09/08/2026
CHARLOTTE UAS OPERATORS — NOT EVERY DRONE OPPORTUNITY HAS “DRONE” IN THE TITLE.
This one caught my attention.
On September 12, IEEE is bringing its Tech Futures: Embodied & Physical AI session to EPIC at UNC Charlotte.
This isn’t a drone conference—and that’s exactly why I think it’s worth putting on the radar.
Physical AI brings together technologies increasingly overlapping with commercial UAS:
Robotics • Computer Vision • Autonomous Systems • Edge Computing • Intelligent Infrastructure • Inspection
The program includes a robotics-lab tour, live demonstration, industry applications, panel discussion and networking. IEEE says applications being discussed span manufacturing, energy, healthcare and logistics.
For commercial drone operators, I see another opportunity here:
Look beyond the aircraft.
Infrastructure inspection, autonomous data collection, computer vision, AI at the edge and robotics are increasingly becoming parts of the same technology ecosystem.
And sometimes the most valuable room for a drone professional to enter isn’t filled exclusively with drone professionals.
📍 EPIC — UNC Charlotte
📅 Saturday, September 12
⏰ 9:00 AM–12:30 PM ET
💻 Hybrid
💰 No admission charge
https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/567969?utm_source=chatgpt.com
There’s also a networking component at the end—and IEEE’s Charlotte organizers say the broader gathering is bringing together professionals from companies including NVIDIA, Duke Energy, Lowe’s and Amazon Robotics.
Learn the technology. Meet the people building it. Then figure out where UAS fits.
👇 Let’s Connect & Collaborate 👇
https://openskyimageriesllc.com
https://SkyBizness.Com