Star Wars and Hunger Games maybe a little closer to reality than we may think.
Eileen Shibly, featured speaker at Plane Crazy, the monthly event at Mojave Air and Space Port, introduced Monarch Inc., a drone design and manufacture company who builds custom programs for various clients. She currently serves as the director of the California Unmanned Aircraft Systems and is working to expand the company in Ridgecrest.
“There aren’t many set rules or laws out there so it is pretty much up to curtesy and common sense,” Shibly said while introducing a drone that uses a combination of unique cameras and software for surveillance.
Drones can be used when aircraft are not feasible or possible. Other than military purposes, drones are also used in agriculture for early detection of crop health, search and rescue, and film production.
Monarch also offers a three-day class and support for customers who wish to operate their own drone. Currently, she said there is nationwide shortage of pilots.
An estimated 11.8 billion will be spent over the next decade on drones for commercial purposes alone. Hailing from Ohio, Shibly also wrote a book, Daisy Saves the Corn, to help with the stigma of drones.