Success in 2020: A Conversation About the Drone Industry with Skydio, DroneUp, and Adams & Reese

When the pandemic hit back in March, it seemed like the world had slid to a halt. Due to so much uncertainty, it has been difficult for many businesses to figure out the path ahead or predict with any certainty the economic impact of the virus. Yet, some businesses and industries have managed to forge a path of success in spite of uncertainty. This has been especially true for a number of businesses in the drone industry in which drones have been deployed to safely conduct essential tasks, like inspections, asset management, deliveries, and emergency services.

Two of the companies that have been able to find success in 2020, both because and in spite of COVID-19, has been Skydio and DroneUp. Their ability to move forward by identifying the needs of the industry has led to a number of notable and important announcements for the industry, from delivering COVID-19 test kits to being integral in the obtainment of BVLOS waivers for NCDOT bridge inspections without the need of a visual observer and more.

In a recent panel, Commercial UAV News spoke with Adam Bry, CEO of Skydio; Brendan Groves, Head of Regulatory and Policy Affairs at Skydio; Tom Walker, Founder and CEO of DroneUp; Anthony Vittone, COO and Executive VP of DroneUp; and Grant Guillot, Partner and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Team Leader at Adams and Reese about their thoughts on their recent successes and their impact on the industry, how COVID-19 has or hasn’t changed their business approach, and a host of other topics including how the pandemic has changed public perception.

Watch the full discussion here:

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Danielle Gagne

Danielle Gagne was the Editorial Analyst for Commercial UAV News. She continues to be dedicated to providing commercial drone professionals with exclusive insights and content from experts in the field, keeping the industry informed and up to date on everything related to drones.

Danielle originally came to Commercial UAV News from an editorial background in higher education publishing where she edited books on every topic from financial risk management to nanotechnology and morphing wing technology. During that time, she reported and conveyed the business needs and expectations between all points of her organization and the technology team, working closely with IT development. She found these aspects of her previous career invaluable to understanding and conveying the convergence of technology, business, public perception, and regulation in the drone industry as editorial analyst.