Upon returning to Tasmania, Davies founded Taz Drone Solutions. The company’s initial days were marked by a spirit of exploration and a willingness to take on any challenge related to drones. This included drone training, photography, videography, surveying in construction and agriculture, and drone building.
Davies’ collaboration with GDS was a significant milestone for Taz Drone Solutions. They partnered to deliver drone pilot training in Tasmania, which led to the creation of a thriving drone community. This partnership provided the necessary knowledge and resources to make Taz Drone Solutions a success.
Taz Drone Solutions took a significant leap when they started developing custom drone solutions for geotechnical engineering problems. A request from Hydro Tasmania to spray weeds on their dam walls with drones sparked the beginning of their engineering journey. The company had to build custom drones and payloads to solve the problem. This led to successful trials and consistent work, paving the way for more engineering projects.
One of their most impactful projects has been with Savage River, where they developed a drone system to install survey points on mine walls. This system has made the installation process faster, cheaper, and safer. The project has led to the company’s growth, with a team of engineers and technicians working on various niche problems.
Davies has not only seen the drone industry evolve, but has been instrumental in its evolution. When asked about his professional growth and how the drone industry has changed, he said, “The industry has gone from proof of concept to basically outright acceptance that drone technology can and will solve certain problems.” He explained, that while initially, a large part of the work was educating people about the potential of drones, with this knowledge now being widespread, his focus has shifted to directly using drones to solve problems.
Davies has found his journey very rewarding. He’s immensely proud of being the first Tasmanian company to deliver drone training, hosting Tasmania’s first drone conference and winning Tasmanian Entrepreneur of the Year.
For those looking to enter the drone industry, Davies suggests finding something unique that aligns with your skills and interests. He believes that the future of the industry will see drones becoming more common and accessible. Especially in niche fields like geotechnical engineering, he envisions a significant role for autonomous drones. Davies goes on to encourage newcomers to the industry to “build strong relationships with people to find opportunities because you can’t know everything on your own, especially when it’s a niche problem your solving”. He’s a big proponent of setting goals, giving your all to solve problems and, importantly, learning from and continuing on after “failed” projects.
Reflecting on his journey, Davies expresses his unceasing wonder at the swift and dynamic evolution of the drone industry. His anticipation for the future is palpable, as he eagerly awaits the ground-breaking advancements yet to unfold in this cutting-edge field. As he puts it, “There’s still decades of development and growth in the space, and I’m excited to be a part of creating that future.”
