Drones Will Modernize the Healthcare Industry, Says Stampede President Kevin Kelly

The drone revolution that’s sweeping the globe is revolutionizing every commercial market and the healthcare industry is no exception, asserts Kevin Kelly, President & COO of Stampede, North America’s leading provider of ProAV solutions. With high-speed capabilities and the latest telecommunication technology, drones have the capacity to help save lives on an unprecedented scale, modernizing how emergency situations are handled in both individual and community-wide cases. 

“The healthcare industry is under pressure to modernize and update just about every area of its operations, from the delivery of new treatment protocols to record management to assisting in case-by-case emergency situations,” Kelly said. “Drones will play a major role in modernizing healthcare in ways that we are just starting to understand.”

Drones are already being tested in the medical field with the delivery of vaccines, medications and supplies to remote locations. Matternet, a smart drone transportation manufacturer, conducted its first field trials in Haiti by successfully delivering small packages to a camp devastated by the 2010 earthquake that brought the country to its knees. “This one instance proved that drones have significant implications in the delivery of medicine,” Kelly said. “When road vehicles cannot reach a devastated area, drones can be used to bring medicine and supplies to people in need.”  

Global drone use in the medical field is spreading. According to Quartz, the World Health Organization and the government of Bhutan teamed up with Matternet this year to build a network of low-cost quadcopters to connect the country’s main hospitals with rural communities. “With only .3 physicians per 1,000 people, healthcare is a serious problem for the Bhutanese population,” Kelly said. “Matternet’s quadcopters can carry loads of up to four pounds across 20 km at a time, which makes a substantial difference in delivering medicine to the community.”

Drones have also been tested for use in individual emergency situations. In the Netherlands, Alec Momont, an engineering student at TU Delft in Delft, designed an “ambulance drone” specifically developed to combat the high mortality rate of cardiac arrest victims. According to Slate, the “ambulance drone” is capable of traveling at speeds up to 60 mph, and is fully equipped with an on-board camera, which allows a remote operator to talk to a victim and provide emergency instructions to whoever is with the victim on the ground. “According to Momont, a drone’s speedy response time and on-scene assistance capabilities could increase cardiac arrest survival rates to more than 80 percent,” Kelly emphasized. “And that’s a significant number.”

While the FAA has not yet extensively tested medical drone use in the United States, they are in the process of developing standards and guidelines for the safe and legal use of drones in commercial applications, in ways that do not violate an individual’s right to privacy, says Kelly.

“When approved, drones will have the ability to serve as life-saving and life-giving resource for a healthcare industry increasingly challenged to find new, safe, and cost-effective ways to deliver much needed medicine to remote locations, gather data needed to assist medical personnel in an unfolding crisis, and provide information to an individual trying to assist someone in need,” Kelly said. “In a very real way, drones are just what the doctor ordered to help modernize the global healthcare industry.” 

Stampede and Unmanned Vehicle University Partner with InfoComm to Create the Unmanned Systems and Drone Pavilion at InfoComm 2015

The practical uses of unmanned aerial vehicles in hundreds of different commercial market applications is fully and completely addressed for the very first time in the ProAV industry with Stampede (www.stampedeglobal.com) and Unmanned Vehicle University’s (www.uxvuniversity.com) sponsorship of the first Unmanned Systems and Drone Pavilion at InfoComm 2015. The pavilion is located Orange County Convention Center atBooth #7042.

 “The use of drones in a wide variety of commercial applications is rapidly advancing to include 3D terrain mapping, oil and gas exploration, remote monitoring, aerial agricultural observation, news gathering, security, search and rescue, law enforcement, and hundreds of other applications,” said Kevin Kelly, President & COO of Stampede.  “As a forward looking industry association, InfoComm understands the urgent need to present the full capabilities of this new technology, along with the enormous business opportunities this technology is creating for InfoComm members.  We are proud that they have chosen to partner with Stampede and Unmanned Vehicle University for the industry’s first Drone Pavilion at InfoComm 2015.”

The Unmanned Systems and Drone Pavilion features an enclosed drone-cage presentation area where exhibitors demonstrate their technology and discuss the ways that drones are being incorporated into current ProAV projects.

More than a dozen information rich presentation sessions will take place over a three day period from June 17 to June 19and will include sessions on UVU’s Unmanned Systems and Drone Fundamentals Overview, Wireless Video Transmission from Aerial Platforms to the Operations Center, The Drone/Unmanned Systems Business Opportunity for ProAV Integrators, Energy Industry Applications Overview, 3D Mapping with Drones, UAS/Drone Case Study Panel, Law Enforcement/Security/Public Safety Applications, Large Sporting and Entertainment Event Coverage, Aerial Cinematography/Real Estate Markets, Drone-Vertising:  Using Drones to Deliver Marketing Messages, and Parcel/Package/Medical Supplies/Equipment Delivery.

“The rapid and widespread adoption of drones by business owners around the world is going to very quickly become a massive job creation engine,” Unmanned Vehicle University Provost John Minor said today.  “But education and training is absolutely critical to sustaining this engine over the long term and that’s precisely where our university’s strategic partnership with Stampede really becomes compellingly clear.  Together, Stampede and UVU are providing industry with the platforms, the education and the training required to safely profit from incorporating drones into their individual businesses or to start up new businesses using drone technology.”

Stampede Introduces xFold Ultra-Professional sUAV Drones at Unmanned Systems 2015

Demonstrating its unique ability to offer the industry’s most complete line of state-of-the-art market specific unmanned aerial vehicles, Stampede (www.stampedeglobal.com) today announced the market introduction of xFold  (www.xfoldrig.scom) — the strongest and most advanced multi-rotor sUAV drone platforms ever developed for top level aerial work in film and television production.  The introduction was made at Unmanned Systems 2015 in Booth #543 of the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

According to Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly, three specific xFold drones are being unveiled at the show.  “The xFold line of multi-rotor sUAVs offers professionals involved in top level aerial work with a complete range of options across a broad price range,” Kelly emphasized today.  “The xFold platform has been proven to be extremely reliable and effective in major motion pictures, television shows, and commercials, and now they are available to customers all across the country through our dealer network. It is completely appropriate to make this introduction at Unmanned Systems 2015 — the industry’s largest gathering of unmanned aerial vehicle professionals.”

According to TJ Diaz, President & CEO of xFold, “This introduction of the xFold line through Stampede joins together the world’s best multi-rotor sUAV platforms with the world’s best channel sales team in North America.  I believe that this partnership will help to bring the benefits of our technology to more commercial markets, faster.”

While xFold offers a complete line of multi-rotor sUAV platforms to choose from, Kelly said that Stampede would be focusing its efforts on marketing the company’s new line of full-featured ultra-professional RTF/ARF sUAV solutions for the commercial AP marketplace.  The XFold Mapper is ideally designed for every type of surveying, inspection, and mapping application.  The xFold Cinema, which features 3D scanners, is designed for high-end feature film and television production.  The xFold Dragon is for real heavy lift and features dual RED EPIC for 3D, fully rigged ARRI ALEXA, heavy scanners (LIDAR), and several sensor options.  Each frame can be configured as Quadcopter, Hexacopter, x8 Octocopter and x12.

The xFold line of sUAVs is so appropriate for the entertainment production industry because the core rig was designed by company co-founder Ziv Marom (www.ZMinteractive.com), an experienced sUAV pilot and cinematographer with years of experience in aerial video and cinematography for feature films that include Expendables 3, HomeFront, Sparks, documentaries, television and other applications.

According to Kelly, Stampede will be offering training programs in conjunction with both xFold and its strategic partner, Unmanned Vehicle University (www.uxvuniversity.com).  “As is our policy at Stampede, we will be bringing a complete solution to market for our broadcast, and film & television customers that includes a wide selection of platform options, training, operator certification, and long-term support.  The comprehensiveness of our offering is what always keeps Stampede ahead of the herd.”

Earn Drone/UAV Pilot Training Certificates From Home — Thanks to Unmanned Vehicle University's Four-Week Program

If you’re interested in becoming certified to pilot or operate an unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone, but can’t take the time away from a full time job to do so, you now have a way to do both — thanks to Unmanned Vehicle University’s (www.uxvuniversity.com) two week Drone/UAV Pilot Training Certificate Program. UVU is showcasing all of the certification opportunities at Unmanned Systems 2015 in the Georgia World Congress Center at booth #1508. 

According to John Minor, Provost of the Phoenix, Arizona-based university, which is the only university in the world licensed to offer graduate degree programs in Unmanned Systems Engineering, students can take the three-phase Drone/UAV Pilot Training Certificate Program from home without jeopardizing their current full-time jobs. “Now you can prepare for a lifetime career as a drone pilot without having to quit your current job to do so,” Minor said today. Minor further emphasized, “It’s been estimated that the rapid adoption of drones in a wide variety of commercial markets is going to create more than 100,000 jobs and have an $82-billion economic impact over the next ten years — but to have a career in this exciting new industry you have to be certified to operate a drone safely and effectively.” 

No college degree or prior experience is required to participate in the university’s program.  The Drone/UAV Pilot Training Program consists of three phases.  Phases one and two are conducted at home using a flight simulator and taking online academics.  Phase three is conducted by one of the university’s expert flight instructors at one of the university’s flight schools located around the country.  At the end of the program, successful students will receive the university’s UAV Pilot Certificate showing they have completed 10 hours of simulator training, 16 hours of ground school, and 16 hours of flight training for a total of 42 hours of comprehensive operator training.  

“Once students complete the enrollment process, they are assigned log-in instructions for the ground school and we ship a simulator to their residence," Minor explained. "The entire program can be completed in a little over two weeks, with two weeks of home study and two days of intensive flight training."

Once students have earned their Pilot/Operators Certificate they can get started on a life-long career that offers positions paying as much as $275,000 per-year in a wide variety of commercial markets that include Delivery and fulfillment, Logistics, Security and Law Enforcement, First Responders, Wildfire Management, Search and Rescue, News Gathering, Photography, Film and Television Production, Oil, Gas and Mineral Exploration, Disaster Relief, Live Event Production, Agriculture, and Real Estate.  And these just top the list of an ever-growing number of commercial markets. “As FAA regulations become finalized, and they will, you are going to see drones incorporated into just about every industry known to man,” Minor asserted.  “Drones reduce risk, save money, and dramatically increase the productivity of every field they are used in.”

The cost of Unmanned Vehicle University’s Drone/UAV Pilot Training Certificate Program is $3,500.  In addition, if you take one of Unmanned Vehicle University’s seminars held around the country, you will also get a free drone. For more information, visit UVU at Unmanned Systems 2015 in the Georgia World Congress Center at booth #1508, or contact Josh Roetzer at +1 (716) 866-2827 or jroetzer@uxvuniversity.com.

Stampede and Unmanned Vehicle University are Showcasing Drone Product & Education Solutions at NAB 2015

Reinforcing their joint commitment to make unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, a safe and integral part of the broadcasting industry, Stampede (www.stampedeglobal.com) and Unmanned Vehicle University (www.uxvuniversity.com) today announced that are showcasing drone product and education solutions at NAB 2015 in Booth #SU-13704 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“Broadcast and reporting methods are rapidly evolving with the introduction of drones to the industry. There is truly no better place to showcase their benefits and uses than at NAB 2015,” Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly said today. “Stampede and UVU are committed to providing the broadcast industry with state-of-the-art products and an approved certification program that teaches people how to use drones in a safe and sanctioned way.”

Stampede is displaying an array of drones from leading manufacturers like DJI, Walkera, AEE, and xFold. “We’re showcasing a range of drones that cover every possible broadcast application,” Kelly emphasized.  “No other company demonstrates the business opportunities offered by drones the way we are.”

Additionally, Unmanned Vehicle University, the first University in the world licensed to grant Doctorate and Masters Degrees in Unmanned (Air, Ground, Sea, and Space) Systems Engineering, is joining Stampede in the Stampede NAB booth to highlight the importance of UAV certifications. “Drones are revolutionizing the way that broadcasters news gather and produce media footage,” Unmanned Vehicle University Provost John Minor said today. “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working hard to establish the guidelines under which drones can be used in these commercial applications. The one thing they have already made very clear is that properly certified training and education is mandatory. That’s where Unmanned Vehicle University comes in.”

What’s more, simultaneous with the weeklong NAB conference and exhibition, Unmanned Vehicle University will be hosting a three-day seminar on the Fundamentals of Drones at the Westgate Resort & Casino located adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center from April 17-19.  Registration and information for this seminar can be found athttp://www.uxvuniversity.com/live-uav-seminars. 

For $1,999, participants will receive a comprehensive introduction to one of the fastest growing career opportunities in the world. According to Minor, UAVs are predicted to create 70,000 high paying careers over the next several years at salaries that range from $90,000 to more than $200,000.

The NAB Show, held April 11-16, 2015 in Las Vegas, is the world's largest electronic media show covering the creation, management and delivery of content across all platforms. With more than 98,000 attendees from 150 countries and 1,700+ exhibitors, NAB Show is the ultimate marketplace for digital media and entertainment. From creation to consumption, across multiple platforms and countless nationalities, NAB Show is home to the solutions that transcend traditional broadcasting and embrace content delivery to new screens in new ways. For complete details, visit www.nabshow.com.

The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.