UTICA, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Mohawk Valley Community College student collaboration, took the first-place Challenge Champion trophy at the Rig Rescue Team Drone Challenge, Sunday, April 15, 2018 at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Drone teams from New Haven Connecticut, Oneida, Vernon, New Hartford, Utica and Syracuse competed in Central New York’s first low-cost, open Challenge in the SUNY Campus Center Gym. Drones negotiated a 9 element, oil platform themed 30 by 60-foot field. Team Syracuse City Schools placed 2nd, and Oneida City Schools received the third-place Challenge Champion trophy. The single judged award, Design Innovator, went to the Syracuse City School District.
This year’s competition dispatched teams to navigate their drones through shark infested waters to help secure the facility and retrieve platform workers and data. Rig Rescue is part of CNY Drones’ efforts to promote STEM, provide awareness of drone technology educational and employment opportunities and build a safe flying recreational drone community. It is also a feeder program for the Academy of Model Aeronautics National Drones 4 STEM program. In addition to drone flying, spectators took part in interactive STEM exhibits including a test flight zone, flight simulator zone, and an Experience FPV (First Person View) zone. The event was a community project, hosted by the SUNY Polytechnic Institute Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) University Model Aviation Student Club, the first AMA drone club of its kind in New York State. The day focused on competition, learning, sharing, and networking with local drone enthusiasts, engineers, and educators. Next season’s theme was announced as Forest Fury, a search and rescue themed scenario that will challenge drone pilots to locate fire damage, rescue hikers and survey for mud slide risks.
For more information on getting involved in drone technology or to get an AMA drone club started, go to www.CNYDrones.org or contact CNY Drones Administrator, Lisa Payne at 315-732-1001.