Global Leadership & Next Generation Innovation
Our commitment to delivering the UK’s most advanced solutions recently took Scott (CTO) and Andy (COO) to Guangzhou, China, for the global XAG Conference. The trip was a great success, offering firsthand experience and collaboration:
- It was great to get hands-on with the next generation of R&D from XAG and witness the incredible pace of change and innovation.
- This trip strengthened our collaboration with the world’s leading agricultural-drone technologists, ensuring our feedback from the UK market directly helps to develop and improve all drone models, both now and in the future.
- The collaboration extended to working with other global XAG distributors, sharing experiences, problems, and solutions to bring back the best practices to the UK and our pilot network.
This week, the international collaboration continues as Rob (CEO) and Andy (COO) speak at different conferences in Europe: Rob at Agritechnica in Germany with XAG and Andy at the Aerial Cities conference in Ireland.
Shaping UK Regulation
We believe in actively shaping the regulatory framework and we’re proud of the role that AutoSpray has played in recent years to establish a thriving commercial environment for safe, scalable operations. We’ve continued that work recently with more direct engagement with key UK authorities:
BVLOS Training & the CAA: During the second cohort of BVLOS training, members of the CAA Electronic Conspicuity (EC) team joined us on-site to see BVLOS flights in action. This was a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the technology in a live environment, showing first-hand how our drones are recognised by other airspace users and even how they were monitored from nearby Manchester Barton Aerodrome ATC. Demonstrations like this are key to driving wider confidence and adoption of EC across the drone industry and supporting the CAA’s forward-thinking policy.
The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO): AutoSpray was quoted in RIO’s ‘One Year On’ report, further demonstrating our involvement in discussions on streamlining regulation to unlock growth in the UK drone sector. We shared how RIO helped us overcome regulatory obstacles that resulted in annual losses of approximately £200 million in crop yields for the sector. It’s a great illustration of how our engagement supports progressive regulatory approaches essential for developing this rapidly evolving sector.
Scaling Up: The Commercial Imperative
We are continuously working to open up markets and provide our network with the commercial tools and knowledge they need to succeed.
- ‘Agri-Tech Frontiers’ Series Continues
Don’t miss our next webinar in collaboration with ARPAS-UK. Join us on Thursday this week for the second session in our series, providing the critical strategic context for the future of our industry. This month’s session features Craig Roberts, Head of Aerial Intelligence & Innovation at PwC UK and lead author of the ‘UK Drone Regulations and Net Risk’ report. The discussion will reframe the debate from isolated aviation risk to the concept of Net Risk, showing how drones actively reduce overall harm by replacing dangerous traditional methods.
Book your place now for: The Commercial Imperative: Net Risk and Picking Winners, and Nurturing Agri-Tech - Essential Business Q&A Recording
If you missed last month’s highly informative seminar on business fundamentals, we’ve made the recording available. This session covers vital topics like knowing your running costs, pricing strategies, and logistics planning, featuring insights from AutoSpray CEO Rob Pearson, Peter Johnson from QRS, and active pilots in the AutoSpray Pilot Network. It’s a great resource for anybody considering their own entrance to the world of agri-drone operations. Watch now. - Flight Logs: Get Paid Faster and Promote Your Work
Want to see how drone operators harness technology to improve cash flow and win clients? Every flight log from an XAG drone is a powerful tool. To illustrate the tech in action and demonstrate practical applications, check out our walk through. - The ‘Drone Spraying King’ 👑
Andy Sproson appeared on the ‘Drone Business Show’ podcast last month. Listen as he shares his journey from police officer to industry leader, discussing the shifts in technology, regulation, and business trends that are redefining modern agriculture across the UK and globally.
Matt Williams introduced Andy as the ‘Drone Spraying King’, a nod to Andy’s leadership in the industry. If you see a crown emoji on his LinkedIn bio, you’ll know the compliment has gone to his head.
Listen now.