Michael Robbins, CEO and President of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), recently sat down with Drone Radio Show host Randy Goers for a wide-ranging conversation about the forces reshaping the uncrewed systems industry. From supply chain vulnerabilities to regulatory gridlock and the expanding role of defense priorities, Robbins offered an inside look at where the UAV industry stands — and where it's headed.
The Real Forces Shaping the UAS Industry
As the head of AUVSI, the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing uncrewed systems and autonomy, Robbins is uniquely positioned to assess the pressures facing commercial and defense drone operators alike. The conversation touched on several critical themes that are defining the trajectory of the industry right now.
Supply Chain Security
Supply chain integrity has become one of the most pressing concerns in the drone sector. With ongoing scrutiny of foreign-manufactured components — particularly from Chinese suppliers — operators and manufacturers are navigating a complicated landscape of sourcing decisions, compliance requirements, and emerging domestic alternatives. Robbins addressed how these dynamics are influencing procurement strategies across both commercial and government segments of the industry.
Regulatory Bottlenecks
Regulatory progress in the U.S. drone space has been uneven. While milestones like Remote ID implementation and expanded Part 107 waivers represent meaningful steps forward, broader frameworks for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations and urban air mobility remain works in progress. According to the discussion, these bottlenecks continue to slow the commercial deployment of autonomous UAS at scale — a frustration shared by operators across agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and logistics sectors.
Defense Priorities and Their Ripple Effect
Defense investment in uncrewed systems has surged, and that shift is having downstream effects on the broader industry. Increased government focus on drone capabilities — from intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms to autonomous logistics — is influencing technology development timelines, funding flows, and policy conversations. Robbins explored how these defense priorities are intersecting with civilian UAS applications and what commercial operators can expect as a result.
XPONENTIAL 2026: A Gathering Point for the Industry
The conversation also previewed XPONENTIAL 2026, AUVSI's flagship annual conference and one of the most significant events on the global uncrewed systems calendar. The event serves as a convergence point for drone manufacturers, software developers, policymakers, end users, and investors — making it a critical pulse-check on where the industry is heading.
XPONENTIAL brings together stakeholders from across the full UAS ecosystem, covering everything from consumer and commercial drones to military platforms, autonomous ground vehicles, and maritime uncrewed systems.
Why This Conversation Matters
For drone professionals — whether you're a Part 107 commercial pilot, an enterprise operator, an FPV builder, or simply someone tracking the industry — understanding the policy and security environment is essential. Regulatory decisions made today will determine what operations are possible tomorrow.
Robbins' perspective as AUVSI's top executive provides rare visibility into the lobbying efforts, industry coalitions, and government engagements that ultimately shape FAA rulemaking, defense procurement, and international competitiveness in the uncrewed systems space.
The full interview is available on the Drone Radio Show, which regularly features executives, operators, and innovators from across the UAS industry.