The 2008 UAV Challenge – Outback Rescue

[Mick Molloy]

The UAV Challenge – Outback Rescue will take place in the regional Queensland town of Kingaroy from 23-25 September 2008. Developed to promote the civil applications of UAVs, the Challenge is the only event of its kind in Australia and has proven a flying success with students and professional enthusiasts alike. Application forms will be available from 7 April 2008 – don’t miss out!

www.uavoutbackchallenge.com.au

[ios]

Does anyone have any news or video or photos from this event?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBdXs4jgg00

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=qfOf9QtVj5c

I'd like to congratulate one of our own from here at RCGroups, Aaron from Geelong (aka Kiowa 206 b-1) and Simeon from Toowomba for winning this year at the UAV Outback Challenge,... good on ya guys :)

http://www.thechronicle.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3785984

[Mark Hanson]

Simeon and Aaron are flying an electric Senior Telemaster equipped with a UNAV 3500 autopilot, congratulations !!

[AUSUAV]

Hey IOS,
Thanks mate! We'll be back to defend our title armed with all the knowledge we gained from this years challenge.



Team Telemasters documentary entry for the Challenge.

http://www.vimeo.com/1831290

[beep684]

Does anyone have any news or video or photos from this event?

You can have a look at my teams (Look mAh, no hands!) youtube channel. There may be some more vids coming.

http://au.youtube.com/l00kmahn0hands

Ben

[webfoot175]

very cool.....got a description of the WPs they flew.......where can I get some info on the autopilot ?

[AUSUAV]

very cool.....got a description of the WPs they flew.......where can I get some info on the autopilot ?

Not sure what info re the waypoints you are after but I can tell you that the autopilot we used in the challenge is a UNAV 3500FW.

UNAV (http://www.u-nav.com)

It's a great system once you've had some practice with it.

Cheers
Aaron

[webfoot175]

Thanks Aaron, i'm kinda new to all this, just wondering how big the contest course was ? How many waypoints did you use and how far apart were they ?

[Mick Molloy]

Guys I just thought I would update you on the results of the challenge.
As you know a fellow "Rcgrouper" was the "first finalist", below is the rest of the results...
I look forward to seeing you all at next years challenge... (see below for details)
http://www.emailer.sd.qld.gov.au/em/mail/view.php?id=910995936&k=5dc4d16

Mick Molloy
UAV Outback Challenge Tech Committee
Chief Scrutineer




Congratulations to all participants in the 2008 UAV Challenge for making it a great success.

Word of the challenge spread far and wide, with students and professional enthusiasts flying in from around Australia and from the United States.

A special ‘thank you’ to the organisers, sponsors and spectators of the event – your support made it all possible and encourages the further development of the UAV industry in Queensland.



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2008 UAV Challenge - Outback Rescue winners and finalists

Airborne Delivery Documentary Challenge
Winner: Brisbane Boys’ College – Bash, Burn and Crash ($2,000)

Search and Rescue Documentary Challenge
Winner: Mueller College - MUROC Bush Masters ($8,000)

Airborne Delivery Encouragement Award (donated by RD Collins and Associates)
Winner: TSHS Mt Lofty ($500)

Steven M Sliwa Search and Rescue Encouragement Award (donated by Insitu)
Winner: Missouri S&T UAV Team ($500)

Airborne Delivery Challenge
Winner: Mueller College - MUROC Bush Pilots ($10,000)

Search and Rescue Challenge
Despite impressive demonstrations of autonomous UAV flight, unfortunately no teams were able to rescue Outback Joe this year. As a result, encouragement awards were provided based on technical reports, inspections and practice flights.

Finalist: Telemasters ($5,000)
Finalist: Missouri S&T UAV Team ($3,000)
Finalist: QUT SRUAV 08 ($1,000)

Detailed results will be provided to competitors shortly.

Thank you

The partners of the UAV Challenge would like to thank all involved in this years challenge. Of particular mention are:

Event sponsors, many of which joined us for the duration of the event - your support made the event possible
The technical team - your organisation of the technical elements was impeccable and allowed a record number of entrants to fly
The event team - the event was lifted to a higher, much more professional level this year - who would have ever imagined a big screen at the Kingaroy Airport!
Volunteers - your assistance was much needed and valued
Wide Bay Burnett Regional Council - thank you for playing host to this fantastic event
Competitors - your enthusiam and passion infected all who watched



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The future of the UAV Challenge
Whilst many are keen to get started on new designs, the details of the next event have not yet been confirmed. As soon as these details are confirmed, they will be posted on the website and forwarded via email.


In order for us to gauge the success of the 2008 UAV Challenge and make positive changes for future years, the following surveys for competitors have been developed. Please take the time to complete these surveys.


UAV Challenge dinner

The UAV Challenge dinner was a new and valuable addition to the event calendar. The dinner was held at the Bell Tower restaurant in Kingaroy on Tuesday 22 September 2008 and attracted almost 100 guests. These guests included key national and international aerospace representatives, media representatives, our sponsors and their guests.

Queensland Government Manufacturing and Investment Executive Director Mr John Strano was Master of Ceremonies for the event. The evening included entertainment from a Queensland-based band and speeches from Brendan Williams from Boeing Phantom Works – Australia and Brad Spencer from the Queensland University of Technology. Guests were requested to use their creativity combined with their aerospace knowledge in order to earn their dessert. A great night was had by all.




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UAV Challenge sponsors

The 2008 UAV Challenge received overwhelming support from industry.

The UAV Challenge partners (Queensland Government, Boeing Australia Limited and ARCAA) would like to thank the following companies for their support:

Insitu
Raytheon Australia
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)
Aviation Business Asia Pacific
The Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society of the IEEE
V-TOL Aerospace
The Australian Microelectronics Centre
Auspace.

More information on these companies is available on the UAV Challenge website. (http://www.uavoutbackchallenge.com.au/uavoutbackchallenge/sponsors/)