The purpose of the workshop is to identify the value and importance of developing UAV technology in Atlantic Canada and to encourage interested in the application of this new and disruptive technology. The workshop will highlight the current status of UAVs, their current application areas, future possibilities and open problems for researchers and practitioners.  

We will kick off the with lunch and a keynote speaker who will provided an overview of UAVs - past,  present and future. This will be followed by a series of short  talks from regional company owners and experts who will cover the challenges and opportunities of developing and applying UAV technology in Canada and around the world. 

 The event has a cost of $20 which includes lunch and afternoon snacks.  Click here to register:

 https://eventreg.acadiau.ca/events/aida-uavdrones-201511/

 

Workshop Schedule

12:00PM - 12:30PM  Lunch/Networking

12:30PM - 12:45PM   Welcome: Danny Silver, Director - AIDA

12:45PM - 1:45PM    Keynote Speaker –Stewart Baillie, Unmanned Systems Canada

1:45PM -  2:15PM    Refreshments/Networking

2:15PM – 3:15PM     Short Talks: John Frost (Frostbyte Interactive), David Fraser (MacInnes 

3:15PM – 3:30PM     Refreshments/Networking

3:30PM – 4:30PM     Group Think and Share

 

Keynote Speaker: Stewart Ballie

Bio:  Stewart holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the University of Washington, and a Masters of Science in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology.  He has over 30 years experience in aviation flight test, as a researcher, manager and ultimately Director of the NRC Flight Research Laboratory.  He has worked in the Unmanned Aircraft sector since 2003, leading the development of the NRC Civil UAS Program.  In 2013, Mr. Baillie retired from NRC and is now a private consultant.  He continues to be very active with the unmanned vehicle systems industry in Canada, having just concluded a three year period on the Board of Directors of Unmanned Systems Canada and the past two years as the Chairman of that board.  

Abstract:   Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as “drones”, have become a public topic of interest and scrutiny over the past few years – we have all seen the headlines about mysterious drones flying too close to airliners and quadcopter cameras peeping into apartment windows!  As with any media sensation, we must remember that there is more to the subject than can be expressed in a 10 second sound bite! The talk will discuss how this technology came to be, what has prompted the technology explosion in the past few years, how and why UAS are being used for legitimate, business purposes, and how the Canadian regulations governing the use of UAS are protecting us, yet allowing the industry to evolve. The talk will address the challenge we are all facing regarding the recreational use of this amazing technology, as well as some ideas on what the future holds.

Short Talk Speakers

Richard van der Put  (Skysquirrel Technologies). Bio: Richard has 9 years of scientific research experience during which he has been specifically involved in the development of image analysis algorithms for a number of applications ranging from robotics to cancer treatment. He has a strong background in imaging physics, image analysis, signal processing, and algorithm development. The last 3 years he has been leading the R&D team of a small high-tech company as VP of innovation where he has been instrumental in acquiring over $2M in R&D grants. Richard graduated from the Eindhoven University of Technology with a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering.

Patrick Edwards-Daugherty (Plaedies Robotics). Bio: Patrick founded Pleiades in 1999, after studying theoretical physics at McGill and Cambridge. Pleiades has a history developing software, games, virtual worlds, and other technology, especially in education and research. The company became Pleiades Robotics in 2012. We are currently supporting a beta release of our first robotics product, Spiri. Spiri is a micro-UAV, a fully programmable, autonomous, quadcopter robot.

John Frost (Frostbyte Interactive Inc. and AerHyve Aerial Technologies).  Bio: John worked extensively in geophysical research and exploration before returning to university to complete studies in International Relations/Intercultural Studies. With broad national and international project exposure, he is a cross-cultural specialist in technology adaptation. Through the Aerhyve brand, the company focus is on the analysis of UAV data with Machine Learning, providing actionable intelligence for agricultural and industrial applications. An entrepreneur and technophile, John is always pursuing opportunities which make a local-global impact.

David Fraser (McInnes Cooper). Bio: David is a partner with McInnes Cooper where he practices internet, privacy and media law. He is Canadian privacy and internet law counsel to some of the world’s best known brands. He regularly advises a range of clients – from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies – on all aspects of technology, privacy laws and compliance.  He is an invited speaker on privacy laws for both Canadian and international clients. David also acts for complainants and respondents in matters referred to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. He is the author of the popular Canadian Privacy Law Blog (blog.privacylawyer.ca) and an avid UAV videographer, and becoming well known for his aerial videos of Nova Scotia (http://bit.ly/DavidDrone)

Abstract:  For a large segment of the public, the use of the word “drone” quickly leads to a discussion about privacy. The regulation of privacy in Canada is very complicated, with overlapping statutes and messy common law rules about “invasion of privacy” and “intrusion upon seclusion.” When a UAV is a sensor platform, operators need to be aware of the privacy rules that govern their operations. This presentation will provide an overview of the federal and provincial privacy laws that affect UAV operators and what may be looming over the horizon.

The event has a cost of $20 which includes lunch and afternoon snacks.  Click here to register:

 https://eventreg.acadiau.ca/events/aida-uavdrones-201511/