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Like many of you, at this time of year I look forward to the holidays and spending time with family and friends.

I pause and think, where did this past year go? It seems like just yesterday I was still keeping my 2011 New Year's resolutions. As I look back, I recall the many accomplishments of AUVSI and the unmanned systems community in 2011.

We [more]

This month, my column coincides with my six-month mark as AUVSI’s senior communications manager. As I reflect on my time here I liken it much to a rollercoaster ride — it has had its heart-thumping hills, twists and turns and a pretty big adrenaline rush.

When I started in March, I was greeted at the office with “Hi, welcome to AUVSI. There has been a terrible tsunami near Japan, which has led to a dangerous situation at a nuclear plant, and we need to put a call out to our members for help.” I reached out to our members, many responded, and the next thing I knew the phone was ringing off the hook with reporters wanting to talk about what unmanned systems are and their capabilities outside the theater of war. That was the first time I saw the “international” in AUVSI as a capital “I.” During that time we were one international community coming together. [more]

Just as the unmanned systems industry is growing in a variety of different areas—military use, agriculture, health care, you name it—so AUVSI is branching out to spread the word in different ways.

We noticed that unmanned systems and robotics technology is making its way into many areas of life. It’s in the robotic vacuum cleaner that bumps into your feet, it’s in your car that can stay in its lane when you’re not paying attention, it’s in your house, which can choose to run the dryer when electricity rates are at their lowest. [more]

October means fall is in the air. Our senses are filled with the sight of leaves turning brilliant shades of red and gold. All around us the sounds, sights and smells of crackling fireplaces, pumpkins, apple orchards, Indian corn, football and the morning frost remind us of the changing times and summer past. It is a time to reflect on the year’s harvest and preparing for the upcoming winter. It is also a time to reflect on the seeds planted earlier this year by AUVSI’s research team and where that harvest stands today. [more]

We’re only halfway through 2011 and this year has been one of our busiest yet.  We have focused on creating additional products and services and enhancing our current portfolio in support of our members and the unmanned systems and robotics communities.  We’ve realized nearly a 10% increase in both corporate and individual membership since the beginning of the year.  Our corporate and individual members hail from 25 and 54 countries, respectively, so our global footprint is continuing to grow as the advancement and fielding of unmanned systems and robotics becomes a global reality. [more]