What's All the Buzz About? The Future of Drones | 2019 PNWER Economic Leadership Forum

The CRDR held a session on the future of drones during PNWER's 2019 Economic Leadership Forum in Seattle, WA. The Forum's program concluded with a robust look at the future of drones and the role that they can play in different aspects of our world. Drones are being utilized in ways that would seem impossible just a few years ago. The session was moderated by Charlton Evans, End State Solutions, and featured Tom Hagen, AUVSI-Cascade Chapter; Bryan Norton, City of Boise; and Douglas Spotted Eagle, Sundance Media Group. The manufacturing and innovative drone technologies happening right here in the Pacific Northwest gives us the chance to be a world leader on drones. This is a fast-evolving industry, and drones are being used to mitigate disasters, inspect critical infrastructure, increase public safety, and more. However, the speakers identified a major issue to the opportunities and effective use of drones which is misinformation and false perceptions regarding the legality and uses of this technology. Tom Hagen said, "We need more informed legislators, homeowners, drone users, and others. We need laws that allow the technology to work, but we need to work on education. PNWER is one way to do this educational outreach & bridge this gap." Douglas Spotted Eagle stated, "Technology is not to be afraid of. It is to be understood." 

Presentations:
Douglas Spotted Eagle, Sundance Media Group LLC Presentation
Tom Hagen, AUVSI Presentation