Executives from Ford Motor Company, GE Beyond, Project Wing/X and UPS Confirmed to Present

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Many companies are exploring the potential use of UAS, or drone technology for unmanned travel with programs to develop self-driving cars and pilotless passenger planes and everything in between. The keynote sessions at this years Drone World Expo will explore these developments for applications in the commercial drone industry and offer bold predictions for the future. Drone World Expo 2017 will take place October 3-4, at the San Jose Convention Center with the keynote presentations at the start of each day from 9:00 - 10:00 am PST.

"Technology is evolving so quickly and our dynamic panelists will be offering up-to-the-minute information about the current state of drone technology and insights as to where the industry is heading," said Joelle Coretti, Vice President and Event Director, Drone World Expo. "As we have done each year, we will kick off each day of the event with a panel discussion about the state of the industry and what is on the horizon. We are fortunate to have two keynote panels comprised of forward-thinking representatives from several Fortune 500 companies to discuss the applications they are developing and provide visionary insight into the future of commercial UAS."

On Tuesday, October 3, Laura Ponto, Head of Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy, Project Wing, X and Susan Roberts, Founder/Executive, GE Beyond will join other panelists to discuss Views from Above: Policy Evolution and Bold Predictions for the Future of Commercial UAS.

"Laura and Susan are among top professionals creating a path to the future of this industry," said Gretchen West, Senior Advisor, Hogan Lovells, Co-Executive Director, Commercial Drone Alliance, and Advisory Board Chair for Drone World Expo. "We cant wait for them to bring their unique perspectives to the Drone World Expo audience."

On Wednesday, October 4, Jerome Ferguson, Director of Autonomous Systems, UPS and Adi Singh, Senior Scientist, UAV Systems, Ford Motor Company will join other panelists to discuss From Packages to Passengers: How Drones are Transforming Transportation.

"Last years keynote panel on drone delivery showed us Zipline Internationals humanitarian efforts in Rwanda as they delivered medical relief via drone," said West. "Todays drones are delivering packages, and in the future they will be delivering passengers. The technologies being developed now could be the solutions companies need to propel unmanned passenger travel forward."

West, who serves as Drone World Expos Master of Ceremonies, will moderate the keynote panels. Additional panelists will be announced soon for each keynote.

Commercial drone professionals may register for complimentary expo passes which include access to these keynote presentations, the exhibit hall, Tech Talks and demonstrations from featured exhibitors, and networking receptions each day. In addition, Drone World Expo offers a complete two-day conference program where more than 100 thought leaders, industry experts and end-users will gather to present real-world solutions to business and environmental challenges. End-users of drone technology may qualify to attend the full conference at no charge by visiting http://www.droneworldexpo.com/register.asp.

The exhibit hall will be open on Tuesday, October 3rd from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm with a networking reception from 5:00 - 6:00 pm and on Wednesday, October 4th from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm with a networking reception from 4:00 - 5:00 pm. Throughout the exhibit hours there will be Tech Talks and live demonstrations in special theaters on the show floor where attendees will hear from innovators who are taking drone technology to the next level. For information about exhibiting and sponsoring at Drone World Expo, contact Michael Driscoll, Vice President of Business Development, at driscollm@jdevents.com or 203-416-1924

Drone World Expo, the defining event for the commercial applications of UAS technology, will take place October 3-4, 2017 in the heart of Silicon Valley at the San Jose Convention Center. For more information, visit www.droneworldexpo.com. The event is produced by JD Events, dedicated to the creation of targeted and innovative industry-leading events that deliver results. The company brings together highly qualified buying audiences, education-rich content and high-level networking opportunities -- all geared toward increasing business transactions in the markets it serves. Visit www.jdevents.com for more information.