A group of engineering students from the University of Bath have come second in an international competition to design and build an unmanned flying vehicle.
Competing under the name Team Bath Drones, the Faculty of Engineering and Design students earned the silver medal spot at the four-day-long IMechE UAS Challenge, becoming the UK and Europe’s top-placed team in the process.
Taking part in the contest for the first time in five years, Team Bath Drones faced strong competition from a total of 38 registered teams, 20 of which went on to fly at the finals at the BMFA Buckminster aerial sports centre in Leicestershire.
The 10th event of its kind – and the biggest to date – the contest tested teams in flying simulated humanitarian missions.
Beihang University (China) was overall winner, with Estonia Aviation Academy coming third behind, which Team Bath Drones won the Safety Award for its rigorous pre-flight processes and overall professionalism throughout the competition.
The Bath team, which had been designing, building and flying its autonomous 10kg aircraft Neptune since September was also first to fly and first to perform an autonomous take-off and successful payload drop.
Team Bath Drones manager Lewis Gillin said they planned to compete again next year.
“Alongside taking second place and winning the safety award, one highlight was the competition’s chief pilot having so much faith in Neptune’s airworthiness that he flew a five-minute aerobatic performance, in front of the entire cohort of international students and staff,” he added.
“We were the only team to do this, lots of staff and students approached after the flight to congratulate our achievements.”
University of Bath Aerospace Engineering chair Prof Gary Lock, who supervises the team, added: “What an achievement – finishing second overall at the international competition and the top UK team.
“All credit to the students who designed, built, and flight-tested their flying vehicle over the course of four months.”
Dr Sam Bull, a lecturer in the university’s department of mechanical engineer who will oversee the team from next year, said it had been an absolute pleasure to watch the team receive their awards.
“This achievement is a testament to their skill, dedication, and teamwork – and we are incredibly proud of them,” he added.
The success also reflected the support of the supervisory team, headed by Prof Lock, the technician support during the build stage, PGR students Joe Dawe, Lonox Huang, George Smith and Andy Haasz, along wth guidance from Leonardo Helicopters, he said.
