We’re excited to invite Students, Innovators, and Robotics Enthusiasts to participate in a two-staged Indoor Autonomous Fixed-Wing Drone Pylon Racing Competition, hosted by the Purdue Center on Artificial Intelligence for Digital, Autonomous, and Augmented Aviation (AIDA³), Purdue UAS Research and Test Facility (PURT), and Rosen Center for Advanced Computing (RCAC).

This hands-on challenge is designed for students and individuals passionate about robotics, control systems, and autonomous flights. Participants will develop a Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) solution to autonomously fly a fixed-wing UAV around a pylon course—first in simulation, then in real-world flight testing at Purdue’s state-of-the-art PURT facility.

Learn more, register for the info session, and sign-up for the competition here: https://pylon-racing.geddes.rcac.purdue.edu/

Why Join?

• Apply classroom knowledge to a real-world robotics challenge.
• Gain experience with ROS2, digital twin simulation, and flight testing.
• Compete for cash prizes.
• Collaborate with peers and mentors in a cutting-edge UAV environment.
• Build your resume with hands-on engineering and AI experience.

Who Should Participate?

• Students from any college or university
• Individuals with beginner to intermediate experience in robotics and control
• Anyone curious about fixed-wing UAVs, autonomous systems, and ROS2.