On December 19, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drone Club hosted a showcase in the gym, featuring two unique drones: a high-performance competition drone built from scratch and a modified test drone. The club will have its official competition later in the spring but hosted the event to acclimate new members to the competitive environment.

After an introduction by the club’s president, senior Anan Hasson, along with as set up and safety checks, the showcase was ready to start.

The first drone on display was the competition drone, which included a claw and landing gear in a compact layout to optimize performance. Equipped with four high-performance motors, a lightweight frame, and six sensors, this drone was engineered over many months for consistent success. The second drone, the test drone, is not as refined as the competition drone but has additional safety features, like 3D-printed propeller guards.

“The test drone is like our test dummy. New pilots can train without risking the competition drone, and new configurations can be tested if the competition drone is unavailable,” junior Finn Farrell said. 

The event featured several challenges designed to push the limits of both drones. The first challenge was a series of obstacle courses, where drones had to navigate through PVC hoops and weave poles, testing agility and responsiveness. The competition drone, with its superior handling and reliability, easily outpaced the test drone, which struggled with its newly outfitted bulky propeller guards.

Next came a precision landing challenge where both drones had to land within a designated landing pad. The competition drone, benefiting from its experienced pilot and stabilized flight controls, performed flawlessly, touching down exactly in the center of the target. The test drone, while able to land, faced slight difficulties due to stick drift (unintentional movement of the drone without movement of the controller), decreasing accuracy. 

Finally, the event wrapped up with a thrilling time trial. The competition drone had demonstrated undisputed superiority, putting up times the test drone could barely double, so Hasson set a challenge for the competition drone team: complete twice the completions of the test drone in the same time. The two drones raced around the gym, with spectators cheering them on. The competition drone maintained pace easily, leaving the test drone in the dust. The test drone suffered an impact with an obstacle and went down just as the competition drone crossed the finish line and claimed victory. 

Throughout the showcase, club members offered insight into the engineering and software behind each drone, explaining how they fine-tuned everything from motors to controllers. The audience left with a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in engineering UAV technology. Hasson surmised that the showcase “went well, but the most important part is that club members learned a lot, and saw what it was to not work as individuals, but as a team.”