Aerospace Division
Held each year, the UAS Challenge enables teams of students to design, develop and build a working unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to undertake a series of challenges and meet certain requirements. Throughout the year, teams update the committee of judges on their project’s progress, which culminates in a live fly-off event in summer that brings all the teams to demonstrate their UAS’ effectiveness.
Registration opens on 1 October 2020. To get involved in this year’s UAS Challenge, formally register your team via the UAS Challenge website and submit your team’s concept proposal for your UAS. If you have any questions before registration, please email the team; we will be delighted to help you.
COVID-19 and UAS Challenge
An alternate competition route has been developed by the UAS Challenge Steering Committee in case of continued restrictions, which includes novel educational features. This contingency ensures that a full UAS programme, which provides students with practical skills and continued interaction with industry experts, will be delivered whether face-to-face or virtually. For more information, please consult this year’s rules.
Why participate
"It takes a lot effort to pull together with the IMechE staff, but it is great to see the teamwork, application and technical understanding of the students in designing and building their air systems,” explained Rod Williams, the Challenge’s Chief Scrutineer and Principle Consultant at Frazer-Nash.
"They all get a buzz out of completing the Challenge as part of their academic studies and learn a lot about regulation, project management, trials and evaluation and operational requirements on the way."
A list of confirmed teams taking part will be published once registration closes on 15 November 2020. All teams will be invited to join a welcome and briefing webinar later in November.
The Institution would like to thank the UAS Challenge sponsors Meggitt and Mashoom for their continuing support of the Challenge.