5 Ways to Make the Most of AUVSI’s XPONENTIAL 2021

Claim your seat at xponential.org. (Use code XPO21SWP for 20% off.)

XPONENTIAL is a globally-recognized gathering for leaders and users of unmanned technology. Each year, it brings together thousands of the industry’s top minds—from engineers, to policymakers, to pilots—to cultivate collaboration, spark new ideas, and design the future of autonomy.

From August 16-19, you’re invited to Atlanta for the in-person edition—with new keynotes, educational sessions, and safely-facilitated networking.

We put together this brief guide to help you navigate the benefits of attending this unique event. Scroll down to preview some of the can’t-miss opportunities, and visit AUVSI’s own “What to Expect” guide for more information. 

1. Earn Trusted Operators Program (TOP) certification to set yourself apart.

This year at XPONENTIAL you’ll have the opportunity to get your TOP Level 1 Certification through an exclusive, instructor-facilitated workshop in partnership with the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. (Registration also includes free access to the virtual XPO Hall!) 

The TOP course is only a four-week investment, but it pays immediate dividends to any commercial UAS operator who wants to demonstrate their expertise beyond the baseline Part 107 requirements:  

• Professional Advancement: TOP Operators stand out among other remote pilots, making you more desirable to prospective employers and giving you a competitive advantage when negotiating rates and salaries.
• Recognition: As the premier industry certification, a TOP Operator designation shows that you possess a high level of experience, skills, and knowledge and are committed to professional development.
• Demonstrated Safety: TOP Operator certification signals to customers and employers that you are focused on operating safely.

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2. Get the latest intel on expanded UAS operations.

Here are a few of the topics being covered in the 2021 curriculum: 

• Adapting legacy airspace into mixed-use, heterogenous airspace
• Ongoing challenges for drone deliveries, and charting the path to scalable operations
• New technologies and standards for detect-and-avoid systems

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3. Take advantage of the on-demand content library. 

Need to stay occupied during the three months prior to the event? Your XPONENTIAL registration includes on-demand content that you can explore at your own pace. 

The on-demand library takes the usual anxiety out of attending an event, because you won’t have to worry about fitting every virtual session into your calendar. You’ll have all summer to revisit your favorite sessions or check out the ones you missed!

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4. Attend keynotes from leaders in UAS and automation. 

The 2021 keynote lineup for XPONENTIAL includes trailblazers from across the industry who are charting the future of unmanned systems. Keynotes at the Atlanta event will be announced soon, but the diverse line-up of speakers at our May 4-6 virtual event are already top notch. They’ll inspire you to think deeply about innovation in UAS technology, potential applications for your career, and the implications of unmanned technologies for society. 

Here are two virtual keynotes we recommend you add to your calendar: 

• Adam Bry, CEO & Co-Founder, Skydio (and former Co-Founder, Project Wing)
• Peter Singer, award-winning author, ASU professor, and futurist

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5. Choose your favorite way to network with fellow pilots and UAS operators.

Networking at events is usually a love-it-or-hate-it experience. For the first time, this year’s hybrid XPONENTIAL experience lets you choose how you prefer to connect with your peers, potential customers, and prospective employers. 

During the virtual event, you can customize your online profile, send direct messages to exhibitors and fellow attendees, and participate in networking roundtable discussions. Then, throughout the summer, you’ll get access to a private XPONENTIAL LinkedIn group to keep making connections. Finally, at the Atlanta event, you’ll get to meet people the old-fashioned way: in-person. (Remember what that’s like?!)