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Jul 13, 2021 • 17min

ADU 01200: Drone Flight Time Comparison – Why the Phantom 4 Pro is Still the Best Option for Drone Mapping

Drone Flight Time Comparison - Phantom 4 Pro vs. Inspire 2 vs. Mavic Enterprise On today's show we do a flight time comparison between some popular drones like Phantom 4 Pro, Inspire 2, and Mavic Enterprise. Our caller for today, Carl is considering the Phantom 4 Pro, Inspire 2, and Mavic Enterprise for drone mapping missions.  But he is not sure if these drones can give him a long enough flight time to conclude his job. And understandably, he is also worried about running out of battery mid-flight. This is a great question that has not been asked before on Ask Drone U.  To help Carl out, we do an in-depth flight time comparison between these popular DJI drones.  Additionally, on today's show, you will also learn: How to restart a mission after changing batteries mid-flight Are the drones intelligent enough to mitigate risk in case of low battery voltage? Apps to help you operate seamlessly in the above scenarios... Thanks for the great question, Carl. Fly Safe! 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 [00:54] On today's show, we do a drone flight time comparison [05:42] Our question for today [07:10] What flight time can you expect from a Phantom 4 Pro and an Inspire 2? [07:40] DJI Phantom vs. Inspire - why the Phantom 4 Pro remains a perennial favorite [08:54] Why the Mavic 2 Enterprise is NOT the right drone for mapping [13:05] Are the drones of today smart enough to fly back home in case of low battery? [13:34] Apps that allow drone pilots to resume their mission after changing batteries mid-flight [14:04] Wrap up - Paul shares some parting wisdom to help Carl out
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Jul 8, 2021 • 0sec

BONUS: Drone Life News 004 – Parrot ANAFI AI, The All-New Skyfish Drones for Engineering, Google’s Wing App

Google's Wing App, Parrot ANAFI AI, World-Class Skyfish Drones for Engineering and Critical Infrastructure, Made In USA Drones In the fourth edition of Drone Life News, Paul and Miriam McNabb of DroneLife and JobforDrones discuss some of the latest and most exciting news from the world of drones. Our biggest story this week is about Parrot's new ANAFI AI drone. This unique drone comes with obstacle avoidance that is inspired by nature's best flyers - insects.  Moreover, this is the first commercial drone to be 4G-connected - which means that you can fly easily even in areas of heavy magnetic interference. You will also learn how Parrot has managed to future-proof this drone to account for the fast-changing drone regulations. Next up, you will learn about Google Wing's new App, OpenSky - a free drone pilot app using which you can easily abide by FAA's regulations. Apart from learning where to fly (and more importantly, where not to fly), you can also use this app to get permission to fly in controlled airspace. The US-China trade wars have certainly boosted the prospects of various homegrown manufacturers. One such drone manufacturer is the Montana-based, Skyfish. Learn how Skyfish's purpose-built technology is being used to create precise 3D models for engineering and critical infrastructure. This is a show that you do not want to miss. Tune in now! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Enjoy! 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 [00:47] Google Wing's free app, OpenSky makes it easier for drone pilots to comply with regulations  [03:52] Learn about Parrot's new, ANAFI AI drone inspired by...you will never guess it...insects! [11:30] What's critical infrastructure and how the FAA needs to step up. [13:01]What is section 2209 and the tasks ahead for FAA [14:06] What construes "critical infrastructure"? How a lack of clarity is resulting in confusion and eventually non-compliance [15:07] What are some of the challenges that drone pilots face while flying around critical infrastructure? [17:21] The responsibility for FAA and how other advocacy groups are interpreting federal authority and rules [20:30] Skyfish's new world-class drone technology for engineering and critical infrastructure
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Jul 7, 2021 • 0sec

ADU1199: Is Drone Surveying a Feasible Option for Small Properties?

Using Drone Surveying for Small Properties Today's show is about using drone surveying for really small properties. Our caller for today, Jerry wishes to survey small properties with drones. But, is this even feasible? While surveying with drones might be a cost-effective for large tracts of land, can you use this new-age technology for smaller properties as well? We cover the basics of photogrammetry, and share some great tips to help you grow and scale your drone surveying business in today's show. Thanks for the great question, Jerry. Fly Safe! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Enjoy! 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 [01:17] Things that drone pilots should know BEFORE making a foray into the surveying industry [03:12] Why drone surveying is here to stay [04:46] Today's question is about using drone surveying for really small properties [06:10] Challenges that drone pilots face when flying in a city like Houston [07:58] Back to the basics - understanding the fundamentals of photogrammetry [10:41] What are the tasks for a surveyor and the challenges involved [15:15] How to grow and scale your surveying business [18:24] How to use LiDAR to map an area with dense vegetation [22:22] Some great business tips to wrap up this show
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Jul 7, 2021 • 0sec

ADU 1198: Is the DJI Mavic Mini 2 A Good Option for Real Estate Photography?

Today's show is about using the sub-250 gram drone, DJI Mavic Mini 2 for real estate photography. Our caller for today, Carl intends to make a foray into the real estate photography business with the DJI Mavic Mini 2. But, while Carl might limit his upfront investment with this starter DJI drone, can he compete with pilots who fly larger (and more expensive) drones like Phantom and Mavic? We reveal the pros and cons of this much-loved DJI drone in this short but highly informative show. This show will be particularly useful to drone pilots providing their services to real estate folks. Thanks for the great question, Carl. Fly Safe!  Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Enjoy! 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 [01:36] This show is brought to you by Drone U's in-person classes [02:52] Check out our all-new member's community now! [03:14] Today's question is about using the DJI Mavic Mini 2 for real estate photography [04:06] Want to learn how to fly the DJI Mavic Mini 2? Check out our Don't Crash Course today! [04:43] Are there ample opportunities for drone pilots in the real estate market? [08:42] What are some of the biggest challenges that drone pilots face while starting a new drone business? [10:12] Can you run a profitable drone business with a beginner DJI drone like the Mavic Mini 2? [14:14] Pro Tip - How to get a steady stream of work from the real estate market [17:17] Some expert business tips for Mavic Mini 2 pilots [19:43] Any reason why you should fly the Mini 2 with prop cages?
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Jul 4, 2021 • 0sec

ADU 1197: Can I Use the Mavic 2 Pro for Cell Tower Inspections and Construction Site Mapping?

On today's show, you will learn why the Mavic 2 Pro is NOT the right drone for cell tower inspections and construction site mapping. Our caller for today, John from Oregon has recently purchased a Mavic 2 Pro for a cell tower inspection business. Additionally, John also wants to use this beginner DJI drone for preparing construction site maps. While the Mavic 2 Pro's Hasselblad sensor might be great for capturing vivid images, can you use this DJI drone for conducting cell tower inspections and preparing construction site maps? Is John better off using the Phantom 4 Pro or an enterprise drone like the DJI Inspire? For all this and much more, tune in to our latest show now. Thanks for the great question, John. Fly Safe! Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Enjoy! 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 [04:00] Today's question is about using the Mavic 2 Pro for cell tower inspections and construction site mapping [06:30] How many site visits will a drone pilot need to make? [07:09] 2 types of affordable GPS systems for drone pilots [08:58] Can a drone pilot start an inspection and mapping business if he is on a tight budget? [10:44] Lucrative options for Mavic 2 Pro pilots [12:12] Can you build a profitable drone business with a beginner DJI drone like the Mavic 2 Pro?
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Jul 1, 2021 • 26min

BONUS: Drone Life News 003 – FAA’s TRUST Exam, Drone Industry News, Autel’s Rising Popularity, BVLOS Flights

FAA TRUST Exam, Drone Industry, and Competition, Autel's Rising Popularity, BVLOS and Much, Much More... In the third edition of Drone Life News, Paul and Miriam McNabb of DroneLife and JobforDrones discuss some of the latest and most exciting news from the world of drones. Our biggest story this week is about the FAA TRUST Exam and Drone U being one of the select few providers of the exam. We discuss the recent trends in the drone industry and the surging market share of industry players such as Autel. Other topics include BVLOS flights and how this will eventually lead to wider adoption of drones. In other conversations we also discuss regulatory committees and their influence and impact on the drone industry Certainly, you do not want to miss any segment of the show. Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Enjoy! 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 [00:31] All you wanted to know about the FAA TRUST exam [02:23]The overwhelming response to Drone U's FAA TRUST exam [04:16] The changing dynamics of the drone industry and the surging growth of non-DJI drones [05:43]DJI's market share and the intensifying competition [06:37] The rising usage of drones for specific industries and applications [08:00]Autel's burgeoning market share; do we finally have a worthy DJI competitor? [08:58] What are some of the biggest reasons behind Autel's rising popularity? [11:33] DJI security concerns and how they are impacting the market leader's so-far dominant position [13:56]BVLOS flights and DroneUp's growth in this segment [18:10]Regulatory committees, their influence and impact on the future of the drone industry
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Jun 24, 2021 • 22min

BONUS: Drone Life News 002 – Walmart Invests in Drone Delivery Startup DroneUp, Latest on Amazon Drone Delivery, Google Wing Comments on Drone Remote ID

Walmart Invests in Drone Delivery Startup, DroneUp, UK Moves Ahead with Drone Remote ID, the NASA UAS Safety Reporting System, Google Wing Comments on Drone Remote ID We are back with another Drone Life News show with the incredible Miriam McNabb of DroneLife and JobforDrones to share with us some of the latest and most exciting news from the world of drones. Our biggest story this week is about drone deliveries. While much has been written about Amazon's foray into drone deliveries, it seems that competitor, Walmart is gaining more traction in this space. Drone enthusiasts will be excited to learn that Walmart recently invested in drone delivery service provider, DroneUP for making last-mile deliveries. While this development is certainly encouraging, it seems that companies in the US are lagging behind other countries as far as innovation is concerned. This serves as a good segue to our next story - which is about UK's Catapult Project. You will learn about this pilot project implemented by the UK for drone remote-id. And why their approach is far better compared to the US. Towards the end of the show, we share some great Amazon Prime Day deals for drone pilots. You surely do not want to miss this one. Enjoy! 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 [00:24]The NASA UAS Safety Reporting System is Open, Confidential, and Nonpunitive [04:02]Walmart invests in Drone Delivery service provider, DroneUp for last-mile deliveries [05:30]When can we expect Amazon drone deliveries to finally take flight? [09:15]Can we expect service providers to make drone deliveries under Part 107? [11:08]Google Wing participates in UK Catapult Project [12:50]UK's approach to drone remote-id is significantly different from the US's broadcast-only approach [16:32]What is the status of drone remote-id in the UK? [18:00]Is the US lagging behind the rest of the world as far as innovation is concerned? [19:00]Amazon Prime Day - Don't miss out on some killer one-in-year deals!
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Jun 24, 2021 • 16min

ADU 01196: Can I Use the Mavic 2 Zoom for Shooting Hotels and Resorts?

Today's show is about using drones for shooting hotels and resorts. Our caller for today, Jordan from NY has an opportunity to shoot some aerial footage of a resort. However, his client wishes to accentuate the beautiful mountains in the background. And so, Jordan is thinking of renting the Mavic 2 Zoom for this new gig. But, is the zoom on this DJI drone powerful enough to accentuate the beautiful background? And, should Jordan consider the Inspire 2-X7 combo for this gig? Apart from this Mavic 2 Zoom - Inspire 2 comparison, we also reveal some red flags that Jordan needs to watch out for while renting a drone. We wrap up this show by sharing some great golden photography tips to help Jordan out. Enjoy! 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 [01:32]Today's show is brought to you by Drone U landing pads [02:33]Today's question is about using drones for shooting hotels and resorts [03:36]We kick off today's show by discussing an incredibly lucrative career option for drone pilot - action sports [05:02]How to accentuate the background in your drone footage [05:32]Should you use the Mavic 2 Zoom for shooting hotels and resorts? [05:46]Marketing tips and how to charge premium prices even when you are working in a commoditized segment [06:39]Inspire 2 vs. Mavic 2 Zoom - is it worth spending more when shooting hotels? [07:40]Using the X7 with a 50 mm lens for capturing the background in its full glory [09:48]An excellent, cost-saving hack to help Jordan out [11:25]Things to remember when renting a drone [11:38]Some excellent golden hour photography tips to help you out [12:37]Can you pair the Inspire 2's zoom camera with Mavic 2 Pro?
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Jun 21, 2021 • 20min

ADU 01195: Could You Recommend Some Lucrative Drone Career Options?

Lucrative Drone Career Options | Drones in Construction, For Oil and Gas Inspections, Drone Surveying Today's show is about lucrative drone career options. Our caller for today, 24-year old Casey was just fired from his surveying company. At his ex-employer, Casey became familiar with flying the Ebee drone, and also processing mapping data. Now, he is wondering about the best way forward, and how he can navigate this career change. On today's show, we discuss different drone uses like oil and gas inspection, construction, and of course, drone surveying. We also reveal some great marketing tips to help Casey out. Thanks for the great question, Casey. Fly Safe! 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 [03:06]Today's question is about lucrative drone career options [05:33]Using drones for oil and gas inspection [06:47]How to successfully navigate a career change [09:33]How can Casey leverage his existing network and get hired as a drone surveyor [10:58]Recommended platforms for getting drone gigs [11:42]Drones in construction - Tips for building a successful drone business [12:23]How to showcase your work using a drone demo reel [14:43]Getting your fear of cold-calling [16:58]How can the Drone U Community help you scale your drone business? [17:50]How can Casey make good use of his downtime?
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Jun 18, 2021 • 0sec

Skydio 2 Drone Mapping | Pros, Cons & Expert Insights

Today's show is about using the Skydio 2 for drone mapping. Our caller for today, Grant flies the Mavic Air 2 for real estate. Currently, he is going through our Comprehensive Mapping course and is keen on exploring new verticals to grow his drone business. And he is thinking of using the Skydio 2 along with DroneDeploy for drone mapping. So, can you really build a sustainable drone mapping business using an autonomous drone like the Skydio 2? To answer Grant's question, we first explain some basics of drone mapping. You will learn about some of the biggest challenges that mappers encounter when reconstructing complex areas. We go on to compare different drone mapping software like Pix4D, DroneDeploy, and Maps Made Easy. On today's show, we particularly focus on Drone Deploy and detail the pros and cons of this popular drone mapping software. Towards the end of the show, we explain why mapping with the Skydio is NOT a good idea. This is a show you cannot afford to miss. Enjoy! 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 [01:32]Sign up for our Mapping Classes to grow your drone business to the next level! [01:55]Today's show is about using the Skydio for drone mapping [03:38]Is DroneDeploy a good, reliable drone mapping software? [03:37]What is the most challenging aspect of drone mapping? [03:57]Can you use cloud-based processors for 3D modeling? [04:33]Two ways to reconstruct complex areas in 3D modeling [05:00]Aligning datasets vs. Merging datasets - which is the better option for you, and why? [05:50]Some surfaces that are extremely difficult to map [07:08]Which is the best orthomosaic generator? [08:38]A huge benefit of using Pix4D Cloud [09:03]Can you fly autonomous missions around radio tower? [10:37]Can you really use the Skydio to map bridges? [13:04]Why using Skydio with DroneDeploy for 3D modeling is not a good idea [13:57]Why Maps Made Easy is a great alternative to Pix4D [16:20]Do you have greater chances of a flyaway when you are flying the Skydio? [18:30]Can American drone manufacturers fill DJI's rather large shoes? [19:57]Is it mandatory for a licensed drone pilot to control an autonomous drone? [26:18]Has the US-China trade war encouraged the production of American-made drone spares? [28:55]Do not forget to check out our Skydio 2 course

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