Drones Sydney

Sydney 2600 IRL

2600 Meetings exist as a forum for all interested in technology to meet and talk about events in technology-land, learn, and teach. Meetings are open to anyone of any age or level of expertise. The 2600 Australia chapter became prominent in 1999, bringing together people interested in computer security, electronic gadgetry, communications, privacy, and technology exploration in general. In addition to bringing these people together with meetings, mailing lists and seminars, we spoke up on issues such as Internet Censorship, Cybercrime, DVD encryption, and many other issues. Since then, many of the original members have moved on to new projects, however the 2600 Australia movement is still alive, with many new (and original) members active within the online community and monthly meetings, along with the occasional visitor from 2600's international chapters. Current projects and ongoing discussions: * Satelite hacking * Metadata, Privacy & Anonymity * Decentralised Networks * 3D Printing/Manufacturing/other hacking stuff * Programming for fun and proffit * Drones and other similar stuff

Australian Skeptics in the Pub - BUILDING TRUST IN AI AND ROBOTS

Artificial intelligence and robotics are advancing at an extraordinary pace. However, despite this rapid technological progress, robots remain largely absent from most people's everyday lives. Why? In this talk, **Resul Dagdanov** explores the gap between what robots can do and what people actually want. Drawing on research from robotics, psychology, and business, he examines the factors that influence whether AI-driven robotic technologies succeed or fail outside the laboratory. The discussion challenges the assumption that better technology naturally leads to wider adoption. Instead, it argues that the future of robotics depends on understanding people first and then designing machines that solve real-world problems to satisfy human needs. As robots become increasingly capable, the real question may not be whether they can perform tasks with highest accuracy, but whether we are designing them in ways that people want to live and work with. Resul Dagdanov is a robotics engineer and researcher pursuing a PhD at the University of Technology Sydney's Robotics Institute. His research focuses on human-centric robotics: designing intelligent robots that can work alongside humans, with humans, and for humans. Drawing on engineering, psychology, and human behaviour, he explores how humans and robots can collaborate in everyday settings. As he wanders through this steppe lands of robotics, his research is guided by the principle: putting people first. His work explores an important question: if robots are becoming increasingly capable, what will it take for people to trust, accept, and adopt them in their daily lives? **After the presentation:** Following the presentation and questions, if there's time we will hand the microphone over to one audience member for a 5 minute chat on a sceptical topic of their choice. It can be a news item, your own sceptical "special subject" or an encounter with everyday scepticism. If you're interested in sharing something with your fellow pubbers, contact us before the talk. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- On the first Thursday of each month, Australian Skeptics and friends get together for Skeptics in the Pub. People generally start arriving at around 6pm after work. The talk begins at 7pm and lasts for about 30 minutes. The night finishes when the last person leaves. Enjoy a meal and a drink accompanied by lively discussion, free spoon bending lessons and the company of other sceptics, as we cover a variety of interesting topics. There is no need to belong to Australian Skeptics - all are welcome. Bring friends too. Please take a moment to read our [Code of Conduct](https://www.skeptics.com.au/code-of-conduct/). **REMINDER - If you are feeling ill or showing any signs or symptoms of a possible COVID (or indeed any) infection, please do not attend.** Parking is available nearby at: * 71 York Street Car Park (Wilson Parking) * Landmark Car Park (Secure Parking), 24 York Street * 321 Kent Street Car Park (Wilson Parking), ENTRY 86 Sussex Street * Queen Victoria Building Car Park (Wilson Parking), 111 York Street

Monthly Artificial Intelligence in Robotics Meetup

This is a monthly meetup for people who are interested in A.I. in robotics to connect and learn from each other with the potential to discuss ongoing projects and possible collaboration opportunities. This event will be hosted in Room 4. Bring your project & learn from others!

Cronulla peninsula walk (Cronulla Ramble)

This 17 km walk begins and ends at Cronulla train station! It is an easy , mainly flat,walk with some steps This is a beautiful coastal walk with stunning views. There are many opportunities to swim. The Cronulla Ramble (often called the Cronulla Peninsula Ramble) is a scenic coastal walking route that loops around the Cronulla Peninsula in southern Sydney. 🥾 What it is * A walking circuit that links bays, beaches, parks, headlands and cliff-top paths * Popular with walkers, runners, school groups and bushwalking clubs * Mostly on sealed paths and formed tracks, with some stairs and gentle hills * 8 km beach walk 📍 Where it goes The ramble typically includes: * Cronulla Station (common start/finish) * Gunnamatta Bay & Gunnamatta Park * Darook Park * Hungry Point cliff-top walk * Shelly Beach * Cronulla Esplanade (along North Cronulla, Elouera and Wanda) * Boat Harbour Gratuity: $10 CASH or PAY ID: 0460715272 to Liz on the day. Please arrive prepared with both water and lunch, snacks (think carbs and sugar) jacket in case of a change in weather, a hat, sunscreen and good walking shoes.
RSVP to this meetup you agree to and are bound by the terms and conditions of Aussie Explorers which can be found here: https://www.meetup.com/Aussie-Explorers/
Aussie Explorers its organisers and leaders accept no liability during this meetup, leaders try to ensure the safety and well-being of members at all times however as this is a weekend away travelling, exploring different areas and hiking in the great outdoors accidents happen, please take responsibility for your own safety and your belongings

Testing Gen AI with Paul Maxwell-Walters & Influence in Testing by Rashik Prasad

A bumper double-header of talks for our July Event with Rashik Prasad and Sydney Testers' own Paul Maxwell-Walters (and graciously hosted by Talenza), with the keynote covering how testers can achieve influence in decision making by Rashik Prasad and the next talk about testing Gen AI system. **Talk 1: How Your Teams can Test And Evaluate Gen AI and the Software that Uses It - Paul Maxwell-Walters** There has been much talk in QA about using Gen AI tools in our work to generate test cases and automation – however until recently very little on how testers can test the non-deterministic outputs of AI and evaluate their quality. Typically, direct testing of Gen AI is ignored and left for AI engineers and data scientists. This is a grave mistake. As products using Gen AI like ChatGPT become mainstream and used by all, testers need to learn how to write and automate testing of them – and fast. My talk is on techniques, tools and workflows used to validate the outputs of AI models and agents – including correct prompting, semantic and sentiment analysis, standard outputs, evals and LLM-as-Judge. I will call on my experience as QA lead at a Gen AI tech-ed startup , along with other approaches and use cases, to give info, tips and one or more demos to help you and your teams meet the challenge of testing Gen AI-powered applications. **Talk 2 (Keynote): Technical Excellent Alone Never Guarantees Success, Rashik Prasad** Technical excellence is the foundation of every successful testing career. \*It's what we're taught to develop. * It's what we spend years refining. \*And it's what our profession rightly values. But after leading testing across some of Australia's largest enterprise transformation and regulatory programmes, I've come to realise something that fundamentally changed the way I think about testing. Technical excellence alone never guarantees success. * Why do technically exceptional testing professionals sometimes struggle to influence important decisions? \*Why can the same testing evidence lead different stakeholders to completely different conclusions? * And why do some testing professionals consistently help programmes move forward, even when the testing itself hasn't changed? In this thought-provoking keynote, Rashik challenges one of the profession's most deeply held assumptions and explores what he believes is the missing half of testing. Drawing on real enterprise experiences, you'll discover why the role of testing doesn't end when the evidence is produced, and why the most effective testing professionals understand how testing helps organisations make better decisions. This isn't a session about becoming less technical. It's about understanding how technical excellence achieves the influence it deserves. Whether you're a Test Analyst, Test Lead, Test Manager or senior quality leader, you'll recognise many of the situations discussed throughout the session because you've probably experienced them yourself. You may not leave agreeing with every idea. But I suspect you'll never look at testing in quite the same way again. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- There will be the usual opposrtunities for networking and fun and some prizes to give away! Not to be missed!

Stonepot Burwood

Lunch. We will share food. Budget: around $25 to $35 I guess. \*Please don't be late. Not sure if this restaurant allow entry if you are late. \* \* It is a Chinese / Chinese-descendant group. If you are not, then Meetup fee = $15 per head. \*

Bobbin Head Loop / Sphinx Trail and Bobbin Head 10kms Ku-ring-gai.

Data Centers, Technofeudalism & The Rise of the Surveillance State

**"Amazon is not a market; it's a fiefdom."** — Yanis Varoufakis **"AI is now infrastructure, just like electricity."** — Jensen Huang Massive data centers are spreading across the globe, consuming enormous amounts of energy while storing the information of billions. Who owns them?, who profits from them? and who benefits? Are they the infrastructure of progress or the foundations of a new **"Technofeudal"** order where privacy is extinct and surveillance is everywhere? **Join the discussion on our community** Discord [https://discord.gg/QSwa3PMzHy](https://discord.gg/QSwa3PMzHy)

Claude Code from Zero to Hero 301: Stop Doing Jobs. Start Delegating Them

Single-task AI is useful. Multi-agent AI is transformative. Tonight you'll build systems where Claude orchestrates a team of specialised subagents, each handling a part of a complex job simultaneously, while you watch it happen. Then you'll wire those agents into automated routines that run on a schedule, silently, without your input. This is the session where the full capability of what you've been building becomes visible. **What You'll Do** * Assign a complex, multi-part job to a team of subagents working simultaneously, done in an evening instead of days. * Build background automations for the tasks you'd rather never touch again, so they just happen. * Chain skills, tools, and scheduling into one self-sustaining routine: set it once, forget it. * Leave with a clear picture of what's possible, and a working prototype to prove it. **What You'll Learn** * Break a larger job into steps an AI assistant can handle. * Use subagents and structured workflows. * Assign a complex, multi-part job to a team of AI agents. * Build small automations for tasks you do often. * Combine skills, tools and scheduling into practical routines. * Spot where agentic AI can save serious time in your work. * Understand how to move from single prompts to multi-step AI systems. **You'll Walk Out With** * A clearer understanding of AI agents and delegation. * A working example of a multi-step AI workflow. * Ideas for applying AI to your job, business or side project. * An assistant concept that can run whole jobs, not just answer questions. * A stronger sense of what to build next. **Who This Is For** * Professionals ready to use AI beyond simple prompts. * Founders and operators who want to automate parts of their workflow. * Freelancers and consultants who want to build smarter delivery systems. * People who want AI to manage repeatable jobs while they focus on higher-value work. * Anyone with intermediate Claude Code or AI experience who wants to go deeper. **Earlier nights are recommended, but not mandatory. If you already have intermediate AI confidence, you can drop into 301 directly.** **Event Details** **📅 Tuesday 28 July 2026** **🕕 6:00–8:30 PM** **📍 Western Sydney Startup Hub, 5 Fleet Street, North Parramatta** **🎯 Level 301 · Intermediate experience beneficial** **Tickets** **$39 per session. ($29 for Early-bird)** No prerequisite, each session stands alone. Attending all three gives you the full arc from setup to full autonomous workflows. **Included** * Laptop access during the workshop & Claude and AI access ready to use (Worth $20). * Guided hands-on exercises. * Practical examples for real work. * Support and love from the WSTI team. * Bring your own laptop and Claude Pro licence if you prefer, but you do not need to.

SSP TUE. ..CENTRAL STATION TO GLEBE (discrete camera)

We will end up in Glebe.Use a discrete camera. We will go past Spice Alley and Central Sq.

🌸🌸VIEWS🌸WHALES🤞🏻🌸MANLY🌸FAIRFAX LOOKOUT🌸🌸Q Station🌸🌸

MEETING: Circular Quay Wharf 3 🌸✈️🌸 TIME: 10:05, for the 10:15 ferry 🌸⏰🌸 DETAILS: Sailing across glorious Sydney Harbour on the Manly ferry is just the start of this fabulous day! We head from the ferry to Manly Beach onto Shelley Beach, then the track to Fairfax Lookout in the Sydney Harbour National Park…. Trust me, these are the best views in Sydney… whales will be a bonus. From the lookout we head to The Quaratine Station, Little Collins Beach, and if you’re very thirsty, the Skiff Club before the ferry home. 🌸⛱🌸 LUNCH: Fairfax Lookout, always best to BYO 🌸🍽🌸 COST:💲5️⃣ cash gratuity or (donation)for this walk.💵 🌸💲🌸 DISTANCE: 1️⃣4️⃣kms 🌸🦋🌸 THIS WALK IS GRADED AS: Spectacular Visually….stairs and tracks in parts… 🌸☀️🌸 GET OUT POINTS: There are several. 🌸🚦🌸 TRANSPORT: Ferry to and from Manly 🌸✈️🌸 GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING: 🌸💃🌸 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BRING A FRIEND PLEASE MESSAGE ME, unfortunately only the 2 legged kind, and not the 4 legged kind are included. 🌸🥰🌸 I am always open to suggestions if there is a destination/hike/walk you’d like to do…just message me 🌸 👣🌸 A heads up for newcomers and first timers. Our walking group is a fabulous Melting Pot of cultures, backgrounds, professions and life experiences. We love our Walks. We are INCLUSIVE OF EVERYONE………if you’re: kind, nice, fun, polite and respectful. 🌸😘🌸 On that note…. In recent times my walks are at capacity, which I’m capping at 40. Regulars, regardless of numbers are always welcome….just PM me if you’re on a waitlist. 🌸♥️🌸 We walk at a medium pace of 4kms per hour, stopping for breaks and to take in the views. It is a reasonable expectation that the group stays together. It is your responsibility to stay in line of sight. If you cannot walk at this pace, I will let you know of the next get out point. This is not negotiable. 🌸🐌🌸 As this is a walking group, bikes, ebikes, scooters, escooters, and pogo sticks are not compatible or welcome. 🌸👣🌸 Grading for my walks:
Easy: Mainly flat, suburban, loads of get out points, up to 14kms.
Easy-Medium: some stairs, a few uneven surfaces, up to 15kms.
Medium: Stairs, rocks, coastal beaches/sand, ups, downs, get out points limited, up to 17kms
Medium-Hard: uneven surfaces, need to take extreme care and be hike fit. Few get out points. Tracks, uneven surfaces, steep inclinations and limited resources. 🌸👯‍♀️🌸 WALKING GUIDELINES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 🌸✍️🌸 Carry sufficient food and water (2 litres) for the expected conditions of the walk. Pls don’t separate from the group, unless you let someone know, preferably me. The waitlist is completely discretionary….reliable regulars will ALWAYS be included. 🆗……….If you are a no show, you will not be welcome to join a future walk with me. (It’s a courtesy kind of thing). If people are on the waitlist, it is also very inconsiderate. Marking yourself as “Not Going” within 2 hours of departure does not allow reasonable time to notify anyone on the waitlist. 🌸🙅‍♀️🌸 On the odd occasion, the walk may change from the schedule, due to weather, unforeseen track obstacles OR emergency situations. 🌸🤞🌸 Please make sure your conversation is always courteous to other group members. 🌸😍🌸 PS…. IF YOUR ID PIC IS OF A COFFEE CUP, YOUR DOG OR CAT, A VIEW, and not a picture of you…You’ll stay waitlisted. 🌸❌🌸 SAFETY WARNING: Please stay away from cliff edges and be very careful when walking on wet and slippery rocks and surfaces. Stay within sight of the group at all times. 🌸🔴🟢⚫️🟠🔵🟡🟣🟤🌸 DISCLAIMER: Your health and safety is our priority, we take care to minimize risk and avoid accidents and injuries. However, Organizers and Hosts are not responsible for your health and safety and do not accept any liability for accidents and injuries that may occur during Meetup activities and events. Please take responsibility for your own safety and belongings. By RSVP to this event you and your guests agree to comply with the terms and conditions of the Aussie Explorers Meetup group which can be found in the link below: https://www.meetup.com/Aussie-Explorers/pages/28346396/Terms_and_Conditions_of_joining_Aussie_Explorers 🌸☀️🌸 HAPPY WALKING 🍃🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🍃 xxLisa

Central / Surry Hills Classic Film Photography

The challenge for today is to capture street images around Central Station, Belmore Park and Surry Hills. Look for the unusual and let your images tell a story. If you feel comfortable enough you could ask a subject for their portrait. The meet up point is the cafe outside the country platforms at 10 am. It is next to the Eternity Cafe. I would recommend monochrome film at 400 ASA or ISO. Hp 5 by Ilford works well as well as Kodak Tri X. It gives a grain effect similar to mid 20th Century film emulsions. I would consider developing the negatives and getting the images scanned to your computer which you can then upload to the meetup page or Instagram. If you have an image, you particularly like you can pick up the negatives from your camera store later. I would recommend Digi Direct at Bondi Junction or Super 8 at Newtown. It is more challenging using film but that is part of the fun. If you don't own a film camera there are two stores in Newtown that sell refurbished 35 mm film cameras or alternatively you can buy a disposable film camera on line or try the two retail stores I suggested earlier. Why not give it a try as there will be more film events in the future.