Drone Up

Calgary's premier drone design competition.

May 31 • June 1 2025

Drone Up is a competition where students design, build, and pilot drones to solve real-world challenges. It pushes creativity, technical skills, and teamwork to new heights in a dynamic and hands-on environment.

Drone Up

Calgary's premier drone design competition.

May 31 · June 1 2025

Drone Up is Calgary’s newest design challenge, where anyone can learn to

By combining mechanical design and programming, Drone Up hopes to provide a creative outlet to student innovators. Join us at the University of Calgary to explore the the various uses of drones and the steps involved in their construction and firmware configuration.

Drone Up is Calgary’s newest design challenge, where anyone can learn to

About

Drones for use

Spots open

$ worth of prizes

Competition Events

Delivery

Participants will assemble and control a robotic arm attached to a drone to pick up balls and sort them into designated locations. Points will be awarded based on the difficulty of the target zone and the type of ball.This exercise focuses on understanding the integration of robotic systems with UAVs and developing a comprehensive understanding of drone systems.

Skill Development:

System Integration:
- Familiarity with Advanced Robotics: Build a solid understanding of how robotic systems function and how they can be integrated with UAV technology.
- Software Proficiency: Gain experience with control software, simulation tools, and data analysis platforms used in UAV and robotic arm systems.
- Programming Skills: Learn to program drones and robotic arms for specific tasks, incorporating artificial intelligence or machine learning for optimized performance.
- Troubleshooting: Gain hands-on experience in diagnosing and solving technical issues related to system integration.
Precision and Coordination:
- Data Interpretation: Use sensor data (e.g., visual, infrared, or LIDAR) to make quick adjustments for positioning and gripping objects accurately.

Rescue

Participants will program a drone to autonomously navigate a simulated disaster environment and locate objects representing victims. These objects could be of various shapes, sizes, and colors, positioned in different locations to simulate a real-life search and rescue mission. The drone must identify and retrieve (or mark the location of) the objects within a specified time frame, demonstrating advanced programming and problem-solving skills.

Skills Development:

Real-World Application:
- Understanding Search and Rescue Operations: Gain insights into the practical applications of drones in real-life rescue
- missions, including how they can navigate complex environments and locate victims.
Technological Literacy:
- Familiarity with UAV Technologies: Build a deep understanding of autonomous drone technologies, including flight control systems, sensors, communication protocols, and safety systems.
- Algorithm Development: Enhance skills in creating algorithms for pathfinding, object detection, and obstacle avoidance.
- Sensor Fusion: Learn how to integrate data from multiple sensors (e.g., camera, GPS, LIDAR) to improve the drone's perception and decision-making abilities.
- Autonomous Navigation: Develop proficiency in programming drones for fully autonomous operation, including takeoff, navigation, object recognition, and landing.

Forest Fire

Participants will program a drone to autonomously detect, monitor, and respond to simulated forest fire scenarios. The drone must use sensors to identify signs of fire, such as smoke, heat, or changes in environmental conditions, and report or respond accordingly (e.g., by sending location data, capturing images, or taking initial containment measures). This challenge emphasizes programming skills, sensor integration, and decision-making algorithms in real-time.

Skills Development:

Advanced Programming:
- Autonomous Navigation: Improve programming skills for navigation in complex and dynamic environments, incorporating obstacle avoidance and terrain mapping.
- Sensor Fusion: Learn to integrate multiple sensor inputs (e.g., infrared, LIDAR, gas detectors) to form a comprehensive picture of the environment and make decisions based on fused data.
- Real-Time Decision-Making: Develop programming expertise to enable drones to make quick, autonomous decisions in dynamic situations, such as choosing the safest route or determining the most critical area to monitor.
Data Analysis and Interpretation:
- Multispectral Data Processing: Develop skills in processing and analyzing data from various sensors (e.g., thermal imaging, LIDAR) to detect fire signatures.
Technological Literacy:
- Knowledge of UAV Systems: Build comprehensive knowledge of UAV technology, sensor integration, flight dynamics, and real-time data processing.
- Software Proficiency: Gain experience with control software and platforms used for programming autonomous drone missions, such as Python and C
- Hardware Integration: Understand the integration of various sensors and hardware components into a single functional system that can operate effectively in dynamic environments.

FPV (First-person view) Piloting

Participants will pilot drones using FPV technology, which involves wearing FPV goggles or using a screen to view a real-time video feed from a camera mounted on the drone. " The challenge will consist of navigating through obstacles with varying levels of difficulty, including tight turns, tunnels, elevated gates, and precision landings.

Skill Development:

Drone operation
- Enhanced Piloting Skills: Participants will gain hands-on experience in flying drones with precision and control, skills that are crucial for both recreational activities like drone racing and professional applications such as aerial photography, cinematography, and surveying.
- Understanding of FPV Systems: Exposure to FPV technology helps participants understand how to set up, operate, and troubleshoot FPV equipment, which is essential for any UAV operator.
Real-Time Problem Solving:
- Quick Decision-Making: The challenge requires quick reactions and the ability to make rapid decisions in response to dynamic environmental changes, obstacles, or potential hazards. This skill is highly valuable in situations requiring immediate response, such as search-and-rescue missions.

Schedule

Saturday

Sunday

9:00 AM

9:30 AM

12:00 PM

1:00 PM

4:00 PM

Introduction

Rescue

Lunch

FPV Piloting

First Day Finished!

9:00 AM

9:30 AM

12:00 PM

1:00 PM

3:30 PM

Start of Day 2

Forest Fire

Lunch

Delivery

End of Drone Up!

About

Drones for use

Spots open

$ worth of prizes

Competition Events

In this challenge, participants will assemble and control a robotic arm attached to a drone to pick up balls and sort them into designated locations. Points will be awarded based on the difficulty of the target zone and the type of ball. This exercise focuses on understanding the integration of robotic systems with UAVs and developing a comprehensive understanding of drone systems.

Skill Development:

System Integration:
- Familiarity with Advanced Robotics: Build a solid understanding of how robotic systems function and how they can be integrated with UAV technology.
- Software Proficiency: Gain experience with control software, simulation tools, and data analysis platforms used in UAV and robotic arm systems.
- Programming Skills: Learn to program drones and robotic arms for specific tasks, incorporating artificial intelligence or machine learning for optimized performance.
- Troubleshooting: Gain hands-on experience in diagnosing and solving technical issues related to system integration.
Precision and Coordination:
- Data Interpretation: Use sensor data (e.g., visual, infrared, or LIDAR) to make quick adjustments for positioning and gripping objects accurately.

Skills Development:

Real-World Application:
- Understanding Search and Rescue Operations: Gain insights into the practical applications of drones in real-life rescue missions, including how they can navigate complex environments and locate victims.
Technological Literacy:
- Familiarity with UAV Technologies: Build a deep understanding of autonomous drone technologies, including flight control systems, sensors, communication protocols, and safety systems.
- Algorithm Development: Enhance skills in creating algorithms for pathfinding, object detection, and obstacle avoidance.
- Sensor Fusion: Learn how to integrate data from multiple sensors (e.g., camera, GPS, LIDAR) to improve the drone's perception and decision-making abilities.
- Autonomous Navigation: Develop proficiency in programming drones for fully autonomous operation, including takeoff, navigation, object recognition, and landing.

Skills Development:

Advanced Programming:
- Autonomous Navigation: Improve programming skills for navigation in complex and dynamic environments, incorporating obstacle avoidance and terrain mapping.
- Sensor Fusion: Learn to integrate multiple sensor inputs (e.g., infrared, LIDAR, gas detectors) to form a comprehensive picture of the environment and make decisions based on fused data.
- Real-Time Decision-Making: Develop programming expertise to enable drones to make quick, autonomous decisions in dynamic situations, such as choosing the safest route or determining the most critical area to monitor.
Data Analysis and Interpretation:
- Multispectral Data Processing: Develop skills in processing and analyzing data from various sensors (e.g., thermal imaging, LIDAR) to detect fire signatures.
Technological Literacy:
- Knowledge of UAV Systems: Build comprehensive knowledge of UAV technology, sensor integration, flight dynamics, and real-time data processing.
- Software Proficiency: Gain experience with control software and platforms used for programming autonomous drone missions, such as Python and C
- Hardware Integration: Understand the integration of various sensors and hardware components into a single functional system that can operate effectively in dynamic environments.

Skill Development:

Drone operation
- Enhanced Piloting Skills: Participants will gain hands-on experience in flying drones with precision and control, skills that are crucial for both recreational activities like drone racing and professional applications such as aerial photography, cinematography, and surveying.
- Understanding of FPV Systems: Exposure to FPV technology helps participants understand how to set up, operate, and troubleshoot FPV equipment, which is essential for any UAV operator.
Real-Time Problem Solving:
- Quick Decision-Making: The challenge requires quick reactions and the ability to make rapid decisions in response to dynamic environmental changes, obstacles, or potential hazards. This skill is highly valuable in situations requiring immediate response, such as search-and-rescue missions.

Schedule

Saturday

9:00 AM

9:30 AM

12:00 PM

1:00 PM

4:00 PM

Introduction

Rescue

Lunch

FPV Piloting

First Day Finished!

Sunday

9:00 AM

9:30 AM

12:00 PM

1:00 PM

3:30 PM

Start of Day 2

Forest Fire

Lunch

Delivery

End of Drone Up!

Volunteer

Here at Drone Up, we rely on passionate volunteers to ensure the success of our competition. If you are interested in drones, STEM or robotics, this is a perfect chance to get involved for the first time and learn more about new technologies.