Page 12 - TPA Journal May June 2021

“Drones For Good” Program

Sponsored by NPS-DDP.

It has been said that an idea typicall y starts with i dentifyin g a p r oblem - and ther e is no s horta g e of
p
s
y
It has been said that an idea typically starts with identifying a problem - and there is no shortage of
n
n
of
m minimize
T The
way
and
problems. The trick is how to navigate our way through life and minimize the e ects of a given problem
e
the

navigate our
pr
e
ects
to
oblems.
oblem
thr
is
trick
a
life
give pr
how
ough
while maximizing the benefit of solving it. As a child growing up, my parents instilled in us the importance ortance
instilled
m
y
p
m
benefit
,
while
g
solvin
of
the im
win
izin
it.
g
us
As
a
child
gr
up
ents
ar
p
maxi
m
in
the
o
g
o
have pr
with
as
helping
others.
deal
kin and
you
nd
to
of
of being kind and helping others. They also told us, “ you will have problems to deal with as you navigate
navigate
oblems
you
will
told
being
“
us,
They also
the
every
In
is
e
solution”.
r,
s
,
oblem,
i a
of
oblems,
pr
life; however, for every problem, there is a solution”. In fact, the tag line of my company is “No problems,
company
ther
howeve for
tag line
er
g
fact,
life;
o
“No pr
my
just solutions”. I have maintained this outlook throughout my life. Think outside the box and work to
just solutionns”. I have maintained this outlook thr oughout my life Think outside the box annd work to
s
e.
make the solution a reality. .ealityolution a r
make the so
e pr
In 2016, I foounded Airbor ne W orks. A UA solutions and har dware p ovider , based in Connec cticut. In
U VAV
In 2016, I founded Airborne Works. A UAV solutions and hardware provider, based in Connecticut. In
y
u
this area, we have a number of volunteer fire departments in just about every town. Many of my
this ar ea, w we have a number of volunnteer fir e departments in just about every town. Many of my
g
o these
m
friends from high school and colleagues that I grew up with have become members of these
friends fr om high school and colleagues that I gr ew up with have become members of
sorfir
t
departments, some as EMTs or firefighters, others have gone into law enforcement. epartmentts, some as EMTTs efighters, others have gone into law enfor cement.
d
ou
Y Yo have to admir e the brave men
You have to admire the brave men
n
and women for their fine work! For
and women for their fine work! For
the most paart, they shar e a common
the most part, they share a common
quality: a d desir e to help others in
quality: a desire to help others in
desp
need, despite personal risk! As a aAsrisk!personalpite
need,
society, we all benefit from the work
society , we all benefit fr om the work
we
those
do
of
individuals,
of those selfless individuals, do we
seelfless
not? I know I would have a hard time
not?
know would
have
I
w
d
har
a
I
time
w
n i l a
e
d
g
dealing with the tragedy and dnaydegartehthtiw
at
carnage that many of these men and
car nage tha many of these men and
women face on a daily basis. The
women face on a daily basis. The
dissconnect
to
and
your
ability
ability to disconnect and do your job
do
job
others ar
su
ering

e
you
ound
s
ar
while
while others around you are su ering
you life
speaks
or
or when your life is in danger speaks
danger
r
when
is
u
in
characterr.
their
It
is
.
volumes
volumes about their character. It is
abbout
an amazing quality in and of itself
amazing quality in
an amazing quality in and of itself
g
an
g
itself
and of
and we ar e all blessed to have such
and we are all blessed to have such
men and women in our ruoninemowd
m
n
a
n
e
communities. communitiees.

of
article,
this
At the start of this article, I mentioned that
the
s start
mentiooned
At
that
I
t
t i l a y
m
e r e
in reality there are “no problems, just tsuj, sm
o
n
n i
h t
e r
o r p
e r a
“
e l b
solutions”. One of the problems I faced as I Iasaced
solutionss”. One of the pr oblems I fa
started
A Airbor
started Airborne Works was deciding where ewherng
ne
orks
decidin
was
W
gy so
tha I could

focus my
so tha
could
my ener
I
at
energy

at
to
I
d
wanted to focus
d
I wanted
I wanted to focus my energy so that I could
have the most positive impact and still
have thhe most positive impact and still
make a living. To me, the answer was clear:
o
make a living. T To me, the answer w was clear:
d
Public Safety. I quickly identified drones
Public S Safety . I quickly identified dr ones
the payloads
can
you
as
attach
to them
and
and the payloads you can attach to them as
Safety
Public
. Pr
being of benefit to Public Safety. Problem
f
oblem
to
of benefit
being
depaartments
the
of
solved? Not really, most of the departments
most
solved? Not
eally
r
,
d
a
n
A AV
that we o ered our UAV and thermal lamreht
t a
V
h t
U
we
e o
r u
o
e r e

d
solutions to said the same thing: “man this
s
solutions to said the same thing: “man this
si

v i s
e

e ex
n
e
p
x xp

t o
d

s ' t i
u t s

n

n
stu is expensive and it's not in our ruoni

a
lot of
bake
is g
take
goingg
a
budget” It
to
budget”. It is going to take a lot of bake
.
g
sales, ra es, and bingo nights to pay for a piece of hardware that can cost as much as $30,000. s, and bingo nights to pay for a piece of har
sales, ra e o dwar e that can cost as much as $30,000.
0
c
May-June 2021 www.texaspoliceassociation.com • (512) 458-3140 9