul welcomes Andrew Dennison to the show [02:07]Should you create DroneDeploy maps without GCP's? [03:35]Using drones a communications and image-sharing tool [04:25]Various use cases for drones in construction [06:16]Can you create a 360-degree pano with Drone Deploy? [09:15]Some great tips for shooting great panos [10:45]How big is the push to cloud in the drone software industry? [13:58]How DroneDeploy is constantly upgrading its photogrammetry engine? [15:57]Does Andrew foresee a sustained trend towards onsite processing? [17:18]Will LiDAR mapping finally take off in 2021? [18:55]Is there an untapped opportunity with mapping facilities? [21:56]Using drone mapping for solar [23:23]DroneDeploy to venture into the indoor mapping space [24:13]Get in touch with Andrew!

ADU 01162: Marketing Drone Services to Oil and Gas Feb 08, 2021

Show notes

Today's show is about using drones in the oil and gas industry. Our caller for today, Jason from Texas wishes to leverage his experience in the oil and gas industry. He is wondering about the best way to market his drone services to industry stakeholders. In today's show, we discuss regulations, safety concerns, and marketing tactics. Thanks for the great question, Jason. Fly Safe! Drone Regulations for the Oil and Gas Industry - epa.gov Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [01:08]Learn the skills required to build a profitable drone business - Sign up for a Drone U Membership today! [02:02]Today's question is about using drones in the oil and gas industry [04:13]What are the inspection guidelines for using drones in the oil and gas industry? [05:28]Which is the best sales tactic for Jason? [07:27]Talking safety - why oil and gas inspections can be a tricky proposition [07:43]Highlighting cost savings to market your drone services [10:30]What you need to know before conducting electrical inspections with drones

ADU 01161: How Do You Extinguish a Drone Battery Fire? Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

Today's show is about extinguishing a drone battery fire. We dispel some common misconceptions and reveal the best solution so that you can avert any disaster. Our caller for today, Bob tuned in to our previous show, Can You Get Into Trouble for Not Retrieving Your Drone After a Crash? And after listening in, he has come up with a great follow-up question. Bob's question is about extinguishing a fire caused by a LiPo drone battery. On today's show, you will learn the ONE thing that you should never do if your drone battery catches fire. And, to help Bob out, we go in touch with our good friends at FDNY so that we can recommend the best possible solution. Tune in to find out! Thanks for the great question, Bob. Fly Safe! Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. Purple K Extinguisher - https://www.amazon.com/Amerex-B479T-Purple-Chemical-Extinguisher/dp/B00F5CKJ5E If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [01:25] Our sponsor for today is Drone U's PROPS Flight School [02:17] Today's question is about extinguishing a fire caused by a LiPo drone battery [03:53] We got in touch with FDNY to help Bob out [04:55] What is the best way to extinguish a fire caused by a LiPo drone battery? [07:00] What is the ONE thing that you should never do if your drone battery catches fire?

ADU 01160: How Will Trump’s Executive Order Affect the Drone Industry? Feb 01, 2021

Show notes

Today's question is about the new executive order issued by President Trump on January 18, 2021. Just before President Trump ended his term, he signed a bunch of executive orders - one of them being Executive Order 13981 on January 18, 2021. Titled "Protecting United States from Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems", this order places restrictions on the use of drones and drone spare parts manufactured in certain countries. And this order also enforces additional flight restrictions. But, with the blue administration now in charge, is the executive order still valid? Will the Biden team follow up on this executive order or simply scrap it? For all this and much, much more, tune in to our latest show now. Enjoy! Fly Safe! Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [02:30] Our first sponsor for today is Drone U's university-style 8-week mapping class [03:41] This show is also sponsored by our Props Flight School [06:35] Today's question is about the new executive order issued by President Trump [08:10] How does this new executive order impact Part 107 pilots? [09:55] Apart from China, which other countries shall be impacted by this executive order? [11:22] With the blue administration taking charge, is this new executive order still valid? [12:53] Is it really difficult to enforce this new order? [16:15 ]Is the new Biden administration likely to be more pro-China compared to the Trump administration? [18:00] Does this new order apply to Chinese-manufactured spare parts as well? [19:07] Are there any non-Chinese manufacturer's who can fill DJI's shoes? [25:02] Considering the massive budget shortfall, is it advisable to replace Chinese drones?

ADU 01159: What Do You Think About Paid Drone Add-Ons? Jan 28, 2021

Show notes

Today's show is about the current drone industry trend that has become really popular lately. Our caller for today, Tom has come up with a great question that has not been asked on Ask Drone U before. Tom's question is about the current drone industry trend where manufacturers are charging extra for add-on services and accessories. While this trend is now catching on in the drone industry, subscription-based services are already popular in industries like automobiles and OTT. In today's show, we discuss the pros and cons of this lease/subscription-based model. While this model might save you money if you plan on using a drone/software for a short period of time, are drone manufacturers going overboard with this? Are you okay with paying extra for software, third-party apps, and accessories? Let us know your thoughts! Thanks for the great question, Tom. Fly Safe! Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [00:30] Would you be okay with drone apps charging a subscription fee for extra services? [04:00] What if DJI starts charging for third-party apps? [04:11] This show is brought to you by our new PROPS Flight School [06:14] Today's question is about subscription-based drone services? [07:25] Leasing the high-end drones to fight COVID-19 [09:48] What if an American manufacturer starts charging for extra services AFTER you buy the drone? [12:08] Pros and cons of a subscription-based drone model [15:38] Are you peeved with drone manufacturers like Skydio who charge extra for accessories? [17:45] Got an entrepreneurial question? Get it answered on Ask Drone U

ADU 01158: Must Drone Pilots Yield to Manned Aircraft? Jan 22, 2021

Show notes

Today's question is about drone laws. Specifically, what should a drone pilot do when flying near manned aircraft? Our caller for today, German is from Florida. Recently, when flying his drone at a 200 feet altitude, he came dangerously close to a helicopter. So, can helicopters legally fly at such low altitudes? And, should drone pilots always yield to manned aircraft even if they are flying with all the necessary permissions? With drone deliveries set to take flight, we also discuss if there is an urgent need to tweak drone laws. For all this and much, much more, tune in to our latest show now. Thanks for the great question, German. Fly Safe! Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps [01:53] First federal investigation against a drone pilot who hit a helicopter [08:34] Today's question is about drones flying near helicopters [10:25] How helicopter pilots can contribute towards airspace safety [10:45] Does filing NOTAM's prevent helicopters from flying near your drone? [11:47] Is it legal for helicopters to fly beneath 400 feet? [14:45] With wider adoption of drones, is there an urgent need to tweak drone laws? [15:43] Should drone pilots always yield to manned aircraft? [17:46] Can drone pilots communicate with helicopter pilots to avert a possible crash?

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