WATSONVILLE — Alongside a little-known grass landing strip at Monterey Bay Academy Thursday, a group of drone companies gathered for what organizers hope will be an annual event, and will draw participants to learn about the burgeoning industry.
The Professional Drone Demo Day was a chance for people who manufacture drones, and drone accessories such as parachutes, to display their wares.
Jeff Gibney of Transition Robotics in Bonny Doon was at the event to demonstrate his company’s Jump Ship, a drone with an 8-foot wingspan designed to carry a payload of up to 30 pounds.
This could be scientific instruments or a camera.
The Jump Ship is designed to take off straight up like a helicopter, and then level out and fly autonomously up to 30 miles per hour on a pre-programmed route.
It can be used for search and rescue, inspecting solar installations or studying agricultural fields, among other things, Gibney said.
The event was also an opportunity to show off the flight and performance capabilities of the machines. That’s rare for drone exhibitions, which too often come with restrictions since they are normally held in large indoor arenas in large cities, said organizer Chris Bley of InspecTools.
The event came the day after the Drone World Expo in San Jose.
“This brings together drone technicians and the people who want to know more about them,” Bley said.
The event was also created to spark interest and quell suspicion for a public wary of issues such as privacy in a time when industries are increasingly relying on drones, Bley said.
“We’re creating a drone innovation hub right here on the campus,” he said.
