ADESC Student Design Competition

Understand the Rules

Who Can Participate

• Any university, from anywhere in the world, may enter a team.
• The competition is for undergraduate students, but up to five graduate students per team may participate directly. Any number of graduate students may mentor the team and provide advice during design reviews.
• There is no limit on how large a team can be, but per the rules, a team must field at least three people on competition day filling these roles: Team Captain, Team Flight Safety Officer (Team FSO), and Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC).
• A Team Laser Safety Officer (Team LSO) is also required, but that role may be held by whoever holds any of the other three positions above.

Key Dates

All dates are nominal and subject to change.

• Aug 15 — Game Rules Released
• Oct 15— Intent to Compete & Registration Fee 1 Due
• Jan 15 — Design Reports Due
• Feb 15 — Design Report Pass/Fail Notification
• Apr 15— Fee 2 & Final Deliverables Due
• June — Flight Competition

Total registration fee: $1,500.

Deliverables

All dates are nominal and subject to change.

Competition Venue

The competition will be held at the Pendleton UAS Range in Pendleton, Oregon, in June 2027.

• Each team will be provided at least a 15 ft × 15 ft staging area within an air-conditioned hangar.
• The range will provide a single power strip connected to electrical power for each team to use.
• The range will also provide one folding table and three chairs per team.
• All other tools and equipment are the responsibility of the team to bring.

Questions & Answers

[Searchable, staff-approved Q&A will appear here once the database and Q&A submission flow are built.]