The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) held its 10th Annual Student Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Competition Friday and Saturday aboard Webster Field.
The annual competition is “aimed at stimulating and fostering interest in unmanned air systems, technologies and careers, is focused on engaging students in a challenging mission.” To that end, the students must design, integrate an onboard payload then demonstrate their UAS system can fly, navigate a specified course and that they can operate the onboard payload sensors – in this instance, cameras.
Moreover, the students must turn in technical papers and make oral presentations.
Among the 26 U.S. and foreign college teams were two high school teams; Synergy, Hampton Area H.S., and GreatMillsHigh School.
The Hornets team comprised of ten students and three guests suffered a set back Friday afternoon when their original air vehicle crashed during practice. The Hornets spent the remainder of that day and night getting another air vehicle ready for Saturday morning. While the team experienced integration problems with their new vehicle, they were able to get it in the air for one circuit and land. The judges gave the team points for “having the right people working on the right problems.”
