With the technology to safely fly robotic aircraft in Australian skies expected to be developed by the end of 2014, competition in this year's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Challenge will be hotter than ever.
The Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation (ARCAA) is leading Australian research into the development of the robotic flying craft and ARCAA Deputy Director and CSIRO ICT Centre Research Program Leader, Dr Jonathan Roberts said the UAV Challenge was instrumental in driving research and the general public's understanding of unmanned flight forward.
Staged at Kingaroy airport from October 1 -3, the 'UAV Challenge - Outback Rescue' plays out a mock rescue scene and involves teams searching for Outback Joe, who is lost up to 6km from the airport.
Teams search for Joe by flying robotic aircraft through the search zone with the aim of the competition to drop a package containing 500ml of lifesaving water to him.
Fitted with onboard cameras, the remotely piloted aircraft relay vision back to their teams enabling their controllers to guide them into completing the rescue task before returning to Kingaroy airport.
"This is not an easy exercise," Dr Roberts said.
"It involves teams programming and controlling aircraft that in some cases they've built from scratch."
He said with six Search and Rescue teams and 14 high-school teams competing, the UAV Challenge enabled Queensland to amass some of the latest and most innovative robotic aircraft together in the one place at the one time.
"It will enable professionals and researchers, enthusiasts and students to pit their skills against their peers," he said.
"With two international search and rescue teams from Canada and the Netherlands competing, Australian researchers will be afforded the opportunity to view some of the latest international technology in action."
He said while the UAV Challenge had been going since 2007, no team had yet managed to win the Search and Rescue Challenge.
"When they do, and hopefully this year someone will, it will be something of a watershed moment in UAV history."
ARCAA is a joint venture between Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and CSIRO. ARCAA Director QUT Professor Duncan Campbell, who leads the $7 million Project ResQu which is developing the technology to enable remotely piloted aircraft to fly safely in civil airspace, said the fact that so many school teams entered the competition indicates the aerospace industry was well-placed for the future.
"Aerospace automation is a frontier science," he said.
"The beneficial uses to which remotely piloted aircraft can be put, such as search and rescue missions, are on our horizon and while we're not quite there yet, the world-leading research that's being conducted at ARCAA will get us there soon."
The UAV Challenge is supported by Insitu Pacific and Managing Director Andrew Duggan described the event as a unique global competition with a very specific Australian flavour.
"Australia is leading the world by offering such a robust competition that focuses on relevant real-world scenarios for unmanned aircraft in remote search and rescue, backed by the full support of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)," he said.
"Our students and young engineers are able to work closely with the UAV industry and CASA to learn first-hand about the challenges of building and operating a UAV. It positions Australia very well for future growth in the commercial unmanned aircraft domain."
Lockheed Martin Australia Chief Executive, Raydon Gates, said the company in 2012 is celebrating its Centennial - 100 Years in the business of bringing forward new global security and aerospace innovation, or in other words, 'Accelerating Tomorrow'.
"In 1912, the founders of our company were innovating at the dawn of manned flight. We are pleased to be supporting the 'UAV Challenge - Outback Rescue', as some of our youngest and brightest address the demands of perfecting the design and application of unmanned aerial systems."
The UAV Challenge - Outback Rescue is a joint initiative between ARCAA, AUVS-Australia and Aviation Development Australia Limited.
The 'UAV Challenge - Outback Rescue' held at Kingaroy airport October 1 - 3 attracts total prize money of $60,000.
Follow the challenge on social media:
Twitter: @uavchallenge or follow #uavchallenge
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uavchallenge
For more information contact Dr Jonathan Roberts on 0477 309 286 or Professor Duncan Campbell on 0419 121 413 or email uavchallenge@gmail.com
Media contact: Rose Trapnell, QUT media team leader, 07 3138 2361 or 0407 585 901 rose.trapnell@qut.edu.au.
