DJI Airworks, October 2022
How to start a career with a bang as a drone pilot. Not long after joining “Women and Drones”, a networking group bringing women from around the globe to connect and succeed in this industry, I won their free registration for DJI Airworks 2022. DJI is the largest civilian drone manufacturer in the world, and owning 3 different DJI drones, I was excited to be part of the fun. Airworks is the opportunity to network within the drone industrial community. On the first day, it was loaded with workshops, followed by the opening ceremony; then keynotes, demonstrations, conferences, exhibits and lots of swag the following days.
Taking place in Las Vegas, it was a jam-packed event over 2 ½ days. This was truly an international event, gathering over 40 countries from all around the world. It was amazing to be part of the future and truly see what visionaries came up with. DJI manufactures the drones, all the partners make them come to life, in applications helping at so many different levels. Roof inspection for solar application, railroad inspection, first responders aid, search and rescue, nuclear plant inspection, disease control, mining and construction aid, mapping, and agriculture.
Airworks saw the launch of the humongous T40 Sprayer drone in the footstep of their smaller T10, 20 and 30. The number 40 stands for 40L or 88# of liquid capacity. The DJI drone in a box, which can be operated remotely, was introduced with several live demonstrations.
I followed the agriculture track since this is my interest and learnt a great deal about the role of drones in food sustainability. I also learned a lot about what our food source is facing. For one, our global food source is confronting an over demand and under supply. With a shrinking workforce, geopolitical instability, and climate change, we ought to be more effective in our agriculture management. Drones can be part of the solutions and you might ask yourself, in what capacity? Farmers and companies supporting agriculture are still coming up with creative ways to use agriculture drones. Sprayer drones can be used for fertilizer, pest control, weed control, seed dispersion, pheromone use. Other drones play important roles with pollination, bird control, frost control, drying, monitoring crop health with information that leads to prescription spraying (saving precious pesticide, fungicide, etc.). Not seen at this venue, specialized drones are starting to be used as fruit pickers, decreasing workforce need.
Humans keep coming up with innovations to keep feeding this world. I saw true global cooperation and I can’t wait to see what is next, especially in the drone world. #Droneshelp
