Opportunity brief
Overview:
Techfest, IIT Bombay, presents UAV-X, a national engineering challenge focused on developing autonomous UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) swarms capable of executing disaster response missions. The competition takes participating teams through a structured journey from initial simulation models to a field-ready, robust hardware design, supported by expert mentorship throughout the stages.
The mission scenario tests a swarm's ability to maintain resilient Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) communication links, adapt dynamically to field conditions, and coordinate effective emergency response operations.
Key Technical Objectives:
- Autonomous Swarm Coordination: Design algorithms enabling multiple UAVs to operate cohesively in disaster response environments.
- Resilient BVLOS Communication: Ensure secure, low-latency, uninterrupted data links over long distances beyond visual range.
- Disaster Response Execution: Simulate and execute missions involving area mapping, payload deployment, and node relay in dynamic field conditions.
- Simulation to Hardware: Validate software models in high-fidelity simulators before transitioning to physical design deployment.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, faculty-led academic teams, and tech startups.
- A strong background in UAV flight control, autonomous systems, swarm algorithms, RF/wireless communication, or robotics is recommended.
- Team Size: 1 to 5 members per team.
Competition Structure & Stages:
- Stage 1: Simulation & Preliminary Proposal: Teams design and test their autonomous swarm algorithms, communication protocols, and mission control frameworks inside a high-fidelity simulation environment. Submission of a preliminary technical design document detailing system architecture and performance parameters.
- Stage 2: Detailed Design & Hardware Integration: Shortlisted teams refine their flight systems, payload integration, dynamic mesh networking, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing setups. Submission of a detailed engineering report and field readiness plan.
- Stage 3: Grand Finale at Techfest, IIT Bombay: Finalist teams present and demonstrate their field-ready systems before an expert panel of judges during Techfest, IIT Bombay.
Important Dates & Timeline:
- Registration & Stage 1 Launch: August 2026
- Stage 1 Submission Deadline: September 2026
- Stage 2 Development Period: October – November 2026
- Grand Finale: December 2026 (at IIT Bombay)
Benefits & Opportunities:
- Expert Mentorship: Direct technical guidance from industry veterans and domain experts throughout the project phases.
- Incubation & Development Support: Top-performing teams get opportunities for further prototype development support and industry connect.
- National Platform: Showcase advanced drone tech on Asia's largest science and technology stage at IIT Bombay.
- Certificates: Certificates of Excellence for finalists and rank holders, and Certificates of Participation for shortlisted teams.