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 Appoints Eric M. Jameson to New Product Manager for Drones

Reinforcing its commitment to make unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, a safe and profitable part of the entire ProAV industry, Stampede, North America’s largest distributor of high value added ProAV solutions, today announced the appointment of Eric M. Jameson to the newly created position of New Product Manager for the Drone and Professional Services categories. Jameson joins Stampede with years of military and commercial drone VAR CTO experience.

“We are honored to have Eric join the sales team,” Stampede President & COO Kevin Kelly said today. “With over twenty-five years of analytical, instructional and operational integration experience with unmanned aerial vehicles, Eric brings to us a knowledge of the field that is going to help our dealers make drones a mainstay of the commercial businesses.”

 After earning a B.A. in Political Science – International Relations from the University of Texas at Arlington, Jameson started his career as a Target Intelligence Specialist with a reserve F-16 unit, with responsibility for deploying contingencies supporting OPERATION DESERT STORM, OPERATION DENY FLIGHT, OPERATION DECISIVE EDGE, and OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH.

 Jameson was later selected for commissioning in the United States Air Force to serve as a Squadron Intelligence Officer before heading operations in the Air Operations Center(AOC) – Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Division focused on ISR Operations and Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED). During his career in the Air Force, Jameson successfully led and managed a large division of over thirty people, multi-million dollar budgets, and numerous high value/critical action programs.

 After retirement, Jameson utilized his subject matter expertise in ISR and UAV’s on several contracts to include building the entire fundamentals courseware for the new Saudi Arabian Alternate Command Operations Center (ACOC) and the Joint Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). As a Senior Intelligence Analyst with JIEDDO at the Combined Operations-Intelligence Integration Center (COIC), he deployed to Afghanistan for six months in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM where his subject matter expertise in ISR/Sensor-Fusion and analytical efforts were directly responsible for removing over 3,000lbs of homemade explosives (HME) from the battlefield.

 Most recently, Jameson has held positions as the Chief Technology Officer at Digital Defense Surveillance; a Principal consultant at ELC Enterprises; a Principal Intelligence Analyst at Leonie Industries; and a JSR and AOC Subject Matter Expert at SAIC.

 In addition to his new position at Stampede, Jameson also serves as a faculty member at Unmanned Vehicle University.  Jameson also volunteers as the Air Force Association’s Arizona State Vice-President for Aerospace Education.

“Eric is a dedicated professional who has a comprehensive knowledge of unmanned aerial vehicles and their applications,” Kelly added. “He is going to play a very important role in developing and deploying Stampede’s long-term product and support programs in this dynamic and rapidly growing product category.” 

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.”

New Yorkers Can Find Out If They Have What It Takes To Be A Professional Drone Pilot

For the second time in two months, New York metropolitan area career hunters will have the chance to find out if they have what it takes to become a certified professional drone operator, as Unmanned Vehicle University (www.uxuuniversity.com) flies into New York on May 14th to host a special three-day seminar at The Regus Business Center located at 340 Madison Avenue (19thFloor). Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Unmanned Vehicle University is the only university in the world that is licensed to offer graduate degree programs in Unmanned Systems Engineering Engineering and Project Management Certificates in unmanned systems technology.

“According to the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of the unmanned systems and robotics communities, the rapid adoption of drones in a wide variety of commercial markets is going to create more than 100,000 jobs and $82-billion in economic impact over the next ten years,” Unmanned Vehicle University Provost John Minor said today.  “I don’t think there’s another career field creating as many opportunities as this anywhere in the United States, let alone the world.”

The range of career opportunities waiting to be filled in a variety of commercial markets is vast and growing larger every day, according to Minor — 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 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 New York seminar, which runs from May 14 to May 17, is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive introduction unmanned aerial vehicles and the many high paying career opportunities this rapidly growing field is likely to create over the next ten years. “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, have already revolutionized the way our military conducts field operations,” Unmanned Vehicle University Provost John Minor said today.

For $1,499, participants will receive a comprehensive introduction to one of the fastest growing career opportunities in the world.  “Our three-day seminar is optimal for people looking to increase their UAV employment opportunities, start their own UAV business, or begin a career as a UAV Pilot,” Minor said. “Plus, the seminar counts as four credits towards a univesity degree program.”

For more information on registration, visithttp://www.uxvuniversity.com/. Any active duty member of the United States Armed Forces will automatically receive a $100 discount off the $1,499 seminar fee.  Please call 602-759-7372or email jroetzer@uxvuniverstiy.com to claim your coupon code for online ordering.