First UAE Unmanned Systems Rodeo gives knowledge boost to students

The inaugural USR features a competition for HCT students to design, build, test and pilot remote controlled unmanned aircraft. The 11 competing teams from 4 HCT colleges are judged on their presentation, and on the speed, performance and endurance of their respective unmanned aircrafts. The first and second place teams will receive an all expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. and Italy respectively. The eleven competing teams came from four colleges: Al Ain Men's Campus: Team Seven Stars and Team Spirit of Al Ain; Abu Dhabi Men's College: Team Take Care, Team Legend, Team Falcon and Team Tornado; Abu Dhabi Women's College: Team SIGMA-6 and Team AD-ians; Dubai Men's College: Team Snow Birds, Team Special Commands and Team Robotics.

The first day featured flying sessions throughout the day. The results will be announced today at the awards ceremony with the presence of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan who will deliver the prizes and awards to the winning teams.

USR, the first event of its type in the region has been months in the making. Participating students have been applying their mathematical and scientific knowledge to a real world engineering project for the past three months.

Immersed in the engineering process of designing, building and testing their unmanned aircrafts, their efforts have been assisted by engineers from HCT, NGC & ADASI and particularly NGC engineers who have travelled from the United States to give courses on Airplane Parts & Basic Aerodynamics.