15th Annual Aerial Evolution Association of Canada Student UAS Competition 2023-2024

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.

 

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.

 

Eligibility and Collaboration: Encouraging Diversity of Expertise

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.

To learn more and register your team for this year’s competition, please contact us at [email protected]. For complete details check out the CONOPS below. 

Scenario: Urban Air Mobility (UAM) – Enhancing Downtown Passenger Transit

With the increasing congestion in ground transportation, Urban Air Mobility (UAM) emerges as an innovative solution for both urban and rural settings. The focus of this year’s scenario revolves around enhancing the efficiency of downtown passenger transit worldwide through the use of remotely piloted and uncrewed aerial vehicle systems technology.

 

Competition Objective: Developing Urban Air Mobility System (UAMS) Prototypes

Participating teams will be 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.

 

Registration      

To register, please send a message of intent to [email protected]  then pay the $624 + tax registration fee on the on-line portal.           Deadline: 28 November 2023  1700 EST. 

Competition Operational (CONOPS) Details:

 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.

CONOPS Details:

2024 AEAC Competition RFP v1.0 12 Sep 23

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Prizes and Recognition: Celebrating Excellence

Prizes will be awarded for both phases of the competition, and we will present special awards to recognize notable team accomplishments. These accolades aim to acknowledge outstanding contributions and achievements throughout the competition.

 

Sponsorship Opportunities: Join Us as a Sponsor

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor and being a part of this amazing experience, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Congratulations to the Winners of the 14th Annual Aerial Evolution Canada Student UAS Competition:

 

Phase 1 – Design Paper Competition:

🥇 1st place: École de technologie supérieure – Dronolab

🥈 2nd place: University of Toronto – UTAT UAS

🥉 3rd place: Université de Sherbrooke – VAMUdeS

 

Phase 2 – Flying Phase:

🥇 1st place: Carleton University – Blackbird

🥈 2nd place: University of British Columbia Okanagan – UBCO Aerospace

🥉 3rd place: Université de Sherbrooke – VAMUdeS

 

Special Awards:

🎖 Judges’ Choice: Toronto Metropolitan University – TMAV

💡 Innovation Award: University of British Columbia Okanagan – UBCO Aerospace

🏆 Pip Rudkin Memorial Award for Perseverance: University of Waterloo – WARG

 

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and participants for their hard work and dedication in making the 14th Annual Student UAS Competition a resounding success. Let’s look forward to an extraordinary competition in 2023-2024!

We gratefully acknowledge our sponsors generous support for the 2023 competition!

congratulations to our 2023 student competition teams!