Drone Fair to take off in the Greater Toronto Area

OSHAWA, Ont.— Drone races, hands-on workshops and conversations with drone experts and vendors: all of these are coming to the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) gymnasiums on Saturday, November 26 and Sunday, November 27.

Drone Fair Ontario, in partnership with the ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel at UOIT, brings together innovators and professional pilots for a two-day exhibition celebrating drone technology.

The theme of Drone Fair is Know before you fly, a message supported by Transport Canada, the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada and Unmanned Systems Canada.

Attendees can register for the DaVinci Challenge: Build a Drone Workshop run by Kashmir Robotics. This hands-on workshop will expose participants to science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics through critical thinking, on-the-spot decision making and teamwork. Teams will build and fly a state-of-the-art drone through integration of power and propulsion, avionics, mission planning, autonomous mission training, and piloting. Spots are limited; advanced registration is required.

Student teams from several Ontario post-secondary institutions will compete in a University Drone Build Challenge based on problem solving, design and flight. The winning team will receive a $2,500 scholarship.

Drone popularity has increased dramatically in the last several years, with 4.3 million consumer drones valued at $1.7 billion sold worldwide in 2015. By 2024, the drone industry is expected to generate $11.5 billion in sales.

“We’re seeing a huge growth in drone use commercially and recreationally,” says Declan Sweeney, Co-founder of Drone Fair. “It’s amazing what these machines can do to benefit society, but education is necessary to prevent any accidents.”

Sweeney says federal legislation is being drafted to co-ordinate the safe integration of this technology into our Canadian airspace.

“ACE at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology is leading the world in product validation and research related to safety and reliability of commercial drones,” says Don Toporowski, General Manager of the $100-million ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel and ACE Centre for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Research. “With this event, we want to share with the public the tremendous opportunities available with UAVs, and at the same time show how Canada can lead the way in research and development in this sector.”

General admission early bird tickets are on sale for a limited time for $20 and can be purchased online at dronefair.ca.

About Drone Fair

Drone Fair was created to promote the growing drone industry in Canada with respect to innovation and safety. Co-founders Declan Sweeney and Steve Watts have amalgamated their respective professions in technology and entertainment to create an event that celebrates the innovators, vendors, pilots and enthusiasts. We aim to entice, education and elevate drone technology. To learn more, visit dronefair.ca.

About ACE

The ACE research and testing facility offers chambers and technology for climatic, structural durability and life-cycle testing. Facilities include one of the largest and most sophisticated climatic wind tunnels (CWT) on the planet. In the CWT, wind speeds can reach 300 kilometres per hour with temperatures that range from -40 to +60°C. With our solar arrays and storm generators we can create any weather conditions imaginable, from sweltering jungle downpours to the paralyzing cold of an arctic storm. We use these chambers to test automotive and aerospace products, to improve the performance of elite athletes and to provide services to many other markets, including the unmanned aerial vehicle industry, civil engineering, film and television, and motorsports.

UOIT contact

Colin Howard
ACE Marketing Specialist and Account Manager
289.688.0930
colin.howard@uoit.ca

Drone Fair Ontario contact

Steve Watts
Co-founder Drone Fair Ontario
778.995.1841
steve@dronefair.ca

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