The Aerial Evolution Association of Canada (AEAC) is thrilled to announce that the 2026 Annual National Student Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Competition will be hosted  at Area X.O in Ottawa, Ontario. Operated by Invest Ottawa, Area X.O is a state-of-the-art test and demonstration facility. Distinguished among its peers for its unique combination of advanced technologies, expert collaborators, and  secure private test environments Area X.O offers world-class resources for the development, validation, and real-world deployment of cutting edge drone technologies.  The  flying phase will take place May 22 – 24  2026. 

The Scenario

AEAC SUAS returns with a second year of aerial firefighting–this time an urban firefighting challenge. Big City Fire Department is seeking bids for a firefighting unmanned aerial system (UAS) in the downtown core to make further use of the city’s UAM corridor infrastructure. Bidders are invited to submit a design paper and participate in the flight portion in May 2026. A preview of flight assessment criteria are given in the following 2026 Assessment Preview.

2026 Assessment Preview

2026-AEAC-CONOPS-v1.2-2025-11-28

The competition consists of two phases.

1. Phase I required Bidders to submit their proposals outlining UAS design concepts and plans by January 15, 2026.
2. Phase II, the operational demonstration, will take place May 22 – 24 2026 at Area X.O in Ottawa, ON, where Bidders showcase their UAS prototypes in actual flight scenarios.  

Team Registration is closed. 

Team Member Payment of $330+ tax is due 12 March.  Watch this site for further instructions and the payment link. 

Support and Sponsorship Opportunities:

Your Strategic Partnership in Shaping the Future of RPAS Leadership:

Sponsorship goes beyond just having your logo featured at an event; it represents a strategic investment in the future trailblazers of the RPAS sector. Your invaluable support empowers us to elevate standards year after year, drawing in top-tier teams with revolutionary ideas. As a sponsor, you actively engage in a dynamic real-world scenario, immersing yourself in the leadership, innovation, and teamwork that define our competitors.

This presents a distinctive opportunity to enhance your competitive edge in talent acquisition. Sponsors attending the competition will receive student competitors’ resumes and have exclusive access to interact with the students throughout the weekend. 

To express your interest in sponsoring the 2026 National AEAC Student UAS Competition please contact the sponsorship committee at sponsorship@aerialevolution.ca

Your participation is not just a contribution; it’s a strategic alliance that propels both your brand and the future leaders of the RPAS sector to new heights.

Competition Objective: 

Each year, participating teams are tasked with creating innovative concepts, designing a done system, and competing in a sub-scale assessment of their prototypes. These prototypes are evaluated based on their ability to perform a specific task based on an annual competition theme which is selected by the competition committee to challenge the teams in a real-world drone application scenario. Beyond Visual Line of Sight capabilities are a key aspect of evaluation in the Phase 2 Flight Assessment. For reference the competition details are contained in the 2026-AEAC-CONOPS-v1.2-2025-11-28                

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 2025 and/or Winter 2026 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 next 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.