Local Drone-Tracking Startup Has Winning Pitch
Arizona Daily Star
November 12, 2015
James D. Lawrence of Drone Control Systems LLC won a prize package worth $10,000.
Drone Control Systems, a Tucson-based company developing software to track unmanned aircraft, was named winner of the Second Annual Get Started Tucson, a “Shark Tank”-style business-pitch competition.
The company won a prize package worth $10,000, including $5,000 in cash, by winning the contest, hosted recently by Cox Business and Inc. magazine.
Drone Control’s software allows drone operators or regulators to track drone flights in real time, to help pilots and regulators ensure safety and compliance with evolving laws governing the use of unmanned aircraft.
James Lawrence, CEO of Drone Control Systems, said he will use the cash portion of the prize to complete development of a proprietary semiconductor chip that uses cellular communications data to collect positioning information during drone flight.
Lawrence said he’s in the process of meeting with officials of local governments — who may bear responsibility for enforcing drone regulations in the future — to potentially arrange a pilot program using the company’s system.
The company is part of the Arizona Center for Innovation, a business incubator at the University of Arizona Tech Park.
More than 200 entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, business experts and members of the public attended the Nov. 5 competition, organizers said.
