October 4, 2012
Poor old Outback Joe is technically still lost in a Kingaroy paddock (and the $50,000 prize money tucked away safely in a bank), as no team managed to successfully complete this year’s Outback Challenge.
However, four of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) teams in the international competition did launch their aircraft into the range this week with two returning safely to Kingaroy Airport.
The Canberra UAV team did the best, finding Joe and making it back home.
A mix-up over the recording of GPS co-ordinates meant the team wasn’t given the green light to attempt a delivery of its “rescue package”, however organisers say the final result of the competition was not affected.
Canberra UAV is only the second team to locate Outback Joe since the competition began in 2007.
In the High School competition, Mueller College’s MUROC Hawks took home the $8000 first prize.
The next Outback Challenge will be run in 2014.
Results:
Outback Challenge
1. Canberra UAV – 78.3 points – $10,000 prizemoney
2. OpenUAS – 43.5 – $5000
3. Forward Robotics – 33.5 – $1000
4. Compass UAV – 33.3 – $1000
Airborne Delivery Challenge ( for Australian high schools)
1. MUROC Hawks – 92.6 – $8000
2. MUROC Raiders – 85.7
3. MUROC Vipers – 71.0
4. Calamvale Raptors – 65.8
5. Aviation High Screamin’ Eagles – 64.8
6. Aviation High Thunderbirds – 30.7
7. Calamvale Lightning – 30.6
8. Riverton and District High School – 29.5
9. Aviation High Strikers – 29.4
10. Dickson College UAV – 26.1
11. MUROC Hectix – 24.8
12. Calamvale Rhinos – 21.5
13. MUROC Telebirdz – 12.5
Airborne Delivery Search Phase
MUROC Raiders. Search Phase winners were awarded $2000.
In Situ Airmanship Award
Nina Clark (team captain of Aviation High Thunderbirds)
Related articles
Andrew Tridgell, from the winning Canberra UAV team, explains all you’ll ever need to know about preparing for the competition: (52 minute presentation):
