Drone Social Innovation Award

The Drone User Group Network is offering a $10,000 cash prize to the most socially beneficial, documented use of a drone. They call it the Drone Social Innovation Award. 

When we saw that "social" was in the title of the award, we couldn't help but think "that's us!"  We at TATTS unabashedly believe that our focus of combining drones with autism/social skills development is the best application of drones for a social good.   We define social as the skills that people on the autism spectrum so desperately need.  A few examples are:

• Working in a team
• Turn taking
• Perspective taking
• Showing and expressing empathy
• Making positive comments

We also focus on the development of skills that can assist in the finding and holding of employment.  Drones are a burgeoning industry and young adults on the autism spectrum are a perfect fit from equipment maintenance, flight planning, field execution, and image processing.

Watch our video submittal, like it on YouTube and wish us luck!

Fleet Maintenance - Safety First!

Fleet maintenance is an integral part to all the flying that we do.  Any good drone pilot will tell you that pre and post flight checks keep the pilot, the equipment and all those around them safe.  It's amazing how many little things need a little attention after flying.  Like any aircraft, drones need consistent and meticulous care to ensure they are flight worthy.  To that end, TATTS team members participate in all aspects of maintaining the fleet from battery charging to tightening screws, checking the props, body and all electronics for wear, and ensuring that all electical connections are solid and stable. 

Fleet maintenance is one aspect of civilian drone use where young adults and adults on the autism spectrum are very employable.  After all, skill development that may lead to employment opportunities is a key tenet of TATTS.  Attention to detail and focus are some of our team's many strengths and they take good care of the fleet.

Mitchell charges batteries

DJI has graciously donated 4 additional F550 hexacopters of which we have several built below.  The kids follow a standardized checklist of things to check to ensure the aircrafts are flight worthy so that the team and our surroundings are safe.



Mitchell and Torin checking all the screws (there are over 75 on one drone!) and electrical connections