Missouri Robotics Team Competed in International Drone Racing

Missouri Robotics Team Competed in International Drone Racing

The International Aerial Robotics Competition was held on the 31st of July to August 2nd. This international drone racing competition was used to allow students from all over the world to show off their capabilities when it comes to developing drones, which can be controlled both manually and autonomously.

The Point Of International Drone Racing

This particular competition was challenging students to attempt behaviors and maneuvers never attempted before, mainly in hopes that they can make surprise progress in this type of robotics. The students were set to attempt somewhat complex human and robot interactions, which obviously if successful would be quite a show. They were also looking at fused sensor enhancement of a human operator by a fleet of aerial robots, not only that but also interactions between different swarms of aerial robots, again this could be quite the spectacle.

One topic that was being brought up readily when talking about the event, was the so far very impressive Missouri state robotics team participating in the competition, which for Missouri is extremely prestigious. Obviously, they were competing in the unmanned drone races along with the other activities. The team has dubbed their robot Sentinel and it included custom student-produced autonomous flight software accompanied by a motherboard that will process the images captured by the camera efficiently. Sentinel, very impressively, uses its camera in conjunction with computer software that is designed to identify and target different items on the ground.

The Multirotor Robotics Design Team is only one team at the Missouri school out of 20 different teams all run by students in Missouri Student Design and Experiential Learning Center. The so-called SDELC is located in the Kummer Student Design Center, and it provides teams with computer design laboratories, a manufacturing shop, office space and logistical support. There are different divisions of teams and setups obviously, that all work in conjunction with each other, and likely compete. However, now this specific team has reached unprecedented heights and has the opportunity to put Missouri on the robotics map. At their school, they definitely have above average facilities to learn and practice their craft, as well as all the support they could need.

Missouri was against some of the best opponents in this field of robotics, and as a relatively small team, their odds did not look incredible. Don’t think they are not capable of causing a massive upset, however. Design teams often mirror small start-ups that have planned large-scale projects, and they have to communicate their ideas and solve their problems. There were many spectators from all walks of life at the event, including some from the large robotics companies who were perhaps on the lookout for new talent.

All the teams taking part did well and there were some amazing advancements, which when you realize they come from students make the whole prospect of the future of robotics look even better.

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