Bill Irby is the CEO of AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. AgEagle is a global technology leader specializing in enhancing situational awareness through advanced robotics solutions. The company focuses on providing autonomous drones designed to tackle mission-critical challenges with high-value solutions. Founded in 2010, AgEagle initially pioneered professional-grade, fixed-wing drones and aerial imagery tailored to the agriculture industry. Over the years, the company has expanded its reach and is now a leading provider of full-stack drone solutions for industries including energy, construction, agriculture, and government sectors worldwide. As CEO, Bill brings a wealth of experience to AgEagle. A United States Naval Academy graduate, Bill has more than 25 years of senior management expertise in uncrewed air and maritime systems, ISR systems, actuation hardware, and communication systems. His career includes serving as Vice President at Northrop Grumman, one of the world’s largest defense technology providers, generating $30 billion annually. He also served as President of MTI and Steel Partners Holdings. &nbsp;Additionally, Bill is an active Board member of Ghost Robotics and the Chairman of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Bill discusses AgEagle’s evolution and technology, the company’s expansion into military and public safety markets and the role of AI and innovation in the Drone Industry.

Shaping the Future of the Drone industry Through innovation.

Hessle Audio feat. Pearson Sound - 17 March 2025

Lori DeMatteis is Chief Revenue Officer of Matrix Space.&nbsp; MatrixSpace is a leading technology company specializing in advanced radar systems that deliver real-time situational awareness for uncrewed and autonomous systems. Their compact, lightweight radars offer precise detection and tracking, making them ideal for drones, advanced air mobility (AAM), public safety, and critical infrastructure. By integrating cutting-edge radar with AI, MatrixSpace enables safe, efficient operations in complex and dynamic airspace. Lori plays a key role at MatrixSpace, leading sales and go-to-market strategies across various industries and regions. She has a strong track record of driving revenue growth for emerging technologies—taking companies public or guiding them through mergers. Prior to MatrixSpace, she served as Global VP of Customer Success, Sales, and Marketing at Iris Automation, and held leadership positions at GE, Oracle, Emerson, Honeywell, and Lavin Holdings. Her expertise spans hardware, software, and networking. As beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations expand, the demand for scalable, precise detect-and-avoid solutions grows. MatrixSpace's portable radar systems are designed to meet that need. The company recently announced partnerships with AAM provider Skyway and public safety leader Advexure to support airspace awareness and safety. Lori works closely with these and other UAS/AAM partners to help navigate the evolving landscape of airspace management. In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Lori talks about MatrixSpace, their radar technology, and how organizations are integrating these tools into their airspace operations.

Can a small portable radar system scale drone operations?

New Blood (Skit)
Dexterous Disciple feat Amen Ra - "Born Of Your Mind"
Identities - "The Jig Is Up" 
Dexterous Disciple - "Remember Your Self" 
Dexterous Disciple - "Unknown FM" 
Identities feat Low Density Matter- "Ghosts" 
Identities - "In The Grooves" 
Identities feat Double Helix- "Choppa" 
Identities - "The End" 
Double Helix feat Low Density Matter- "Flight"
Amen Ra - "Turn It Around" (Beatless version)
Emptiness is Form (Skit)
No Fixed Abode feat Amen Ra - "Mercy" 


LHF live on Sub Fm 23rd March 2025

Dawn Zoldi is CEO and Founder of P3 Tech Consulting and Publisher of Autonomy Global. &nbsp;P3 Tech is an internationally recognized company that provides consulting, content, and education on emerging technologies, with a special focus on legal and regulatory issues in autonomous systems. The company is best known for its award-winning Dawn of Autonomy podcast (formerly Dawn of Drones) and its global media platform, Autonomy Global, which connects people passionate about advanced tech policy with the programs and insights they need to succeed. Dawn is a licensed attorney and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, with 28 years of military and federal service. She’s also a Part 107 certified drone pilot and an internationally recognized expert in uncrewed aircraft system law and policy. Her work has been featured on Fox News, CNN, Forbes, Newsweek, and PBS. Her Dawn of Autonomy podcast was named one of the “Top 7 Drone Podcasts of 2024” by The Drone Girl and “Best Drone Podcast of the Year 2023” by The Droning Company. She is also the author of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Legal and Business Considerations: A Modern Primer for U.S. Drone Programs. In early 2025, Congress passed a continuing resolution to keep the U.S. government funded. But what does that mean for the drone industry? In this episode, Dawn breaks it down—especially for companies working in autonomy, robotics, drones, and AI technologies for defense. She also shares updates on her Law-Tech Connect Workshop and the latest from Autonomy Global.

Funding the Future: How the 2025 CR Impacts Drones, Autonomy, and AI:  Dawn Zoldi, P3 Tech Consulting and Autonomy Global

Stéphane Timpano is&nbsp;CEO of ASPIRE, the program management and business development arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council located in Abu Dhabi. The ATRC’s mission is to build a vibrant research and development ecosystem that supports Abu Dhabi—and the broader UAE—in its transformation into a knowledge-based economy. With nearly 1,000 employees representing over 70 nationalities, the Council is also investing in the next generation of innovators through a wide range of STEM initiatives. ASPIRE drives the Council’s programmatic efforts by crowdsourcing top global talent through international competitions and grand challenges. These challenges are designed to tackle real-world problems—everything from global hunger and maritime safety to the future of autonomous mobility—by bringing together experts from academia and industry to co-create cutting-edge solutions. As CEO, Stéphane leads ASPIRE’s strategic direction and oversees relationships with key stakeholders and partners. He brings more than 15 years of management consulting experience, including major transformation initiatives at Bain &amp; Company in Dubai and Nigeria. His industry expertise spans telecom, media, tech, private equity, and energy. Before consulting, Stéphane worked in the media industry in South Africa and Italy, gaining valuable experience at Sky Italia News Corporation and IMS. He has also been deeply involved in social impact and economic development projects with organizations such as the World Bank, Gates Foundation, Acumen, and Endeavor. He holds an MBA from SDA Bocconi in Milan and a degree in Business Administration from Aix-Marseille University in France. Recently, more than 2,500 people gathered to watch top autonomous drone racers compete for a $1 million prize pool at the Autonomous Drone Racing Grand Championship in Abu Dhabi.&nbsp; And in case you were wondering, MavLab, from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, secured victories in three out of four competitions. They clinched the AI Grand Challenge with their drone completing two laps of the 170-metre course in just 17 seconds. MavLab won the world’s first AI-only drag race, demonstrating straight-line speed and precision under intense acceleration.&nbsp; And in a landmark moment, MavLab’s autonomous drone defeated three top DCL champion pilots in a head-to-head AI-versus-human showdown. With precision flying, the AI-powered drone edged out its human-piloted rivals in thrilling contests.&nbsp; In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Stéphane shares insights into ASPIRE’s mission, the rise of autonomous racing challenges, and the broader impact these competitions can have across technology, education, and industry.

Racing Into the Future: How Abu Dhabi Is Accelerating Autonomous Innovation: Stephane Timpano, CEO ASPIRE UAE

Mike Fraietta is Co-Founder of Gargoyle Systems, a leader in drone detection technology that delivers real-time aerial threat intelligence to security professionals, businesses, and homeowners. With advanced detection capabilities and seamless integration, Gargoyle Systems enables proactive protection against unauthorized drone activity. The company is currently building America’s first decentralized Drone Intelligence Network—designed to detect and track both “friendly” and hostile aerial activity, providing real-time awareness of unmanned aircraft in the skies. With a background in innovation and systems thinking, Mike was early to recognize the urgent need for smarter, scalable solutions in aerial security as drones proliferate across commercial, consumer, and military sectors. In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Mike talks about Gargoyle Systems, their decentralized Drone Intelligence Network, and how individual asset managers can protect against the growing threat of drone-enabled crime. He also shares insights from his recent visit to the Russia-Ukraine border, where he studied evolving “dark” drones, counter-drone technology, and operational training led by the Ukrainian Drone Command.

Countering the Rise of Drone Enabled Crime:  Mike Fraietta, Gargoyle Systems

A small network of DJs in the suburbs of Lisbon, Portugal has been consistently producing some of the world’s best dance music. The children of African immigrants, these young musicians have combined a hemisphere of musical influences and distilled them down into a single astonishing style. But how did Lisbon start to make such great African music? And what does that say about the identity of the city, or the country, or the continent? On this special Hip Deep edition, we take you on a journey to Lisbon, a city facing both the sea and 600 years of its own history. We’ll go to African club nights, hang out with obsessive record collectors, learn how to dance kizomba, and visit the projects that have produced a musical revolution. And through it all, we will try to answer a seemingly simple question: Just where did this music come from? 

Produced by Sam Backer
APWW #722

Afro-Lisbon and the Lusophone Atlantic

The development of the popular Jamaican style is audible in this fun-packed, loosely chronological selection of tunes, moving from a US-style shuffle to ska to rock steady, toasting, dub, and Rastafarian reggae. Programmed by and using the record collection of reggae connoisseur and KPFK radio host Chuck Foster. Produced by Ned Sublette. Consulting scholar and guest programmer: Chuck Foster, who is still on the air 33 years later!

Ten Tunes That Shook Kingston

Michael Hill is Program Manager of College Workforce Programs at the Unmanned Safety Institute.&nbsp; The Unmanned Safety Institute or USI is an approved training partner of ASTM International and the International Business Aviation Council. The Institute is dedicated to improving safety in unmanned aviation by applying time-honored aviation safety practices to unmanned aircraft systems. USI accomplishes this mission by developing workforce readiness programs, providing training to UAS crews, and helping flight service providers meet their safety goals. Michael is a certified UAV pilot in three countries with over 6,000 flight hours and more than 7,800 successful, incident-free missions as a Remote Pilot-in-Command. He holds industry and safety certifications from FEMA, OSHA, NIST, and USI. He is a highly sought-after public speaker and industry influencer, passionate about sharing his expertise on UAV technology applications for land, air, and sea operations. He brings a wealth of experience to USI, including aerial mapping, telecom and wind turbine inspections, oil and gas and critical infrastructure assessments, search and rescue operations, as well as involvement with state and federal regulations.  An active advocate for the drone industry, he has served as the Policy and Legislative Chairman for the North Central Texas Council of Governments UAS Taskforce and as the Training Officer for the North Texas Public Safety Unmanned Response Team.&nbsp; Additionally, he holds the role of 2nd Lieutenant and the former Director of Unmanned Operations for the Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. In this addition of the Drone Radio Show, Michael talks about the Unmanned Safety Institute and how it helps prepare students for viable careers in the drone industry.

Shaping the Future of the Drone industry Through innovation.

Drone Radio Show

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