Out to 2022, the global uptake of drones - in agriculture, defence and health industries - is expected to power an expansion of the global unmanned aerial systems (UAS) market. Australia is well placed to benefit.
Between 2015 and 2022, the global commercial market in UAS is forecast to grow from US$4.01 billion to US$5.04 billion according to a 2018 report by Frost & Sullivan. Importantly for Australia, Asia-Pacific is at the heart of this growth and regional revenues are expected to surpass North American revenues by 2022.
In Australia alone, there are over 1200 drone operators who are rapidly developing technologies and services that support the larger drone ecosystem. Today, Australia is a growing hub for Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) testing.
Recognising the need to accelerate and mature the commercial and corporate business aspects of the industry, the World of Drones Congress was created in 2017.
The World of Drones Congress will focus on the business of drones, and how drones can be applied to industry, business and the delivery of government services. The 2018 Congress focused on the burgeoning commercial applications of drones, including planning smart cities, training, agriculture, health and humanitarian needs. It also discussed drone laws, regulation and future jobs.
Co-Founder and Technical Curator, Dr Catherine Ball, believes that some large entities and potential customers concentrate on the risks of new drone technologies rather than the potential reward.
'The World of Drones Congress has created a platform where academics, start-ups, and large corporations and government departments can get together to talk about real-world applications - and the legal, risk, and health & safety aspects,' she says. 'By doing this, we are able to dispel myths, and get rid of the 'smoke and mirrors' that can be accidentally created by the over-enthusiasm of emerging tech supporters.'
Now in its third edition, World of Drones Congress 2019 will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 26-27 September 2019. Over 1200 delegates from across the Asia-Pacific and beyond are expected to attend. The congress will feature a business expo with over 30 exhibitors from Australia, China and Japan.
