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- The application deadline for METU VTOL'24 competition is now extended to July 19, 2024!
8th Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) capable aircraft design, build and fly competition will be held in October, 2024. We are happy to announce that Boeing will sponsor this year's competition as well. The competition is open to the engineering students from universities. In order to register to the competition, you are required to fill out an application form, and send it together with your proposal ( conceptual design report) to Prof. Ozan Tekinalp ( tekinalp@metu.edu.tr) by July 19, 2024. Also, each team must provide an electronic copy of their application through online application form. Teams will be invited to the competition based on the quality of their proposals. Each team must have an academic advisor from their institutes. Teams are also required to submit a final design report and a proof-of-flight video two weeks prior to the competition date. If the team fails to send a final design report or a successful flight video, the team will be dismissed from the competition.
Some expenses of the invited teams from Turkish universities to build their aircraft, up to 50.000,-TRY, will be reimbursed. In addition, their travel expenses will also be reimbursed provided that they submit their final design report, a successful flight video, and attend the competition with their aircraft. Unfortunately, we cannot reimburse the manufacturing expenses of the international teams.
Winning team members will be awarded by special school supplies. Stay tuned for the terrific gifts!
# Proposal Submission: July 19, 2024
# Notification of Conditional Acceptance: July 30, 2024
# Design Report & Proof-of-flight Video Submission: September 13, 2024
# Notification of Acceptance: September 20, 2024
# Competition: October 12-13, 2024 November 23-24, 2024
The competition simulates a critical heavy cargo delivery operation to an off-shore platform, similar to those found in the oil and gas industry. Participants will design, build, and fly VTOL UAVs to perform three challenging and distinct missions. The first mission involves a reconnaissance flight to survey the area, requiring the UAV to fly as far as possible without any payload. The second mission tests the endurance and precision capabilities of the UAV, as it must carry a heavy payload and perform a precise landing on the off-shore platform. The final mission focuses on transporting and accurately dropping a slung load onto a designated target on the platform. This scenario mimics real-world applications where UAVs are used to deliver essential supplies and equipment to remote and inaccessible locations, emphasizing the importance of efficiency, precision, and reliability in aerial operations. By undertaking these missions, participants will gain hands-on experience in UAV design and operation, while tackling realistic challenges faced in industrial cargo delivery.