Hop on and buckle up! We are flying off in a different direction this year. With impressive innovation centered on grabbing, transporting and placing payloads on hybrid UAV/UGVs, it’s time for a change. A Big City would like to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of downtown passenger transit, and requests bids to develop and demonstrate an Urban Air Mobility System (UAMS) sub-scale prototype.

University and college teams from across Canada, are invited as industry Bidders, to create concepts, design a UAM System, and compete in a sub-scale assessment of their designs and participate in head-to-head flight assessments. Their Phase 1 ‘design papers’ will be in the form of Proposals in response to the Big City RFP.
Scenario

As ground transportation becomes increasingly congested, alternative solutions are being developed. Urban Air Mobility is a safe automated air transportation system for passengers and cargo, in urban and rural locations. It represents the next innovation point in aerial evolution.

The UAMS will cover all the Big City Urban Area (BCUA) delivering up to six passengers per flight on waypoint-based routes. The Phase 2 Flight Assessment of sub-scale prototypes will use various routes, number of passengers, and situations to evaluate the capability of the proposed UAMS.

This is a Beyond Visual Line of Sight scenario. Although the UAV will be required to go Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), the competition spotters will have it in sight at all times.

The competition takes place in two phases with the Phase I Proposals from each Bidder due on January 15th 2023, and the Phase II operational demonstration taking place May 5 – 7th 2023 at Centre d’Excellence sur les Drone – CED Alma, Québec. Bidders will be graded on the quality and completeness of their design reports and the results of their flight demonstrations. Prizes will be awarded for each phase and for notable team accomplishments.

Purpose of the Competition

The purpose of the competition is to promote and develop Canadian expertise and experience in unmanned systems technologies at the university and college levels.

Even small-scale unmanned vehicles are complex systems requiring a well-planned and executed design and rehearsed operational approach. In addition, safety considerations are important factors in this competition as in any other vehicle design project.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Thanks to the enthusiasm and support from past sponsors, each year the bar is raised to attract first class teams with innovative ideas. This world-class event provides opportunities for the best and brightest to display leadership, real world problem solving and teamwork all in a stressful competitive environment, a real-life job interview. Results have paid off as a number of UAS competitors have been hired by a sponsoring company. When tested on the international stage, our Canadian teams not only take- home various awards, but consistently place at or near the top. Canada is on the UAS

Podium! Sponsors and students will have the opportunity to connect during the competition. To become involved as a sponsor, and invest in these talented students, the future of the Canadian UAS sector, contact [email protected]

Eligibility & Registration

All team members must be registered part or full-time, at a recognized Canadian university or college, organized internally at the discretion of their respective members.

To register, first send an expression of interest to [email protected]

The online team registration of $600+tax due November 28th 2022, information and CONOPS are located at www.aerialevolution.ca/annual-student-competition/

Check the competition website regularly for updates. All questions should be
addressed to: [email protected]