The sky’s the limit for these Nelson entrepreneurs

Rob Simmerling and Peter Lecouffe are aiming high with their new drone business, Harrier Aerial Surveys.

Peter Lecouffe launches a fixed-wing drone as Rob Simmerling watches. — Andrew Zwicker photo

It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's Super Drone! You mean those things we see on the news, peering into high rise windows? Those unmanned vehicles that became famous over the last decade and a half of war? Or do you mean those little helicopters capturing killer footage for the latest ski or bike film?

Well, none of and all of the above at once. Truth be told, during times of heightened military action like the world has experienced post 9/11, innovation gets to feast on a heavy diet of government dollars. Yes, a scenario where you've got an all but blank cheque, with the only caveat being to make the biggest, best, smallest, stealthiest, most awesome technology to help beat the bad guys. Hmmm, maybe there’s an economic development model there, minus the war. OK, that's another show.

What happens when that time of heightened military action that drove an innovation boom begins slowing down? Just like any business, when one market starts to die out, you work to find others to feed your growth and fill the gap. One of the biggest sectors that made a huge leap forward in innovation and technology that has now been moving into the mainstream commercial markets in a big way is unmanned aerial vehicles, otherwise known as drones.

The proliferation of small recreational drones has been enormous as prices have plummeted. Every homemade ski video has drone footage it seems these days. The capabilities of drones, however, are just beginning to be explored, expanded and perfected.

Two Nelson, B.C., based entrepreneurs have come together and made a big move into the drone world. Rob Simmerling has several decades of precision measurement experience behind him through two past and existing businesses. Peter LeCouffe is an army reserve veteran, and in his mid-twenties is also a young and up-and-coming entrepreneur. The two have teamed up to launch Harrier Aerial Surveys utilizing two high-end aircraft—one a fixed wing, the other a multi-rotor—outfitted with the best digital surveying equipment. The end result is being able to gather precision measurements at a far higher accuracy than a survey crew could, while going into terrain a survey crew couldn't get to or maneuver in, then turning that out into a series of 3D models, imagery and survey data for a seemingly limitless set of purposes.

I sat down with Rob and Peter in the Kootenay Co-op radio studios in Nelson, six months after their launch, to check in with them on how they're opening up a new market with emergent technology.

What is your go-to energy boost?

Rob:  I like skiing quite a bit in the winter, (though) this winter has been poor. Hiking in the summer, and the gym as well.

Peter: When I am at the office we do our daily hike up to the local coffee shop to get our sugar and caffeine boost.

What one book would you recommend?

Peter: Makers: the New Industrial Revolution by Chris Anderson

What one quote or personal mantra has inspired you over the years?

Rob: My personal mantra is keep moving. There is a lot of pain in life and sore knees from skiing too hard, but you have to keep moving, never look back and move forward.

Peter:  For myself, after getting into the GIS world I spent a lot of time behind the computer, so what I am trying to do is to stay human. We are interacting with tech every day and not so many real people are involved. We are either behind a computer screen or locked to a phone, and just being able to have a conversation with somebody or talk face-to-face or over the phone you get so much more out of a conversation than over email.

What one tool or resource do you use to make life and work easier?

Rob: Going to conferences.

Peter: Staying current with trends and technology via social media.

What do you do to wind down after a long day?

Rob: Go to the gym, gardening, bike riding.

Peter: Skiing and working out.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Peter: One saying we had in the army was to adapt and overcome.

Rob: Stay on your toes and keep thinking.

When they write the story of your life someday, what is that story about and who gets to play you?

Peter: Daniel Craig to play him. I hope in 20 years my life will be enough of an adventure to be suitable for an Ian Fleming novel.