Scott Simmie is a career multi-platform journalist now specializing in drones and other technology content creation.
He’s worked at senior levels for CBC National News and the Toronto Star, reporting from such locations as China, Russia, Thailand, Ethiopia and more. While at The Star, he covered the X Prize in Mojave – the competition that led to Virgin Galactic and sparked space tourism. He has reported from multiple conflict zones, as an EMMY Nominee, and is the co-author of three best-selling, non-fiction books.
Scott has been working in the world of drones since late 2014. His clients have included DJI.
Follow Scott on Twitter @scottsimmie
I’ll say this because I know it: Starting out in FPV isn’t the easiest thing in the world — especially if you have stick time with a really stable platform like the DJI products. Those drones almost fly themselves and don’t require constant input to maintain flight. FPV, therefore, comes with a very steep learning curve. But how best to get started?
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So, parts of North America have been enjoying an unbelievable spell of weather these past few days. As a result, people have been maximizing their outdoor activities – trying to soak up every last bit of sunny goodness before November returns to her grey, wet self. We, naturally, went flying. At least for a bit.
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US drone manufacturer Skydio has said that it has made some senior hires of people with military backgrounds. The news not only comes on Veterans Day, but signals a business direction.
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When Skydio announced its forthcoming X2D drone earlier this year, we were impressed with how badass that thing looked. It was obvious from the design, specs, and literature that this was intended for First Responders, Enterprise users, and even the military. Now, Skydio has released a new video showing the X2D at home in a military environment – and teasing that a new video series is on the way.
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Researchers are looking – and listening – to determine whether there’s something about the feathers of owls that could potentially be used to make drones quieter. It’s pretty cool.
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One of Canada’s leading drone companies has scored a huge first: InDro Robotics has obtained a permit to operate as a domestic air service transporting cargo. This is a big deal.
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We are fortunate enough, at this point in time, to have both the original DJI Mavic Mini, and the new upstart, the Mini 2, at the same time. So it seemed only logical that we should put them into the drone equivalent of The Octagon. Wait until you see the outcome!
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Holy Toledo, Batman! Just take a look at the amazing new drone from Kawasaki!
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There’s a new product leak for DJI, and this one might surprise you: It’s a generator!
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There are plenty of reasons to buy the new DJI Mini 2. In fact, we outlined 10 reasons why you might want to consider picking up the new drone in this story. We also put the new drone to the test in this video. But we have some thoughts, based on personal experience.
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Man, the leaks just don’t stop. Nor, apparently, does DJI’s ability to create a stream of new products. There’s word – and a photo – today that Zoom lenses are coming for the X7 system.
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Skydio, the US drone company that’s leading the AI and automation charge, has announced that it just hired three people for senior positions. The move is part of the company’s push forward following its impressive $100 million Series C raise of venture capital.
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The wait is over. It’s time to put on your headset or crank up your speakers for the latest episode of The Buzz – our podcast that takes the pulse of the rapidly changing drone industry. Today’s guest? Dave Sharpin, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Auterion GS. If you know about Auterion – awesome. If you don’t…you soon will.
You’ve seen some of the leaks. Now, the wait is over. You can now buy the new DJI Mini 2. But should you? Depends on what you’re looking for. But we’ve put together a list of 10 reasons why you might want to consider picking up this amazing little drone.
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Canada’s big drone conference got underway today. The annual gathering of Unmanned Systems Canada / Systèmes Télécommandés Canada (USC-STC) is known for high-level sessions with great learning and some really great speakers. This year’s opening day was no exception.
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The Beagle Drones team today launched an ambitious project the company has been planning since the beginning of this year: a sub-250 gram CineWhoop drone designed so that creators can enjoy flying and capturing great video without requiring deep pockets — or an engineering degree.
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Last week, we told you it looked like there might be a ban in Japan on Chinese-made drones. Now, it’s clear: Japanese government agencies will stop purchasing drones from China as of 2022. We’ll tell you why.
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Well, the cat is apparently out of the bag. And that cat – the Mini 2 Fly More package – appears to be priced at $599. We saw this price elsewhere, but with a new website posting this today we’re confident in saying that appears to be the retail price.
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Ever hear of biomimicry? It’s when an inventor creates something that mimics a biological feature found in nature. Now, engineers at a European technical institute have done that with a drone.
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A new DJI teaser launched on Chinese social media indicates that a new product launch is coming in a couple of days. We’re going out on a logical limb and saying this will be the Mini 2 launch. Why? Read on.
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It’s that time of year again. For many of us – even with the pandemic – it’s time to shop. Whether it’s for Christmas presents, Thanksgiving, or simply to treat yourself or someone you care about, a lot of us are starting to think about ordering gifts like the new DJI Mini 2, which we’ve been covering in the lead-up to its apparently imminent release. And now, DJI itself is offering a helping hand with a newly released Holiday Gift Guide mini-site.
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A team that was part of a year-long Arctic mission recently flew a drone in bitterly cold temperatures at the North Pole. The mission? To gather data to better understand climate change.
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What would happen if you set up a Skydio 2 drone to follow a Tesla Model 3 in Full Self-Driving (Beta) mode? Would it perform as well as the automobile? Better? Buckle up; we’re about to find out.
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We are getting very close, it would seem, to the release of DJI’s replacement for the Mavic Mini: The Mini 2. Based on the fact that Best Buy has put the item on the floor in more than one location — along with hints from DJI staff — we’re betting next week. Specifically, based on an email we received today, November 4. There’s lots to support that.
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