International Drone Racing Association
 | |
| Sport | Drone Racing |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | IDRA |
| Founded | 3 April 15 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | Belleville, MI |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Major events |
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| Key people |
|
| Website |
idra |
The International Drone Racing Association, Inc. (IDRA) is a professional racing organization that sanctions and governs multiple drone racing events. IDRA's major events and series' include the 2017 Challengers Cup, 2016 World Drone Prix, 2016 North America Cup, 2016 GiGA World Masters, and the 2015 California Cup.
Justin Haggerty founded the company on 3 April 2015 to promote and build drone racing into a world renown sport. Early that summer, Co-Founder Charles Zablan joined the team and began preparing for the 2015 California Cup.[1] [2]
IDRA began working with the United Arab Emirates government and Aerial Grand Prix in October, 2015 to co-found and host the World Drone Prix in Dubai. The event, supported by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktou, was held at Skydive Dubai on 11 & 12 March 2016 for $1 Million in cash prizes.[3]
On 7 April 2016, IDRA announced its merger with RotorSports (Drone Nationals and Drone Worlds), which would consolidate operations under the IDRA brand.[4]
On 13 April 2016, IDRA and ESPN announced signing a three-year deal to broadcast drone races.[5]
On 22 June 2016, IDRA terminated its merger with RotorSports, no longer sanctioning the 2016 U.S. Drone Nationals and 2016 Drone Worlds. The decision was made in order to protect the company from foreseen financial risks associated with RotorSports and the ESPN contract.[6] The decision was later confirmed as the right course of action after the 2016 U.S. Drone Nationals and 2016 Drone Worlds was executed under budget, leaving ESPN to cancel the Drone Worlds broadcast after a mediocre production from Drone Nationals.[7]
On 22 June 2016, IDRA announced partnership with Vuzix and Amimon to implement and help develop high-definition (HD) video receivers and compatible virtual reality (VR) goggles to drone racing.[8]
On 6-7 August 2016, IDRA co-hosted, with the Korean Drone Racing Association (KDRA), the GiGA World Masters in Busan, South Korea. The event, sponsored by Korea Telecom, was broadcast on national television and enjoyed 50,000 spectators in its two days. [9]
On 21 September 2016, IDRA hosted a Congressional Briefing in Washington, D.C. to announce their founding of the UAS STEM Alliance, a non-profit organization to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) via drone technology and drone racing. [10]
On 11-13 November 2016, IDRA was the Blast Off Sponsor for the first annual Drone Summit at Spaceport America, which included a speaking workshop, drone cinematography challenge, and drone racing event. IDRA's Founder & CEO, Justin Haggerty, was the Keynote Speaker for the Drone Summit.[11]
On 2 December 2016, IDRA announced its 2017 Challengers Cup on social media outlets.
References
- ↑ Anna Hensel. "How Los Angeles Can Help Make Drone Racing the Next NASCAR". Inc.
- ↑ Erik Olsen. "Gentlemen, Start Your Drones". NY Times.
- ↑ David Ferry. "Welcome to Competitive Drone Racing". Outside Online.
- ↑ Sebastian Bean (7 April 2016). "IDRA & Rotorsports Announce Merger" Check
|url=value (help). Third Law Sports. - ↑ Clay Dillow (14 April 2016). "ESPN Thinks Drone Racing Could be the Next NASCAR – Fortune". Fortune.
- ↑ Sam Cooke (13 July 2016). "The Future of IDRA, an Interview with Justin Haggerty". Third Law Sports.
- ↑ Sam Cooke (4 November 2016). "Drone Worlds 2016 - Lessons Learned". Third Law Sports.
- ↑ Matt Margolis (22 June 2016). "Vuzix: Significant Increase In 2H Sales". Seeking Alpha.
- ↑ Sam Cooke (29 August 2016). "Minchan Kim & Justin Haggerty - Post GiGA". Third Law Sports.
- ↑ Michael Stratford (21 September 2016). "Morning Education". Politico.
- ↑ Diana Alba Soular (2 November 2016). "Spaceport America's New Drone Summit Seeks To Attract UAV Pilots". Government Technology.