Welcome to the prestigious 15th Annual National Student UAS Competition, proudly hosted by the Aerial Evolution Association of Canada (AEAC). We are thrilled to open the doors to this exhilarating event, extending a warm invitation to university and college teams from all corners of Canada. This remarkable gathering provides a platform for aspiring talent to shine as industry Bidders, showcasing their innovative prowess through sub-scale prototypes of Urban Air Mobility Systems (UAMS) tailored for Big City Urban Areas.

The competition consists of two phases. Phase I required Bidders to submit their proposals outlining UAMS design concepts and plans by January 15, 2024. Phase II, the operational demonstration, will take place May 24 – 26, 2024 at the Centre d’Excellence sur les Drone (CED) in Alma, Québec, where Bidders will showcase their UAMS prototypes in actual flight scenarios.

Announcing Phase I Winners

The winners of this year’s Phase I – Design Paper Competition 2024 are:

 🥇 1st place:      University of Waterloo – Team WARG

 🥈 2nd place:     University of British Columbia (UBC) – UBC UAS

 🥉 3rd place:      University of Toronto – UTAT UAS 

 Congratulations to all the winners!

The Phase II – Flight Assessment will take place at the Centre d’excellence sur les drones (CED) in Alma, Quebec, from May 24th to 26th, 2024. 

Due to high participation levels, there is an initial limitation on the number of students per team we can accommodate at CED Alma @ 8 members per team. 

• Payment for the first 8 Team members is due by April 12, 2024.
• Payment for Phase 2 of the competition for each student is $312.00 plus taxes (QC taxes) per each student and can be made through the following link: https://buy.stripe.com/14k9DDef1dxha8UcMN
• Once the number of teams are confirmed additional team member spots will be made available to the Team captains. 
• Please refer to your Team Captain Instructions sent by Sue (Jan 24 – 2024)

Click to pay

2024 Competing Teams

UNIVERSITY TEAM NAME

University of Alberta (AB) U of A – Aerial Robotics Group (UAARG)

University of British Columbia (BC) UBC UAS

UBC Okanagan (BC) Aerial Robotics and Rocketry Club 

University of Victoria (BC) UVIC Aero

University of Manitoba (MN) UMUAS

Carleton University (ON) Blackbird UAV

Queens University (ON) Queen’s Aerospace Design Team

University of Toronto (ON) UTAT UAS

University of Waterloo (ON) WARG

Toronto Metropolitan University (ON) Toronto Metropolitan Aerial Vehicles – TMAV

University of Guelph (ON) Gryphon Aerospace

Université de Sherbrooke (QC) VAMUdeS

École de technologie supérieure (QC) Dronolab

McGill University (QC) McGill Drones and Vertical Flight Society

Sponsorship Brochure

About the Competition

Competition Objective: 

Developing Urban Air Mobility System (UAMS) Prototypes

Participating teams have been tasked with creating innovative concepts, designing a UAM System, and competing in a sub-scale assessment of their prototypes. These UAMS prototypes will be evaluated based on their ability to operate within a Big City Urban Area (BCUA), transporting up to six passengers per flight along predefined waypoint-based routes. Beyond Visual Line of Sight capabilities will be a key aspect of evaluation in the Phase 2 Flight Assessment.

At AEAC, our values extend far beyond technological frontiers. We are steadfast in our commitment to fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the commercial drone industry. Our dedication transcends mere technological advancements; we are resolute in constructing an inclusive and equitable platform that amplifies and celebrates the diverse talents and contributions of every individual.

Competition Eligibility:

To be eligible for the competition, all competitors must be enrolled either part-time or full-time at a Canadian College or University for the Fall 2023 and/or Winter 2024 terms. We highly encourage teams to embrace diversity by comprising students from various academic years, ranging from first year to graduate programs. Our goal is to promote collaboration and diversity of expertise, encouraging a holistic approach to problem-solving.

Moreover, we welcome joint teams consisting of students from multiple institutions, enabling meaningful collaboration between universities and colleges. Embracing diversity in team composition strengthens the fabric of innovation, fostering an environment where different perspectives and backgrounds converge to create groundbreaking solutions.

We invite all participating teams to embrace our DEI focus as they prepare for this year’s competition. Let’s work together to build a more inclusive and equitable industry, ensuring that every voice is heard and celebrated in the journey of aerial evolution.

CONOPS Details:

2023-24StudentUASCompetition-CONOPS 

To learn more or register your team for next year’s competition, please contact us at [email protected].