​UAS Challenge 2020 drone competition attracts record entrants

Record 38 university teams enter the UAS Challenge. Teams from India and Bangladesh compete for the first time. Competition moves to the British Model Flying Association centre in east England.

The UAS Challenge international drone design competition has attracted a record 38 university teams for 2020, comprising hundreds of young engineers from as far afield as Turkey, Denmark and Canada, together with newcomers from India and Bangladesh.

The competition, which is organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, is moving sites; it will take place next year at the British Model Flying Association centre in Buckminster, on the Leicestershire/Lincolnshire border.

The competition, which will be in its sixth year, will have its ‘fly off’ at the BMFA National Centre on 17-20 June 2020.

University teams from across the world enter this year-long competition to design and build drones to fulfill a humanitarian aid mission and will come together to fly their aircraft at the event in June.

Paul Lloyd, IMechE UAS Challenge Steering Group Chair, said,

“The BMFA site at Buckminster offers the UAS Challenge an excellent opportunity to continue to grow. I am very much looking forward to working with the BMFA and our sponsors to ensure that we continue to offer the university teams a first-class event that not only supports their educational journey, but also exposes them to the exciting world of working in aerospace.”

Manny Williamson, BMFA Development officer and National Centre Manager, said,

“The British Model Flying Association is extremely pleased to be hosting the 2020 IMechE UAS Challenge at the National Centre for Model Flying in Buckminster. The site will provide the perfect location for the Challenge and we look forward to welcoming teams next June and supporting the IMechE team throughout the competition cycle.”

The UAS Challenge is supported by GKN Aerospace, Meggitt, Bombardier, QinteiQ, Raytheon, Fraser-Nash & Mashoom.

Find out more

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Notes to Editors

• If you would like more information or a photo of the UAS Challenge, please contact the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Press Office on 020 7304 6877 or at media@imeche.org.
• The Institution of Mechanical Engineers was established in 1847 and has some of the world’s greatest engineers in its history books. It is one of the fastest growing professional engineering institutions. Headquartered in London, we have operations around the world and over 120,000 members in more than 140 countries working at the heart of the most important and dynamic industries such as the automotive, rail, aerospace, medical, power and construction industries.