Drone Trade Shows 2023

The drone industry is rapidly changing. It seems like every few months, a new drone comes on the market that blows all previous drones away. In addition to hardware and software advances, the regulations governing drone operations are also constantly evolving. There is a lot to keep track of if you want to stay on top of the industry and be the best drone pilot you can be.

One of the best ways to stay in the know is by attending one or more of the UAV industry events each year. Drone industry conferences and shows happen all over the world. Some are free, while others can be pretty expensive. I am definitely a nerd when it comes to all things drones, and these events are an excellent opportunity to reach UAV nirvana.

Here are a few of the events happening in the United States in 2023. Oh, and just in case you can’t attend, I’ll try to keep everyone up to date on the shows I get a chance to make it to.

CES2023 January 5-8 Las Vegas, NV

The Consumer Electronics Expo is the annual trade show of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®. It is the largest show of its kind. CES is closed to the public, but you can attend if you work anywhere in the electronics industry or if you are a member of the press.

This show is always in Las Vegas and is one of the biggest shows in the city each year. Just about every hotel with a convention center is holding something for CES. It is massive. The show typically has a drone pavilion with some of the largest manufacturers present. Skydio and Autel Robotics will be there this year, along with many others.

While the drone section of this show is small, especially when compared to the whole event, there are drone-related advancements to see as well. Some of these include innovations in autonomy, sensor development, photography, artificial intelligence, and more.

CONEXPO-CON/AGG March 14-18 Las Vegas, NV

The world's largest trade show for the construction industry only occurs once every three years. CONEXPO-CON/AGG isn't drone specific, but there will be some drone industry leaders, like DroneDeploy, at this year's event. 

The global market for drones in construction keeps growing. Some estimates have the CAGR at 15.4% between 2020 and 2027. That boils down to lots of work for drone pilots in construction. The show is an excellent opportunity to see what is new in the construction industry and, more importantly, to network with some of the biggest names in the business.

If you are on the fence with this show, remember the next one isn’t until 2026!

AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2023 May 8-11 Denver, CO

If you are not familiar with the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), you should be. AUVSI is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing uncrewed systems and robotics. In addition to the work they do within the drone industry, AUVSI hosts an annual trade show called XPONENTIAL.

Enroll now!

Article Written by David Daly