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Today’s Around Atlanta edition of the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio show features Chris Brann, a drone consultant with F3 Expo and Christine Hilgert, co-creator of the F3 Expo. The F3 Expo will be held at the Georgia Dome and the Georgia World Congress Center on Nov. 12 -15 and is the world’s first drone technology and lifestyle event geared toward the hobbyist and recreational drone flyer. The expo seeks to bring the lifestyle of drone operation and flying to the wider public and offers a better understanding of the industry, the types of aircraft on the market, and the technology behind these miniature flying machines.
The three components of the F3 Expo are flying, filming and first-person-view (FPV). There will be a festival atmosphere with fun events and sessions during the four-day event being held at the Georgia World Congress Center. Various exhibitors will attend the expo and attendees can get hands-on with new technology and watch product demos and FPV races.
In Chris’s position as a drone consultant, he melds the technology, art, business, regulations and science of drone operation together, and acts as a consultant for those consumers looking to enter into the world of drone ownership. Speaking of regulations, this is expected to be a hot topic of discussion during the expo! There are a variety of steps that need to be taken if a consumer is operating a drone as part of a business, and Chris adds that the information in the media can be overwhelming to a potential drone buyer. He says, “A lot of the information I see is kind of intimidating for people right now and we need to help break it down. We want to tell people to learn all of the precautions involved, learn the technology inside and out, don’t do stupid things.”
A variety of panels will be held during the expo. One of the biggest topics of discussion will involve aerial photography and how it can be used for a variety of business reasons, even real estate! Experts will offer their advice on using the best equipment to achieve their goal, they will discuss new equipment and how it can be beneficial, and answer questions from the audience.
Another aspect of the F3 Expo is getting involved with local high schools to help students learn more about the technology. Christine explains, “We started to notice that there were a lot of drone clubs, and we realized that there was such an opportunity here so we started Field Day Friday. We’re inviting schools to bring students down for free to meet some of the world-class pilots coming in from around the world, then we’re going to bring them to the World Congress Center and have some sessions, simulations and hands-on with them.” Christine adds that this program is an exciting way to showcase drones to this enthusiastic audience in a responsible and educational way.
A couple of the most interesting events happening during the F3 Expo are the First Person Freestyle and FPV Races. In FPV, the drone operator wears video goggles that simulate the interior cockpit of a drone aircraft, technically using the drone as a proxy to simulate movement. During the FPV race, spectators will watch as pilots race their aircrafts through the Georgia Dome, and they will even be able to tap into pilots if they also have goggles, or follow along as real-time video is displayed on the jumbotron!
Also scheduled during the expo is a fun event called The Thunder Drone 500. Akin to the Daytona 500, but with drones, this exciting race will consist of four-man teams running 500 laps around the Georgia Dome on Friday night. Each team is allotted a specific number of batteries, and will get to make pit stops!
As the use of drones rises, the potential they have for a variety of safety, military and agricultural purposes are endless. Drones outfitted with infrared cameras can even detect moisture content levels in crops from an aerial vantage point! The insurance industry has even started talking about drone use to determine damages. Another widely discussed topic related to drone use is the licensing requirements for ownership. Chris explains, “I think one of the key points that the FAA and the DOT have made is that they want to create a culture of awareness. It’s going to be hard to regulate, but the fact that they are saying this is a way to begin the conversation and make people aware of the safety and responsibility they must employ when using this technology.”
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