Engineer advanced drone systems with specialized capabilities to perform high-impact operations in delivery, surveillance, agriculture, and emergency response by integrating aerospace engineering, embedded systems, and intelligent autonomy. The development process begins with airframe design optimization, balancing aerodynamics, payload capacity, endurance, and structural integrity. Material selection, propulsion systems, battery management, and flight efficiency directly influence operational range and reliability. Core subsystems include flight controllers, GNSS modules, inertial measurement units (IMUs), barometers, and vision sensors. Sensor fusion algorithms combine these inputs to ensure stable flight, accurate positioning, and obstacle avoidance. Advanced navigation frameworks incorporate real-time kinematics (RTK), computer vision, and AI-based path planning to enable autonomous missions in dynamic environments. For delivery applications, drones require secure payload mechanisms, route optimization algorithms, and geofencing compliance. Surveillance drones integrate high-resolution cameras, thermal imaging, and real-time data transmission systems. In agriculture, multispectral imaging and NDVI analysis support precision farming by monitoring crop health and irrigation needs. Rescue drones employ thermal sensors, LiDAR mapping, and robust communication systems to locate survivors in hazardous terrain. Edge computing capabilities allow onboard processing to reduce latency, while cloud integration enables fleet management and analytics. Safety redundancy, fail-safe protocols, encrypted communication, and regulatory compliance are essential for deployment. Through the convergence of robotics, AI, control theory, and aerospace systems engineering, advanced drone platforms expand operational efficiency, situational awareness, and rapid-response capabilities across critical sectors.
Age 18+, Team Required(2-4 members), Advanced
Registration Opens
February 28, 2026
Submission Deadline
March 28, 2026
Results Announcement
To be announced
Innovation & Creativity
Originality and uniqueness of the solution
Technical Excellence
Quality of implementation and engineering
Real-World Impact
Practical applications and societal benefit
Presentation
Clarity and quality of documentation