Drone deliveries in the U.S. will soon be an official, government-sanctioned activity. On July 17, the Federal Aviation Administration will allow a collaboration between NASA, Flirtey and Virginia Tech to fly unmanned aircraft to deliver pharmaceuticals to a free medical clinic in West Virginia. The fixed wing aircraft from NASA Langley and multi-rotor delivery drones from Flirtey will become the world's first autonomous aerial delivery services. 

The event organizers hope to prove that drone usage need not be nefarious or purely for enthusiasts. In fact, the goal of these drones is to bring life-saving meds to an under-served community.

“This is a Kitty Hawk moment not just for Flirtey, but for the entire industry,” said Flirtey CEO Matt Sweeny in a statement. “Proving that unmanned aircraft can deliver life-saving medicines is an important step toward a future where unmanned aircraft make routine autonomous deliveries of your every day purchases.”

The hexacopter that Flirtey uses, which is made by the University of Nevada, Reno, is made of carbon fiber and aluminum. It also sports some 3D printed components. It can range more than 10 miles from home base, and can lower cargo via tethered line. Built-in safety features, such as a low battery alert, will automatically return the craft to a safe location. In case of a low GPS signal or full communication loss, there's also an auto-return home feature.

The drones will deliver up to 24 packages of prescription medication, weighing 10 pounds. The event is part of the Wise County Fairgrounds' Remote Area Medical USA and Health Wagon clinic. Other than free medications, which will be flown to the Lonesome Pine Airport before being drone lifted to the fairgrounds, attendants will receive free eye, dental and other healthcare services.

Flirtey, which bills itself as the world's first commercial drone delivery service, conducted its first tests in Sydney, Australia in 2013. It started by delivering more than 100 textbooks. It went on to offered humanitarian relief in New Zealand, during a search and rescue mission. In May, 2015, the company conducted what it calls the first drone delivery over a populated area, sending auto parts via hexacopter.

The event blurs the lines between commercial and public use of drones. For drones to be used for commercial use, a company must apply for an FAA exemption and the drone must be operated by a licensed airplane pilot. The usage must be deemed as low risk and being performed in controlled environments. Drones can only be used without an exemption for set periods of time in set locations by public entities (government, law enforcement, universities).

SOURCE: By Anna Attkisson June 22, 2015

Southern Oregon Drone is seeking to do some wedding drone photography in Portland Oregon. Between now and the end of August, we're offering 10% off drone weddings!

Please contact us if interested, or if you know someone who might be.

Here is a wedding we recently filmed in Southern Oregon:

Grants Pass Drone photography and videography may be exactly what you need for your next project!

A few weeks back, Southern Oregon Drone travelled to the Illinois River to gather stock footage of the river from an aerial perspective. It turned out great!

Grants Pass Drone Stock Videos are a perfect way to add to your stock video collection. Aerial drone footage of forests, rivers, hills, and lakes will add to your project, whatever it may be. Aerial drone photos are also available!

We have general stock video available, but we can also head out and film anything specific that you might need with our drone. Contact Southern Oregon Drone today to learn more!

Dreaming of a picture-perfect wedding? The sky’s the limit, because drone photography is the next big thing in wedding pictures. “The trend has been around a couple years, or about as long as the vehicles have been around,” said Parker Gyokeres, owner of an aerial photography company in New York. “I do see an increasing role for qualified, professional operators to perform this service,” said Gyokeres, who is a multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle pilot and photojournalist.

Having a qualified drone operator is key because accidents happen, like when a photographer underestimated the lift time needed and flew a drone right into a groom’s face during a pre-wedding shoot. The good-natured groom laughed it off, but the exploit is posted on the photographer’s YouTube channel. The ability of a drone to swoop in and get amazing shots, from an overhead perspective of the overall scene right down into the middle of the action, has led to a sort of technology arms race from cameras and tripods to Go-Pro poles and drones. “So much time and energy is spent to create a beautiful wedding and people want to capture it from every angle, and that means overhead, too,” said Michael Calcagno, an aerial photographer.

Indoor flying can be done by professionals, but both photographers advise against flying the drones at the actual ceremony. “A professional-grade drone isn’t subtle. The wedding ceremony should be about the couple and their public vows to each other, not the electric robot hovering overhead distracting the guests while the priest is talking,” Gyokeres said. Professionals take precautions such as not flying over or toward people, exceeding certain heights or flying in winds over 15 or 20 mph. A designated clear zone is needed for takeoffs, landings and emergency recoveries, Gyokeres said. “As a rule, we can control every safety factor but the weather, but a professional aerial provider shouldn’t make you pay for more than his travel and lodging if he isn’t able to fly,” he said.

Drones are more suited to record outdoor shots, cocktail hours and receptions where the drone is often the star of the party, Calcagno said.“It’s so novel; guests just love it. They see it and point to it. It’s something they’ll remember,” he added.“Our technology is often the hit of the party, and everybody immediately whips out cameras and cellphones and starts asking questions,” Gyokeres said. “Is that a drone? How high does it fly? Is it hard to fly? Is it expensive? Can I fly it?”

Interested in having a drone photographer at your wedding? Remember, you get what you pay for if you’re hiring a friend with a hobby-grade drone. “The best drone pilots only do aerial work, as the equipment and training requirements for high-end shoots are a full-time job,” Gyokeres said. “The use of multicopters adds a tool in the toolbox of a wedding photographer or videographer,” he added. “It safely provides an amazing perspective at a fraction of the cost of a manned helicopter. They aren’t for every shot, but if you have an outdoor wedding, nothing works better to set a sense of place and show the natural beauty of the wedding venue.”

Written by Melissa Erickson, Published May 6, 2015
Source: Ashland Daily Tidings

"Southern Oregon Drone recently announced their expansion of service from exclusively serving Southern Oregon, to working with clients throughout the entire state and Northern California. 

After working with Gorge Flyboard in Hood River, Oregon, Southern Oregon Drone, which is based in Medford, eliminated the previous 200 mile range requirement. Anyone seeking aerial photography or videography services are encouraged to visit their website, SouthernOregonDrone.net, to learn more about the services offered."

Source

Source - OregonLive.com

Dallas head coach Jason Garrett got the idea from new Southern Methodist University football coach Chad Morris. Southern Methodist University is located in Dallas. Two members from SMU's video department flew a drone over the practice during the Cowboys' rookie minicamp.

"We pride ourselves on coaching and teaching our players as well as we can and film has been a big part of the game for a long time," Garrett told ESPN.com. "Typically you have an end zone shot and a sideline shot. We use a lot of hand-held cameras on the ground. ... One of our coaches went down to SMU for their spring practices and saw they were using it. They liked the angle. We got a chance to see it, so we decided to take a look at it."

Using drones gives Garrett the chance to see everything that is happening on the field, similar to the overhead cameras that television networks use during games, except those cameras are tethered to wires hanging above the field.

"It's interesting because it gives you the chance from behind to see all 11 guys on offense and all 11 guys on defense but from a closer angle," Garrett said.

The Cowboys have a track record of using technology and sustained success in the NFL. While the use of the drones is an experiment for now, the Cowboys may decide to continue using drones during practice sessions. The NFL is a copycat league, and if one team finds an angle to achieve success, other teams will follow. It's only a matter of time before other teams start using drones to record practice sessions.
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Do you coach a football team in Oregon? Let us know - We can film your games/practice!