Top drone-makers, investors, inventors and regulators are getting together this week at one of the most popular regions for outdoor activity in the US, California's Central Coast.

They all are gathering at the place in order to show off their devices, hear about new uses for airborne robots, and hit the waves and trails. Drones Data X Conference Santa Cruz scheduled from May 1 to 3 is going to feature experts describing how unmanned-aerial vehicles can map remote areas or rescue hikers or swimmers.

Federal regulators, who are sorting out drone rules, will be readily available with updates on regulations about whether operators require to keep a drone within their line of sight, how high they can go and whether they can fly directly above a person.

“Drones are in a bit of their Wild West period right now, but in the future they'll be used to transport people, medicine, goods; anything done on a highway will just as well be done by air”, said conference organizer Philip McNamara.

As per industry analyst Teal Group, it is expected that spending on unmanned aerial vehicles will increase over the next decade, from about $6.4 billion a year to $11.5 billion a year. According to McNamara, about 90% of the venture capital flowing toward drone technologies comes from the nation's high tech hub, Silicon Valley that is about 30 miles from the conference.

According to Santa Cruz economic development director Bonnie Lipscomb, it is expected that some companies will like what they see, from sandy beaches to redwood forests and a university and tech startups. Lipscomb said that it was good opportunity to display burgeoning tech scene and also outdoor enthusiast paradise.